Adelaide literary Magazine No 35, April 2020

Revista Literária Adelaide

adventure fantasy that follows an orphaned chameleon-boy. He is rescued from a lumines-
cent cavern in the wilderness—a cavern of geologic marvels, crystals, talking animals, and
motile plants. Until this very moment, I hadn’t realized that the golden thread of Tolkien’s
inspiration still wove through me to this day.

So where do I send the check to pay for this therapy session?

3. What is the title of your latest book and what inspired it?

“Beulah Who Thought She was Swimming.” Spoiler alert: it’s about a barnacle who doesn’t
realize she’s stuck to a whale.

It was inspired by a comment made by a friend and co-worker named Theo. We were
project managers at the somewhat marginalized research administration office of the local
community college. One day I mentioned to Theo that outsiders kept coming to our door,
asking questions about college operations that we had nothing to do with. “Our office is like
a barnacle stuck to a whale,” I said. “People come to us thinking they’re talking to the whale.
They don’t realize that they’re talking to a mere little barnacle!”

After a pause, Theo replied in characteristic deadpan: “…Brave little barnacle.” I burst out
laughing and immediately realized that here was the seed of a story.

Very soon into the drafting I found that the outlandish premise created a perfect met-
aphor for the human mind, as seen from the point of view of Eastern spiritual teachings.
Thus the story transformed itself into an allegory of the delusionary nature of mind, and of
the nature of spiritual transformation. The story became a vehicle to convey in a lightheart-
ed manner, what I consider to be precious teachings from mystical texts and it provided a
means to remind people of their innate spiritual talent.

4.  How long did it take you to write your latest work and
how fast do you write (how many words daily)?

Initially, Beulah was meant to be a short writing project. However it proved to be more in-
volved than I initially expected. In the end it took over a year to complete. This includes craft-
ing the pencil sketches and the cover art. It also included two rounds of proofreads (friends
and relatives) and the associated rewrites.

And it’s just an innocent little novella!

5. Do you have any unusual writing habits?

Not unusual habits, just bad habits! Probably lots of them.
Come to think of it, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I have most of the bad habits

listed in the ‘how to‘ books on writing. (Obviously, I’m also afflicted with the writer’s equiv-
alent of hypochondria).

For me, writing is this strange combination of hard work that also happens to be highly
enjoyable and even therapeutic. I write and rewrite. The worst is when I revisit a work that I
thought was complete, only to realize that it needs much more work!

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Deep down, I’m actually okay with this inefficient non-method of mine because I’m
evolving personally through my writing. The writing provides the opportunity to see, and at
times, to literally feel when something inside me has matured. When this happens, it always
creates new opportunities and new avenues to achieve greater clarity for the reader and/or
greater continuity for the story.

6.  Is writing the only form of artistic expression that you utilize,
or is there more to your creativity than just writing?

I love music (used to play in a rock band) and I have dabbled in visual arts. As mentioned
previously, I created the interior pencil sketches for Beulah as well as the cover watercolor
art (following a suggestion by Adelaide books).

However I don’t consider myself a visual artist. I always need to use real images as tem-
plates for my art. In fact, creating the works for Beulah gave me a deeper appreciation for the
skills of great visual artists who can create images from memory or from pure imagination.

The experience with watercolors also reminded me that there is a sort of ‘controlled
chaos’ in painting. It’s no wonder that artists tend to be mystical; art is inherently alchemical,
transmuting prima materia into a manifested creation that holds together.

7. Authors and books that have influenced your writings?

Tolkien, obviously.
Frank Herbet (“Dune”—what a masterwork)…in fact, many sci-fi authors.
More recently, I’ve been inspired by spiritual authors, both modern as well as ancient.

