Friday, January 17, 2025

Q&A with Karen Leggett Abouraya

 


 

 

Karen Leggett Abouraya is the author of the new children's picture book Zamzam. Her other books include Hands Around the Library. She is based in the Washington, D.C., area.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Zamzam?

 

A: The inspiration came directly from my son and his son. There were particularly memorable experiences or comments, like the camel drinking my son’s soda or my grandson not wanting any “leafs” (lettuce) in his sandwich, that I thought might be fun in a picture book. 

 

Our excellent editor Winsome Bingham asked questions that really helped add emotion and even a little depth to the story.

 

Q: What do you think Susan L. Roth’s illustrations add to the story?

 

A: The distinctive backgrounds for New York and Alexandria (Egypt) highlight the beauty and the differences between these two cities.

 

They also let young readers know immediately where they are – and they can be a point of conversation between children and the adults reading with them. How do you know it’s New York or Egypt?  How are the buildings different? What is the water in the New York picture – or the Alexandria picture?

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the book, or was most of it based on your family's experiences?

 

A: The research mostly involved sharing family pictures and Egypt/Alexandria photos with my friend and illustrator Susan Roth. 

 

She has been to Egypt and visited Alexandria, but I shared pictures of family experiences, like watching those yellow taxis, as well as cultural items like the tabla/drum. The tabla and the way it is played is very specific to each country, even though it is popular throughout the Middle East and beyond. 

 

Susan generously made several versions of the tabla and my Egyptian husband reviewed each one. My grandson now recognizes that the tabla in the book looks just like the one in our living room. 


Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?

 

A: I suspect there are many kids who have multiple ethnicities or nationalities in their families – or simply family members who live far away or even in another country. I want them to appreciate how rich their multicultural families are and to begin noticing differences and similarities. 

 

In the end, of course, I want them to realize that we are all under the same moon and we are more alike than different in what we care most about. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am writing more stories about the adventures of Zamzam – and I hope to ask young readers during school visits what other stories they would like to read about Zamzam, both in Egypt and in the U.S. Soon we hope to have him eating and perhaps making koshary, which is a delicious comfort food in Egypt.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Zamzam is the nickname for the little boy in the book, but it is also very important in Islam as the name of a well in Saudi Arabia.

 

Muslims believe that the Prophet Ishmael traveled in the desert with his mother Hagar many centuries ago. The miraculous water from this well saved their lives.

 

More than two million pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia each year for the hajj/pilgrimage. They visit this well and sometimes bring home a small bottle of well water. If you search for “zamzam” on the Internet, this is the story you will find.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Karen Leggett Abouraya.

Q&A with Dana Caspersen

 


 

 

Dana Caspersen is the author of the new book Conflict Is an Opportunity: 20 Fundamental Decisions for Navigating Difficult Times. Caspersen, a conflict engagement specialist, also has written the book Changing the Conversation.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Conflict Is an Opportunity?

 

A: I wrote this book because once we find ourselves in conflict, it’s too late to practice our approach to conflict!

 

The book serves as a tool for people to practice their approach in advance, steadily and in low-stakes situations. People in conflict often feel stuck and stressed, unable to see a way forward. This book is a guide that can help you see where you are in conflict and decide what to do.

 

Conflict Is an Opportunity centers around 20 questions that illuminate the decisions that we make during conflict. These decisions are always being made– consciously or unconsciously. The book offers a practice for making these decisions with intention.

 

On a daily basis, we can take action to ground ourselves, focus on what really matters, and look for the pathways that are open to us. Alternatively, we can get stuck in cycles of attack, defense, or avoidance. It’s up to us. The first action we take in a conflict is to decide where we place our attention, and that’s where this book starts.


Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: I chose the title because a constructive approach to conflict isn’t about using the “right” techniques or saying the “right” words. In fact, formulaic approaches often backfire. The most critical element in conflict is our mindset– what’s happening internally before we engage with anyone else.

 

Our fundamental beliefs about conflict shape what we imagine is possible within it. If we see conflict as a nightmare to fight through or avoid, this mindset will limit our thoughts and actions.