8.  What are you working on right now?
Anything new cooking in the wordsmith’s kitchen?

Yes. I’ve finished “Kamori: Malloch’s Circus Maximus” and am working on the next novel in this
series. This is a story about the chameleon-people of planet B’hu. They have the ability to change
their skin color, spectacularly, and at will. Unfortunately in kamori societies, color-morphing is
taboo. Children are trained to display ‘National Colors’ on their skin and to keep these colors
‘fast’, much like a uniform. In consequence, different kamori countries and tribes hate each other.

The hero, named Meyu, is an orphan of the storms. He was raised by animal friends in
the wilderness and is able to make his skin sparkle and glow. His destiny is to rediscover the
hidden, mystical forces behind kamori color-morphing and to fight the dark forces that have
kept kamori-kind in ignorance of their innate power.

9.  Did you ever think about the profile of your readers?
What do you think – who reads and who should read your books?

Yes I do, but not in a very practical manner. The mere idea of consciously targeting a spe-
cific reader profile feels somewhat contrived to me. Consciously tailoring a story to market
to a specific reader group feels downright abhorrent. That’s putting business before art.

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I’m simply not drawn to such strategies. Instead I’m naturally drawn to write about things
that I’m passionate about. Moreover, I tend to gravitate toward stories that are simultane-
ously readable on two levels—young readers as well as adults. Reader-profiling in this case
isn’t really feasible.

“Beulah Who Thought She Was Swimming” is my attempt at this type ‘two-level’ story.
Lucky for me, Beulah is in the Spirituality / New Age category which is populated by spiritu-
ally inclined adults who tend to be in touch with their inner child.

I realize that attempting to write two-level works carries the risk of spectacular failure by
missing the mark and alienating both categories of readers (young and old). But for me, this
risk is worth the reward. There is the potential to weave a sort of magic in such stories. They
require a sort of austerity and innocence that opens the door to flights of fancy that can cast
ordinary things in an extraordinary light. When the magic works such stories speak more to
the heart than the mind.

Outside the spiritual arena, I have also written science fiction stories. These don’t aim for
a two-level dialectic. In this case the question of reader profile doesn’t arise because I myself
have been a sci-fi nerd most of my life!

10. Do you have any advice for new writers/authors?

Dear new writer/author: from time to time, take a step back from your work and try to
identify the places where perhaps you relied less on your personal experience and more on
inspiration derived directly from stories by other authors.

The latter is natural and good. But it can carry the risk of becoming derivative. Take the
time to delve deep inside, and tap from the place where your voice finds its uniqueness.

11. What is the best advice (about writing) you have ever heard?

I believe it was Isaac Asimov who was quoted to the following effect: after working intensely
on a bit of writing, never give it a proofreader right away. No matter how good you think your
new work may be, no matter how proud you may feel about it, always exercise the discipline
to put it on the shelf for a week or two. After this rest period, review it with fresh eyes, make
the needed corrections and then show it to your proofreaders.

For me this is an essential bit of wisdom.

12.  How many books do you read annually and what are you reading now?
What is your favorite literary genre?

I suspect that I have one of the strangest reading profiles around. Basically I’m doing a lot of
rereading of books I’ve previously read. At the same time, I’m reading spiritual works that
I’ve never previously visited.

This situation is due to:
(a) My memory that (I’ll be honest) feels like a water glass that’s filled to the brim and
that requires repetition in order to yield, and,

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(b) A spiritually-self-repressed early adulthood which has necessitated me to catch-up on
spiritual works that I should have read long ago.

The books in category ‘(a)’ tend to involve physics, biology, and cosmology. Examples
include: “Investigations” by Stuart Kauffman (biology and physics); “The End of Certainty”
by Ilya Prigogine (time and non-linear thermodynamics); “Emperor’s New Mind” and “Shad-
ows of the Mind” by Roger Penrose (physics and consciousness); other works in the realm
of science and spirituality, including works by Dean Radin and by Rupert Sheldrake (science
and psi phenomena).