 

Conversely, seeing conflict as an opportunity for constructive change opens a broader range of possibilities. We can focus on understanding what matters to people, identifying obstacles, determining necessary changes, and taking actions that make those changes more achievable.


Q: You write, “I started studying conflict because I hated conflict.” Can you say more about that?

 

A: At one point in my life, I was surrounded by conflict in both personal and professional settings and I saw how much suffering it caused, for myself and others.

 

My habit at the time was to try to “manage” conflict by heading it off at the pass or attempting to squelch it when it did arise. I would spend a lot of energy trying to control situations of discord from behind the scenes, talking people down or trying to unilaterally solve problems.

 

This approach often left important matters unresolved, leading to simmering tensions or explosive outcomes.

 

Eventually, I decided that there had to be a better way. So, I began studying conflict and went on to earn a master’s degree in conflict studies and mediation.

 

At first, I still had the secret intention to control and get rid of conflict. Eventually, I realized that not only is conflict inevitable, but it can actually be a catalyst for positive change.

 

My approach shifted; I stopped trying to control conflict and instead began stepping into it with curiosity. This change has brought me greater ease, deeper connections, and a vital sense of possibility when conflict does arise.


Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: Your habits in conflict are not who you are, they are just what you have done so far. These habits can be changed.

 

By taking small, intentional actions daily, you have the power to shape your approach to conflict and develop a steady, flexible mindset to support you in stressful situations.

 

Increasing your awareness of the decisions that are yours to make can help you to see conflict as an opportunity for constructive change, rather than as a battle to be won, lost, or avoided.


Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Currently, I’m creating training materials that work in tandem with both of my books to support people in consciously practicing their conflict approach. This includes developing sets of cards and practice books, as well as expanding my online training and coaching offerings. I’m also working on ideas for my next book…


Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: These are challenging times, but we have the power—individually and collectively—to navigate turbulence with clarity and purpose. By actively shaping our practice now, we can build our ability to steady our minds, respond with clarity, and pivot effectively when the unexpected arises.

 

I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and your readers. Thank you for having me!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Susan Moore

 

Photo by Cristina Massei

 

 

Susan Moore is the author of the new novel The Widow's Web. Her other books include the Nat Walker Trilogy.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Widow’s Web, and how did you create your character Anna Jones?

 

A: The Widow’s Web  was inspired by my personal experiences of living and working in technology in Northern California for many years. I wanted to explore its unique culture in a fictional, dramatic way. Silicon Valley is such dynamic world, with its cutting-edge innovations and high-stakes competition.

 

I think Anna is in many ways a part of me - a UK-born woman who moved to California. Her exposure to the upper echelons of San Francisco society echoes where I existed for a while, and some elements of her dot com journey were mine too. The darker experiences she goes through, however, are purely fictional. 

Q: As you noted, the novel is set in the tech world--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: The tech world setting plays a vital role in The Widow’s Web; it fuels characters and plot, while allowing me to explore timely themes with authenticity from my industry experience.

 

Being married to a serial tech entrepreneur, I have a constant source of inspiration and insight into this dynamic, ever-changing landscape.

Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: Great question! I thought I did, but during the last third of the book the characters started taking on lives of their own, beyond how I’d originally outlined them. Navigating their inner worlds of action and reaction drove the book to a very different ending than I’d anticipated. 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

A: I hope readers gain a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the technology industry and how those at the top wield the power. There’s definitely a universal need for people to be able to recognize who steers the industry, especially in the age of AI.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: The sequel to The Widow’s Web. I’m already underway with it, and enjoying how it is unfolding. 

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: The tech world is never as dull as it seems. Enjoy reading!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Christa Carmen

 


Christa Carmen is the author of the new novel Beneath the Poet's House. Her other books include the novel The Daughters of Block Island. She lives in Rhode Island.

 

Q: The writer Jessa Maxwell said of Beneath the Poet's House, “Carmen uses a gothic New England setting to explore art and magic and left me thinking that the things men do to women are far more terrifying than any conjuring.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I really enjoy this description (and am eternally grateful to Jessa Maxwell for providing it!) because it calls to mind part of the original pitch I wrote for the novel when I was approaching my publisher with both Beneath the Poet’s House and The Daughters of Block Island:

 

The Haunting of a Thousand Dreams [yes, that was my original title!] places historical figures [Poe & Whitman] in modern-day Providence and explores the intersection between a personal haunting and the lingering ghosts of much-revered public figures, as well as the ramifications of men who treat women as stepping stones on their way to artistic greatness.”