In category ‘(b)’ I’m reading or re-reading: “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri; the
“Tibetan Book of the Dead” by Gyrume Dorje’ “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” by Sog-
yal Rinpoche; Plato’s Dialogues; “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism” by Linda Johnsen;
“The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” by Satchidananda; the “Samkhya Karika” and portions of Ve-
dantic texts as well as various sutras and tantras from Eastern traditions.

During the time between the above, I read the odd science fiction or literary fiction, just
to remind myself what good writing looks like.

13. W hat do you deem the most relevant about your writing?
What is the most important to be remembered by readers?

I hope my writing conveys heartness and an appreciation for nature. Although I am acutely
aware that nature can be ruthless and cruel, I feel attuned to the divine and wondrous qual-
ities that are distinct from the cruelty.

Some of my works have demanded that I imagine what a fully divine form of nature might
be like. This is central to the ‘Kamori’ series for example in which nature is conscious and
‘unfallen’.

14. W hat is your opinion about the publishing industry today and
about the ways authors can best fit into the new trends?

I’d like to know the answer to this question!
We live at a time when lots of talented people are writing and publishing. The competition

is daunting. I have come to believe that the best way to proceed in this landscape is to make
sure you are writing about things that you are passionate about. In this case, you can’t lose!

It’s also good to know that there are publishers like Adelaide Books who boldly embrace
the modern realities and are willing to give new and unknown authors a chance.

15. What is the one thing you would like to tell the world?

To the Western world, I would say:
Our culture glorifies the discursive, mental forms of consciousness. Individuality, ‘smarts’,

and initiative are esteemed. The benefits that our value systems have brought into the world
are beyond measure. But our system has a major downside: it keeps us stuck in our minds
and thus obscures the divinity that emerges when we learn to silence our minds.

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I am fortunate enough to have experienced extraordinary states of consciousness—as-
tonishing visions, overflowing with divinity and noetic power. Such experiences are not the
exclusive purview of spiritual prodigies or madmen; they are our human birthright. The
‘trick’ is that contrary to our Western upbringing, high states of consciousness cannot be
attained through the ordinary mind. In fact, the ordinary mind is, by its very nature, the very
thing that blocks them.
Start by resting on your heart as the center of your being. Practice meditation and find
esoteric teachings that can help you uncover your potential.

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DONNY BARILLA

Poet and Lover of Words

1.  Tell us a bit about yourself – something that we will
not find in the official author’s bio?

Academics has never been an intellectual arena where I could learn to my fullest capacity;
In fact, it was quite painful emotionally and pushed me to my further out the door. When it
comes to creative writing, I am self-taught. I began writing at age seven and fell in love with
it and never turned back. Writing stayed as an outlet to explore myself and the world around
me. Creative writing became the pulp and flesh of the fruit for the delicacy of the mind.

2.  Do you remember what was your first story (article, essay, or poem)
about and when did you write it?

At age seven, my first creative work title, The Land that I Come From, was well received by
my schoolmates and teachers. The poem itself has been lost to time. I recall looking through
a book of famous artists and was stunned by a painting. This poem was the most heightened
and drew upon a softness in my heart for the landscape of the painting which filled me with
passion and desire.

3. What is the title of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my next book, which will be released in May, is titled, ‘By Thicket and Wood’. As the
reader unfolds the pages of the book, they will discover a realm where intimacy is not only a con-
nection of person to person, but there maintains a thorough extended metaphor where nature

Deepens into the senses and surrounding which bring people to life with color and shadow.

4. H ow long did it take you to write your latest work and
how fast do you write (how many words daily)?

It took me two weeks to write this book as the pages became alive and the connection be-
tween me and the reader strived with me.

5. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Habitually, I write from directly after dinner and continue until usually three AM. When I
finish a book, I rest for two days and then continue. I drink an espresso between poems and

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pages as I must do to keep the long hours and to soothe the stress I place upon my brain.
My quota for the number of poems a night is six. Sometimes I reach more, sometimes I fall
short.

6. I s writing the only form of artistic expression that you utilize,
or is there more to your creativity than just writing?

I have several creative outlets which I use as fuel for the fire within. I cook and bake every
day as I feed family and friends on a daily basis. I, with a good friend, make decorative hiking
sticks. Making these usually takes between a year to a year and a half. I read daily as well and
I have a passion for Asian poetry, specifically, ancient Chinese wilderness poems.

7. Authors and books that have influenced your writings?
Having read many authors in the duration of my life, I can name a few: Edith Hamilton, Walt
Whitman, Hermann Hesse, Pablo Neruda, Yasano Akiko and Tu Fu. I have and will continue
to read and reflect upon the works of these authors for a great length of time, perhaps
for the duration of my life. My favorite book, Mythology, by Edith Hamilton always strikes
chords within me.

8. W hat are you working on right now?
Anything new cooking in the wordsmith’s kitchen?

I am currently writing a book which explores the separation of life and death and how the
intimacy of separation is an impossibility. I explore how the flesh is a prison and once the
soul or spirit becomes removed the spirit is freed and finds tenderness as the realm of in-
timacy continues on it’s endless quest. The same exists as every fallen leaf and chip of the
pine cone.

9. D id you ever think about the profile of your readers?
What do you think – who reads and who should read your books?

When there is a reader who enjoys nature and has a passion for man’s search for spirit and
eternal intimacy, I believe this is a reader who should read my books. Nature is a huge theme
in every poem and every page of every story I write. This takes place everywhere even if I am
not writing about nature. If a reader enjoys the themes and concepts of the changing of the
seasons, I think these books I’ve written would lend themselves perfectly.

10. Do you have any advice for new writers/authors?
Over the years, I have learned discipline and structure, such as writing at the best time
for the writer, writing as often as possible and heavy revision will start the young writer
on a good path. I have eighty three poems in journals and magazines, but that came with
about three hundred rejections. Don’t be discouraged. For each rejection, write five poems
or write a story.

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11. What is the best advice (about writing) you have ever heard?
My mentor, Gus Pappas, Asked me on one of the first chats we had, “why haven’t you sent
anything out yet?” I lied and told him I forgot. He claimed, “with that attitude, you’ve already
lost.’ Those words stuck with me and tenderly, I kicked my writing into high gear.
12. H ow many books you read annually and what are you reading now?

What is your favorite literary genre?
I really have a love for poetry. Currently, I am reading a book of Chinese poetry by Tu Fu. An-
nually, I read about fifty books a year. A book a week seems to be the number for me. I spend
plenty more time writing than I do reading as in my lifetime, I have written about forty books,
but not all will be published, that’s how it goes.
13. W hat do you deem the most relevant about your writing?

What is the most important to be remembered by readers?
I am a poet who writes beautiful images which capture the reader and bring the poet closer
to the book. Closer to the words themselves, how these words are arranged on the page.

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ALBERTO AMBARD

author od the
HIGH TREASON and DOGMA,
A RED DOOR, AND A BIRTHDAY

1.  Tell us a bit about yourself – something that
we will not find in the official author’s bio?

Everybody likes Haruki Murakami, but, how many like them because of the inclusion of his
musical knowledge and taste into his novels? I love him because he does magical realism as
good as any of the original members of the Latin American Boom, but very especially be-
cause he’s a music lover like I am and always includes music in his novel. I’ve been learning
classical/Spanish guitar for over 15 years.

For example, I the novel you will be publishing this summer I included the song Charlotte
Sometimes of The Cure. The song fit perfectly the narrative and the main character, who
by the way, turned out to be an opinionated music snob, like those guys from the film High
Fidelity; or me…

2. D o you remember what was your first story
(article, essay, or poem) about and when did you write it?

The first writing I ever did was a collection of poems, although it you read it now you would
realize none of them were any good, or even a poem! At that time I was deep into Romanti-
cism, things like Goethe’s Werther, Victor Hugo, etc.

3. What is the title of your latest book and what inspired it?
The tittle is Dogma, A Red Door and A Birthday. It is scheduled to be published with Adelaide
Books this upcoming Summer. I wanted to write female characters and was looking for a
good story. This particular morning, while listening to National Public radio, I heard about
forced marriage in the United States. I knew of some forms of forced marriage but didn’t
know how pervasive the problem was domestically or that it extended well-beyond certain
religions and sects. I began to do research, including interviews with people working for

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non-profits addressing the issue. During one of those interviews I learned the story of this
particular woman, which was an inspiration for the novel.

4.  How long did it take you to write your latest work and
how fast do you write (how many words daily)?

It took me about two and a half years. Since I work as a maxillofacial prosthodontist and
have two children and wife, I can’t write every day. Plus, sometimes, even if I have the time,
I can’t write at all; at times I have no mojo. Sometimes I sit and write for four hours, some-
times 30 min. it varies a lot, but I do write at least 3-4 days a week.

5. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. I map my stories before I begin writing them in a large poster, as if it was a road and I
was giving directions to somebody. It gets messy and rarely I remain faithful to it, but it helps
me stay organize.

6.  Is writing the only form of artistic expression that you utilize,
or is there more to your creativity than just writing?

As I said, I play guitar, although I don’t have the level say I can express with the instrument. I
am playing somebody else’s music and doing it so in a fairly mechanical way. My profession
does have a degree of art. I make facial and dental prostheses. I have to sculpt wax, select
colors, deal with form, etc.

7. Authors and books that have influenced your writings?
I love existentialism, Magical Realism, Confessional Literature, novels that explore a social or a
historical issue, as well as books that seem simple but have a deeper meaning, like Platero And I.

Jorge Luis Borges by far as #1. Haruki Murakami, Dominique La Pierre & Larry Collins, Ju-
lio Cortázar, Mario Vargas Llosa, Sandor Marai, Patrick Suskind, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Pe-
nelope Farmer, Fernando Aramburu, Rómulo Gallegos, and among the classics; Dostoevsky,
Faulkner, Agatha Christie, Balzac… so many great writers. I’m sure you ask me tomorrow and
the list is different except for Borges.

8. What are you working on right now? Anything new
cooking in the wordsmith’s kitchen?
I have a magical realistic novel that I actually finished before Dogma, but that it isn’t pub-
lished yet. It is about people dreaming each other during different pivotal periods of human
history. Each of them is dealing with terrible tragedies and choosing to immigrate. There is a
lot of Borges there, as well as historical fiction.

Currently I am writing a novel regarding the Venezuelan immigration experience in the
U.S. It is based on a true story and it touches not just the Venezuelan crisis but also Trump’s
immigration policies.

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9.  We recently re-edited your novel High Treason, which was about the
beginning of Chavismo; about the origins of the current humanitarian crisis
in Venezuela. Can one say this new novel is part High treason Part 2?

I Guess you could in the sense that in the new novel I’m showing the consequence of what
was described in High Treason, although none of the characters from High treason are in this
novel. High Treason was very emotional for me to write, and I think it shows in the writing.
As you know, critics rated it highly. But I don’t care for sequels, trilogies, etc. They may be
sisters, but each child is different.

9.  Did you ever think about the profile of your readers?
What do you think – who reads and who should read your books?

People older than 25 because only then they can probably relate to some of my usual char-
acters. People who enjoy historical and social issues that are explore trough character emo-
tion, with serious research behind it but that in terms of pace it isn’t heavy literary fiction
either. My novels typically have symbols, a deeper meaning and they reveal more than just
pure entertainment.

10. Do you have any advice for new writers/authors?
Become observant of human nature. Even the tiniest situation can be the source of a great story.

11. What is the best advice (about writing) you have ever heard?
Don’t hurry.

12.  How many books you read annually and what are you
reading now? What is your favorite literary genre?

I read about twenty nooks a year. Currently I am reading a novel in Spanish by Arturo Uslar
Pietri, a Venezuelan recipient of the Principe de Asturias Prize who became famous as he
coined the term Magical Realism in literature. It is a book about John of Austria.

I don’t have a favorite genre. It’s easier to say that I don’t ever read Fantasy, or Erotica. I
extremely rarely read Horror or Science Fiction.

13.  What do you deem the most relevant about your writing?
What is the most important to be remembered by readers?

I promise I’ll make them think. They may like or dislike the novel, or even my writing, but at
the end of it, the subject will stay with them for some time.

14.  What is your opinion about the publishing industry today and
about the ways authors can best fit into the new trends?

Like music, the publishing industry struggles with the economics and especially with the
immediate satisfaction the public at large tends to prefer. This results in certain homoge-

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nization that isn’t great for nurturing quality. That means it is very difficult even for a great
author to be signed or even noticed by a big publisher. Smaller publishers are a bit more
accessible and tend to take more risk in the content, but many of them struggle to deliver
enough support for a novel to be noticed. I think the only thing authors can do is to write
the best they can and do so with their heart, as well as to be as participant and cooperative
with their publishers as they can.

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DONNA STRAMELLA

author of the
COFFEE KILLED MY MOTHER

1. T ell us a bit about yourself – something that we will
not find in the official author’s bio?

Deciding what I wanted to do for a living was easy. As a young child, Santa brought me a
small desk and a manual typewriter—best Christmas ever! In grade school Sister Madeline
Cecilia encouraged my writing, and I later became co-editor of the school newspaper. I knew
I was on my way! I spent the majority of my career as a writer—government communicator,
video scriptwriter, journalist—but the title “author” evaded me until this year.

2. D o you remember what was your first story
(article, essay, or poem) about and when did you write it?

I don’t remember the first story, but I do remember a number of memorable subjects.
As a journalist, I was honored to bring the stories of others to life, including a Holocaust
survivor who spoke to middle school students about the importance of inclusion. I’ve also
published some short pieces about strong women in my family who influenced me, espe-
cially my grandmothers Josie and Lilly. I came to know them more deeply when I wrote
their stories.

3. What is the title of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my novel, Coffee Killed My Mother, actually came to me before the storyline. I’m
a serious coffee lover, and one day I was making a drive-thru stop for a cup and a car nearly
hit me. My daughters were with me and one of them said, “Coffee is going to kill you, Mom”
and it stuck in my mind as an interesting book title. The book is primarily about a moth-
er-daughter relationship, although quite unlike the relationships I’ve had as a daughter and
a mother. In the book, I wanted to explore the dynamic of two vastly different personalities
and the impact of long-held family secrets.

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4.  How long did it take you to write your latest work and
how fast do you write (how many words daily)?

I wrote the first chapter of my book while finishing my MFA in Creative Writing at University
of Tampa. My mentor John Capouya gave me some encouraging feedback, so I continued.
The book took about a year for the first draft and another year for rewrites. I aim for a writing
pace of 20 pages a month.

5. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to change the settings where I work. My husband is in multiple bands that all practice at the
house, so the quietest location is a converted bedroom that I’ve taken over as a writing room.
When the weather is nice (Maryland spring, summer, and fall are lovely), I like to write outside.
Laptops are wonderfully portability. The sunroom is also one of my favorite places to work.

6.  Is writing the only form of artistic expression that you utilize,
or is there more to your creativity than just writing?

I spent a chunk of my career as a video writer/producer so I still dabble with one or two
charity projects each year. With a musical husband, I decided I should take up an instrument,
so I learned a few (mostly Beatle’s) songs on the ukulele and decided it wasn’t as easy as I
thought!

7. Authors and books that have influenced your writings?
Growing up, I read the classics like Steinbeck, Hemingway, and the Bronte sisters. Some of
my current favorite authors are Tim O’Brien, Elizabeth Strout, and Coleson Whitehead (who
was a guest reader/teacher at my MFA program). My taste in books is pretty eclectic, but
recent reads that influenced me in different ways are Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine,
Where the Crawdads Sing, and Little Fires Everywhere. I wasn’t so much inspired, but rather
intimidated by All the Light We Cannot See. Anthony Doerr’s writing is precise, purposeful,
and lyrical. No wonder he won the Pulitzer.

8.  What are you working on right now?
Anything new cooking in the wordsmith’s kitchen?

I’m about 90 pages into my next novel, Among the Bones. The book is set in a unique com-
munity in the Pacific Northwest. The story explores each resident along with the relation-
ships that grow between neighbors. There’s a mystery that starts in the background, but
continues to grow until it reaches the forefront.

9.  Did you ever think about the profile of your readers?
What do you think – who reads and who should read your books?

The demographic for Coffee Killed My Mother is largely female, ages 45 and over. Although
I’ve heard from several men who said the book gave them a new perspective on their own

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mothers. Some of my readers identify with the mother, Jacqueline, while others identify
with the daughter, Anna Lee. But more often, readers tell me they relate to both characters–
at different stages in their own lives.

10. Do you have any advice for new writers/authors?
Have a plan, but don’t be afraid to deviate from your plan. I start with an outline, but at
some point the story should have wings to exist on its own. Don’t be surprised when the
story takes you to an unexpected place.

11. What is the best advice (about writing) you have ever heard?
Do something everyday to elevate your writing. That could be writing itself, but could also
be listening to a craft podcast, exploring a new writing technique, talking to a fellow writer,
or reading/analyzing the works of others. Another piece of advice actually came from a
documentary film-school teacher—make people laugh before you make them cry. I’ve tried
to use that approach both in creating videos and books. Laughter tends to be an easier emo-
tion to draw out. Once the reader is in touch with their emotional state, they’ll feel both the
happiness and the sadness more deeply.

12.  How many books do you read annually and what are you reading now?
What is your favorite literary genre?

Typically, I have a couple of books going at one time, and I average 2-3 a month. Although in
the summer, I’ll breeze through a couple books a week because I love to read outdoors. I re-
cently finished Telling Sonny, a lovely, engaging book by another Adelaide author, Elizabeth
Gauffreau. I’m just finishing The Paris Wife, which is equal parts heartwarming and heart-
breaking. It’s a must for Hemingway fans, and author Paula McLain is absolutely brilliant. My
favorite genre is upmarket fiction, which falls somewhere between literary and commercial
fiction.

13.  What do you deem the most relevant about your writing?
What is the most important to be remembered by readers?

I strive to create realistic, complicated characters. We are all flawed people, and I hope the
reader finds that in my characters. I also aspire, in some small way, to help readers see their
own relationships in a new way.

14.  What is your opinion about the publishing industry today and
about the ways authors can best fit into the new trends?

I think more people have a voice due to independent publishers and even self-publishing. I
see that as a good thing. But it’s still important that writers present their best voice possible,
to distinguish themselves in some way from the rest of the market.

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15. What are you doing when you’re not writing?

I still do some consulting work and volunteer in my community. My husband and I enjoy
both international and domestic travel, and we’re close to checking off all 50 states, with
Montana and North Dakota left on the list. We’re enthusiastic hikers. I listen to a lot of live
music—my husband’s bands and others.

Relationships are important to me, so I love spending time with all my loved ones—my
husband; strong, independent daughters and son-in-law; my sisters; other family members;
and the most incredible group of friends. We’re currently in the midst of unusual times that
necessitate quarantine. I miss my walks/talks and conversations over coffee, but I’m thankful
for virtual group chats and long phone conversations. Maybe this situation will help us all be
even more grateful for the relationships in our lives.

The author in her writing room Donna in her happy place

Donna and husband Tony in Alaska, one stop in their
trek to see all 50 states

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