 

That line about men treating women as stepping stones on their way to artistic greatness took on greater meaning as the manuscript evolved (and, let’s face it, rose in pitch from a man merely taking advantage of a woman to putting her in very grave—no pun intended!—danger), and I think Jess perfectly captured that wonderful ability of horror and dark thrillers to reflect the hideous and appalling parts of life back at us through a carnivalesque filter that makes the suffering more bearable.

 

As for my use of a Gothic setting, well, anyone who has read The Daughters of Block Island knows I can’t resist a good old fashioned “damsel in distress” who flips the script, a slew of buried secrets, apparent ghosts, and dastardly villains!


Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?

 

A: While the story—and the characters—can stand on their own, separate from the inspiration of Sarah Helen Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe, I did aim to write my main character, Saoirse White, in such a way that she would embody the strength, fortitude, talent, and discernment of the woman who (actually) lived—and loved—on Providence’s Benefit Street in the early-to-mid-19th century.

 

I hope readers enjoy both a twisty, satisfying thriller and a peek into the past.

 

And most of all, I hope they’re motivated to pick up the works of Poe (again) and Whitman (maybe for the first time), as well as other novels inspired by historical literary figures.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I am also the author of the short novella Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell, from Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror (Wicked Run Press), which was nominated for the 2022 Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction; the short story collection Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked, which won the 2018 Indie Horror Book Award for Best Debut Collection; and the co-editor, along with L.E. Daniels, of two anthologies written by Rhode Island horror writers and based on Rhode Island legend and folklore, We Are Providence, which was a finalist for the 2022 Aurealis Award for Best Anthology, and its 2024 successor, Monsters in the Mills

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Jan. 17

 


 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Jan. 17, 1964: Michelle Obama born.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Q&A with Merrill Sapp

 


 

 

Merrill Sapp is the author of the new book Knowing Wonder: An Elephant Story. She teaches at Stephens College in Missouri.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Knowing Wonder, and how was the book’s title chosen?

 

A: African elephants may go extinct in the wild within a couple of decades, mostly because of what people from outside of Africa have done and are continuing to do. I can’t live with that knowledge and not do everything I can to raise awareness and inspire action to change it.

 

That was the inspiration, or compulsion really. I almost felt like I had to write it.

 

The main goal of the book is to close the distance people feel from humans and wildlife in faraway places, to help readers feel more connected to the unfamiliar. This is where the title came from, to feel wonder by knowing about lives so different than our own.

 

I truly believe what E. O. Wilson claimed about our sense of wonder—that it grows exponentially with knowledge. Some understanding of how elephants exist in the world only deepens the mystery of their amazing lives.

 

Q: How did you research the book, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: I used every type of source to research the book—scientific journals, memoirs, novels about the area, historical reports, videos, interviews, and travel to places where elephants live. It was my travel that convinced me to write about the role of climate change in increasing conflict between humans and wildlife.

 

There are a million surprising things about elephants but what struck me the most about life in some of these beautiful and remote places is the ability of people there to talk about how the warming earth has affected them personally.

 

They can point out specific changes they’ve experienced—unpredictable rainy seasons and lowering water levels, not knowing if the rain will be enough next year. It is part of the stories of their lives.

 

This is a stark difference from home, where people don’t talk about climate change as a personal issue or seem to think they should do anything about it.


Q: The writer Alex George said of the book, “It is the elephants’ fate to be so deeply attuned to their environment and yet ultimately helpless when confronted with the rapacious greed and stupidity of men.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I appreciate Alex’s passion for the issues raised in the book. The problems facing elephants and other wildlife in Africa are man-made. Human activity is driving mass extinctions.

 

The fact that we know, and have for decades, about the role of man in destroying habits and precipitating ecological disasters and have done very little to change it is short-sighted to the point of being stupid.

 

Knowing Wonder illustrates the parallel between elephants and humans—those who are most affected by climate change have little power to alter its trajectory. This makes all living things in these places reliant on the will of others.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: I hope they enjoy the characters and feel that they’ve gotten to know them. Elephants are individuals with personalities who make choices and respond meaningfully to the needs of their young.

 

Many of the things we think make us uniquely human aren’t unique at all. For one example of many, elephants have “name-like” calls for each other, so that in a social group, an elephant knows when she is being addressed.

 

Elephants are easy to see as individuals. From there, we have to look within and ask what we are willing to do to protect them, which we can.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m still in research and discover mode. I’ll just say that my next project will focus closer to home.

 

In the preface of Knowing Wonder, I described how a fascination with elephants and learning about the ecology of these faraway places made me appreciate the life in my own back yard. That was sincere and I’m learning more about common wild beings that I take for granted.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: There are many local or regional organizations in Africa that are doing great work for people and wildlife there, like the Time + Tide Foundation in Zambia, African Wildlife Conservation fund in Zimbabwe, or WWAYI in Kenya.

 

I will try to keep a list on the book website of organizations of which I have personal knowledge or recommendations from people I know. If readers are interested in learning more about these groups, they can check the site at www.knowingwonder.com.

 

The book release party will take place at Skylark Books in Columbia, Missouri, on Jan. 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. I will be doing a few store events in other places. Anyone who is interested can check the above website for details.

 

Also, Deborah, thank you for your interest in the book. I really appreciate it.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Lisa Cheek

 


 

Lisa Cheek is the author of the new book Sit, Cinderella, Sit: A Mostly True Memoir. She lives in Los Angeles.

 

Q: Why did you decide to write this memoir?

 

A: When I was a film editor, I would entertain my clients in the edit bay while we waited for revisions with stories of my family. They always found them funny and interesting and told me for years, I needed to tell my own stories, to write screenplays, but I’m more of a book girl even though I have written a few screenplays with others.

 

Six years ago, I was working on a novel when I lost my father. I went to see a psychic in hopes to hear how he was. She told me he said, “Heaven had the best library.” My father read a book a day so that made me very happy.

 

She also told me I needed to write this specific story now. So I did. I think it was a great place for me start as I have two more memoirs I’m working on.

 

Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The book had many working titles, but when we landed on this one, I knew it was perfect. It had Cinderella in it. It had a familiar dog communication, but most of all, it's what I would do all day every day as a film editor. I sat. And sat. And sat.

 

Q: The writer Julie Cantrell said of the book, “With a quick-witted tone and the creative lens of a gifted filmmaker, Lisa Cheek takes us through the mid-life resurrection of a woman who isn’t afraid to make her own way. In the end, she reminds us that we aren’t meant to do life solo and that true surrender requires far more strength than weakness.” What do you think of that assessment?

 

A: I cried when I read it. It’s one of the most extraordinary compliments I’ve ever received. 

 

Julie has been a teacher and mentor and no way could I have done this book solo or life in general. It’s all about connecting with others. Learning from others and in order to do that, one does have to be vulnerable. I love how Julie reflected that back to me in my own book.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: It is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Publishing one's first book. Editing a film along the Tibetan boarder about Cinderella, another once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

 

When I edited my first feature film, which was written in the edit bay, it won The Slamdance Audience Award and was bought by Fox Searchlight before we left the festival in Park City.  I remember someone saying, “This is just the beginning.” And I said. “But it will never be like this again.”

 

So, I’m doing my best to live in each moment of putting a book out into the world. Learning how to do it and hopefully connecting with my readers.

 

There are so many takeaways for me. 

 

What others think of me is not always accurate or my business. 

 

Age is a number our society has interpreted and I needed to be me. Just me. 

 

Kindness is a universal language. 

 

And most of all... life is an adventure and I find it best with a dog. 

Rescuing dogs always involves rescuing ourselves.
 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on my second memoir, about one night of my life.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Thank you for asking me about Sit, Cinderella, Sit. I hope your readers have half the adventure I had when they read it and I look forward to meeting you IRL one day.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb