Q&A with Ellen Rachlin

  

 

 

Ellen Rachlin is the author of the new novel Enheduanna's Song from the Sands. Her other books include the poetry collection Permeable Divide.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write Enheduanna’s Song from the Sands?

 

A: Enheduanna inspired me. When I encountered her by chance, reading about her father, Sargon the Great, who was the world’s first emperor, I noticed a woman in his family tree with the moniker “world’s first named author.” I searched for her works and discovered these remarkable hymns.

 

Although The Exaltation of Inanna, or Ninmešarra, survives only in incomplete form, what remains is a female voice pleading to a god, Inanna, to restore her as high priestess of Ur after being brutally forced into exile, and is unforgettable.

 

It opened of world of mythology that I hadn’t known before, but presented as critical to Enheduanna’s survival and happiness. Then I read the other works attributed to her.

 

Men in this time period had epics and legends about them, but the great women of the era were footnotes. Enheduanna had to have had a remarkable story to have inspired or written these hymns. I couldn’t stop thinking about what that story might have been. To me, this was a woman who leaps out of deep history and refuses to be forgotten.

 

And the time period inspired me. Why have we overlooked ancient Mesopotamia in literature compared to ancient Greece and Rome? That realization made me want to write this novel even more.

 

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

 

A: My research period was long and intense. I started with no knowledge whatsoever, and faced a time period that isn’t widely written about or known, certainly compared to other ancient civilizations like Rome or Greece. Even dating itself is contested.

 

For months, I read everything I could absorb from scholarly articles, books, and online resources. I loved the humor and passion in the scholarly works, but found many contradictions that left me confused.

 

At that point, I reached out directly to Assyriologists, who were generous with their knowledge. I’m grateful to the many scholars whose work I relied on. I developed a deep admiration for their efforts in piecing together the heart of this sophisticated, complex society.

  

Before beginning this novel, I had misunderstood the origins of so many conventions, including law, education, literature, literary traditions, agricultural techniques, trade, and much more.

 

One book I highly recommend is by Samuel Noah Kramer, aptly entitled History Begins at Sumer. It is eye-opening.

 

Q: What did you see as the right balance between fiction and history as you wrote the novel?

 

A: This was one of my biggest challenges. I came away from my research with a deep respect for this era which isn’t well known. I didn’t want to short-change it in the novel, but I was writing a work of fiction. I didn’t want to overwhelm my readers with history lessons.

 

At the same time, I had a character for which we have scant details, but what we do know points to the conclusion that she was extraordinary. So I wrote a version of her story from my imaginings.

 

What I ended up with was a novel with  a lot of history which should appeal to history lovers, combined with a story of a powerful woman whose life is defined by profound betrayals that she must fight to overcome.

 

The Enheduanna of my imaginings is compelling because of how she navigates the complex world around her that doesn’t offer an easy path. Her circumstances were prescribed by historical facts and then she becomes the sum of her choices.

 

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

 

A: Enheduanna’s struggles highlight the cost of pitting brute force against brute force. Set up for failure from the moment she’s appointed high priestess, she meets her enemies with military power and ruthless control only to lose everything in the process.

 

She’s ultimately saved by self-knowledge and the recognition of her greatest weapon: her words. She uses them to earn the gods’ favor and an empire.

 

I'd love readers to take away three things: that Enheduanna belongs among history’s most remarkable women, that ancient Mesopotamia shaped our world and is one of the most compelling periods in history, and that right words are more enduring than any civilization.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m always working on new fiction. I just finished a contemporary suspense novel and am still deciding whether to pursue publication. I believe that one should have complete conviction in their stories before convincing readers to engage with them. I want to have that conviction.

 

However, I’m very excited about the first draft of a literary fiction work I’ve been working on. After that, I will likely return to historical fiction.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I had always wanted to write a novel and was waiting for the right opportunity to devote the time it required. I had a very demanding job in finance and a deep respect for the time and attention it takes to write a novel. I have written poetry for many years and know that writing habits matter.

 

Both poetry and fiction demand attention to detail, but a novel requires more sustained linearity. Writing Enheduanna’s Song From the Sands made a lot of sense to me because her story is intertwined with her hymns, writing those passages felt like familiar ground.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Lauren Lee Smith

  

 

 

Lauren Lee Smith is the author of the new novel The Night Pool. She lives in Southern California. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Night Pool, and how did you create your characters Clara, Haloke, and Mei?

 

A: I grew up on rural acreage near Coloma[, California,] and participated in field trips to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park as well as neighboring sites like Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park, Empire Mine State Historic Park, etc., as well as countless small, neighboring gold rush towns.

 

I became very interested in history, yet I noticed early on that so much of what is available only seemed to center men’s stories, as though women were not even present.

 

Of course, we know now that so much of the historical record omits or outright erases women’s experiences and accomplishments, but I desperately wanted to hear about the diverse, brave women who lived in these frontier places, to imagine and see the world through their eyes.

 

I created Clara, Haloke, Mei, and my other characters to create a conversation around what this life might have looked like. 

 

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

 

A: The Gold Rush caused a massive collision of cultures in a very short span of time, setting off indescribable destruction of land, water, and prior established ways of life led by the Indigenous peoples of California.

 

I think we all sort of know that American history is riddled with horrors, but reading about real events during the research process was very shocking. It is truly terrifying what men are capable of, when there are resources, fortunes, and egos at stake.

 

I found myself wondering, if such wickedness is known, what happened that was never recorded? What was buried in the dry hills, never to be spoken of? 

 

Q: The author Cynthia Pelayo said of the book, “The Night Pool is a fever dream of gold and blood, where the land itself remembers what was taken. Here, women confront the brutality of the frontier and the haunting darkness that stalks the ravaged banks of Gold Rush–era Coloma.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I am honored to receive such words from Cynthia. She is a fellow mom and a very prolific, talented, and hard-working writer. She is an inspiration to me and I so appreciate her support. She has a new dark fairytale retelling out called It Came From Neverland, and everyone should check it out!

 

Q: As you’ve noted, the novel is set in Coloma, California, during the Gold Rush--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: As with many gothic novels, setting is crucial. But I chose Coloma because despite its massive importance in history as the town that fast-tracked Western expansion by setting off mass migration into California, it is seldom the focus of media exploration.

 

It has become a sleepy little town for school field trips and rafting tours, but its history is incredibly important and should be shared and taught.

 

But I am seeing more coverage of California history lately. There is a new docuseries I’m looking forward to called People of the West, which details California Indigenous history through native voices and storytelling. (ref:www.instagram.com/peopleofthewestseries)

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I have a handful of projects in progress, hope to have more good news about them soon. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Looking forward to sharing The Night Pool with readers who love horror and history, and championing the underdeveloped genre of the feminist historical horror Western!

 

My work might be considered a niche genre blend, but it has so much potential to teach us about our history in the American West, and about ourselves. Thank you so much for the opportunity to discuss my work.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Marissa Rachel and Shanna Lisa

  

 

 

Marissa Rachel and Shanna Lisa are the authors of the new book Attention Is the New Currency: The Ultimate Guide to Standing Out & Getting Paid on Social Media. They are sisters, and are the co-creators of the Youtube channel @MarissaRachel. They are based in Los Angeles.

 

Q: What inspired you to collaborate on this book?

 

A: The main inspiration behind this book was the knowledge we spent years searching for during our own social media journey, as well as everything we learned firsthand through 15 years of working in social media, digital content creation, and marketing.

 

We would often go to YouTube events and hear the same tips over and over again, like, "Post consistently" or "Just be confident so your audience can connect with you."

 

While we agree with this advice, we felt like it was overly generic and didn't actually help us figure out what to do next. We wanted something more practical, with specific strategies and actionable tips that creators like us could actually implement.

 

For example, one exercise they would often have us do in focus groups and creator sessions was to make a list of dream brands that we wanted to work with. We always said to ourselves that yes, having dream brands in mind is awesome... but how does someone actually get to those brands and pitch them correctly?

 

Our book was inspired by everything that would've helped us and set us up for success in our own creator journeys.

 

Today, more people than ever want to become influencers and content creators. Social media is now the second biggest influence on young people's career choices, behind only family, friends, and teachers, according to forthcoming research from University of Wisconsin Stout professor Matthew Simoneau and his colleagues.

 

More than 60 percent of middle and high school students surveyed between 2021 and 2024 said they wanted to become influencers or chose career paths based on what they saw online. Even second graders in Wisconsin and Norway drew YouTube and TikTok logos when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up.

 

With so much conflicting information out there, we wanted our book to be a guide for people who want to pursue social media as a career, and learn how to do it the right way.

 

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

 

A: Funnily enough, the title "Attention Is the New Currency" was originally suggested by our publisher, BenBella, as the subtitle to another title we had been considering but none of us felt particularly passionate about: "Social Media Stardom."

 

We also toyed with a play on "How to Win Friends and Influence People," replacing the word "friends" with "followers," but that didn't quite work either.

 

We went through many titles before ultimately deciding on this one. Once it was suggested, we couldn't get it out of our heads. The more we said it to ourselves, the more we liked it. It encompasses so much of what we believe about social media and the world we live in today.

 

We really resonated with the title because it rang true to us. Attention quite literally is a form of currency in today's world.

 

You can go out for a night on the town, enjoy a lavish $800 steak dinner, and post about it instead of paying with money. You can enjoy a dream vacation worth thousands of dollars in exchange for social media promotion. You can even receive luxury designer items and expensive diamond jewelry in exchange for creating content.

 

These are all things we've personally done, and our goal with this book was to teach others how to harness the power of social media to its fullest potential and use it to unlock an incredible range of opportunities, especially those who may not know where to begin.

 

Q: Do you think it's more difficult to stand out on social media today than it was a decade ago?

 

A: Yes and no.

 

The social media landscape has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, and it will continue to evolve. In the earlier days of the digital era, having anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 followers gave you a much more significant footprint. Today, those numbers can be considered relatively modest, and the threshold for what people perceive as "viral" has risen considerably.

 

There is also far more saturation than there was a decade ago. Since the 2020 pandemic, when short form content exploded in popularity, the number of people creating content has only continued to grow, with no signs of slowing down. More people than ever are competing for attention, which can make it harder to break through the noise and build a recognizable presence.

 

At the same time, the enormous growth of social media has also created far more opportunities. A decade ago, creators often had to explain to brands what an influencer was, why social media mattered, and justify why companies should invest money in digital content. Today, social media budgets are already built into the marketing strategies of most major brands. Companies understand the value of creators, and entire careers and industries now exist that were virtually unheard of 10 years ago.

 

The opportunities have also become more diverse. In the past, a relatively small group of top influencers dominated the social media landscape and secured the majority of major brand deals and opportunities. Today, brands increasingly work with creators of all sizes, including microinfluencers and niche creators with smaller but highly engaged audiences. You no longer necessarily need millions of followers to build a successful career or make a meaningful impact.

 

So yes, it may be harder to stand out because there are more people competing for attention. But there are also more platforms, more niches, more ways to monetize, and more opportunities to turn an audience into a career than ever before. The number of ways to become successful has expanded dramatically.

 

Q: What do you see looking ahead when it comes to creating a successful social media presence?

 

A: One of the most surprising things we discovered while researching this book was the rise of in-person experiences. Podcasts are going on tour. Fitness influencers are hosting live workshops and classes. Beauty influencers are hosting live masterclasses. Creators who built their audiences entirely online are increasingly finding ways to bring those communities together in the real world.

 

For years, the ultimate measure of influence was whether you could build a large audience online. Now, there is a new question: Can you inspire that audience to actually do something in person? Can you get them to buy a ticket, show up in person, attend an event, or participate in an experience?

 

The ability to translate online attention into real world action will become an increasingly important measure of influence over the next several years.

 

Another major shift will be the continued push for authenticity. Audiences are savvier than ever. They can immediately tell when they are being pitched to, lied to, or sold something that a creator does not genuinely believe in. The creators who build lasting trust with their audiences will have an enormous advantage.

 

But there is also a danger in taking authenticity too far. The pressure to constantly share more of yourself can easily become oversharing, and creators have to navigate the increasingly complicated line between being authentic and protecting their privacy. One unpopular political opinion, one poorly worded comment, or one mistake taken out of context can still lead to enormous backlash.

 

At the same time, we are already seeing significant pushback against cancel culture and a growing recognition that people should be allowed to make mistakes, learn, and evolve. In our book, we walk creators through exactly what to do if they find themselves facing "getting cancelled" or a major online controversy.

 

Ultimately, we believe creating a strong and impactful social media presence requires thinking beyond follower counts and the pursuit of going viral. One of the biggest themes we focus on in the book is longevity. Large numbers can be exciting, but they are temporary unless you have built something meaningful and sustainable behind them.

 

The goal should not simply be to get attention, but to know what to do with that attention once you have it. If you go viral, have you built a brand people will remember? Do you have a loyal community that will stay with you? Have you created a business that can turn a temporary surge of attention into long term opportunity?

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

Marissa: I am an avid martial artist who does boxing and other forms of martial arts. Right now, I am working toward getting my black belt in Krav Maga. It has been a long journey that has taken several years and has been delayed by injuries and other setbacks, but I am determined to get there! Another dream of mine would be to make a horror film and bring it to a film festival!

 

Shanna: Raising my daughter is my top priority, as she is a toddler about to turn 2! We just tackled potty training, and next up is preschool and advancing to the next level in swim class. Things are constantly evolving when you have a young child, and there is always a new milestone on the horizon.

 

Professionally, I would love to write another book, but this time, fiction. I have had ideas for a novel brewing inside me for years, and when I put my mind to something, I know I can do it.  I also have a few business ideas in the works that I am currently exploring. We will see which one takes off!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: We really poured our hearts and souls into this book, and we truly believe it can help people on their journeys. Whether you're a business owner, a student, an entrepreneur, someone with a passion project, or simply someone who loves creating content, this book offers practical strategies for building your presence and making the most of the opportunities available online.

 

Today's world is digital, and learning how to adapt to it is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons, create new opportunities, monetize your skills, and put yourself out there.

 

If you're willing to put in the work and take some of the advice in Attention Is the New Currency to heart, you can set yourself up for success, open doors you never thought possible, and learn how to turn attention into real, meaningful opportunities.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Aug. 26

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Aug. 26, 1921: Ben Bradlee born. 

Q&A with Tess Gerritsen

  

Photo by Josh Gerritsen

 

Tess Gerritsen is the author of the new novel The Shadow Friends. It's the third in her Martini Club series. She is also a physician and a filmmaker, and she lives in Maine.

 

Q: Why did you decide to focus on your character Ingrid in your new Martini Club novel?

 

A: I was interested in the marriage between Ingrid and Lloyd. They are two such different people -- she's a risk taker and a former covert operative while Lloyd, the retired analyst, is more cautious and thoroughly domestic.

 

How did they ever fall in love, and what if, at this late stage in their lives, something threatened their seemingly stable marriage? I introduce a temptation from Ingrid's past -- a charmingly attractive ex-lover who walks back into her life and puts her marriage to the test. 

 

Q: What inspired the plot of The Shadow Friends?

 

A: Shadow Friends features a global affairs conference in the fictional town of Purity. In my real town, we have a similar conference called The Camden Conference. It was started nearly 40 years ago by CIA and State Department retirees who live here, and it brings in fascinating speakers from around the world.

 

What if one of their speakers gets murdered? With so many international guests in town, the list of suspects -- and other targets -- is a long one.

 

Q: How would you describe the friendship between Maggie and Ingrid?

 

A: It's one of intense loyalty, mutual admiration, and trust. Although in Shadow Friends, I put that trust to the test.

 

Q: You’ve said, “Of all my projects, this series feels the most personal to write, because the story reflects my own feelings about growing older.” Can you say more about that?

 

A: For years, I've known about the retired spies in my town, but I didn't know how to turn that information into a novel.

 

As I got older, and felt myself growing more and more invisible to society because of my age, I wondered what it was like for people who've lived adventurous lives to now be looked at as harmlessly doddering old folks when in fact they are still as sharp -- and dangerous -- as ever.

 

That's how the Martini Club was born. The fun part of writing these stories is seeing young police chief Jo Thibodeau slowly realize she's being outmaneuvered by five gray-haired people whom she completely underestimated.

 

Q: What are you working on now? Will there be more Martini Club novels?

 

A: I'm at work on the fourth in the series, tentatively titled The Italian Affair. It focuses more on Jo Thibodeau, who wins a free trip to Italy. She's never been to Europe, she goes a little wild while in Italy -- and vanishes. The Martini Club comes to the rescue!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I'm having a great time writing about characters who could very well be my neighbors!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Tess Gerritsen. 

Q&A with Keri Mangis

  

 

 

Keri Mangis is the author of the new book The Essential Ingredient: Remaking Ourselves in Times of Crisis.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Essential Ingredient?

 

A: In short, the collective and cultural breakdown we are currently experiencing in America inspired me to write this book.

 

First, it was for myself. I needed a way to grasp what was happening—not just through a historical lens, but through a timeless one. It’s one thing to note intellectually that history repeats. It’s another to actively participate in the breakdown process and what comes after, consciously choosing to be one of the humans who build a new world.

 

Then, it was for others. My decades of spiritual study, and, most recently, my exploration of alchemy, gave me a blueprint that outlined the necessary stages of transformation.

 

It was different than what most of us have been taught about crisis. Words and phrases like "overcome," "independent," and "bootstrap mentality" had no place here as they don’t actually help anyone move through a collapse, only around it.

 

As a culture falls apart, so too do the stories and ideas that built it. People will need a way to sit with that disillusionment. This book will give them that.

 

Plenty of people can intellectualize this crisis from a safe distance. Others choose complacency, fall into cynicism or despair. Still others sit back, waiting for a hero to fix it.

 

This book starts by reminding the reader that they are not separate from this world, nor anyone else. And so if we have a sliver of a chance to remake this world into something better, we all need to get to work.

 

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

 

A: There is a term in alchemy called the "prima materia." It translates to First Matter.

 

In the alchemical process of attempting to turn lead into gold, the idea was to first reduce lead all the way down, to its essentialness. Burn away all the impurities, reduce it down again and again until all that remains is so purely its essence. From that space, the alchemists believed, anything was possible.

 

This idea stuck with me as I was writing. Through healing, processing, wrestling with our conditioning and more of this work, we reduce ourselves down to our essentialness. The things that burn us are in fact returning us.

 

And then, all of us from our essentialness, we go into the next version of this world. We do not need something from outside ourselves to do it. We are the essential ingredient.

 

Q: Can you say more about what you see as the importance of alchemy in this book and in people’s lives?

 

A: Many people consider alchemy a failed experiment. They never did (as far as we know!) turn lead into gold.

 

But others consider that the alchemists were using that idea as more of a cover for the real work they were doing, which was on the human mind and consciousness. That when they were talking about lead and gold, they were talking about turning that which is old, useless, and valueless within us into something that shines and brings value.

 

Carl Jung saw that, too, as he applied many of these principles to his work in individuation with clients. And I thought: well, if we can apply it to an individual, what happens if we take it to the collective? That is the thought exercise of this book.

 

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

 

A: Writing this book—and reading the books that helped to shape it—gave me a sense of peace and settledness. Instead of feeling alone and defensive, I feel connected to everything, and that gives me great comfort.

 

But none of that came through just wanting it. I had to pass through feelings of isolation. I had to experience great unsettling as old beliefs and worldviews that I had depended on, nourished myself on, fell apart.

 

For readers, I hope they come away with a sense of their own power and possibility—no matter what happens around them. I hope to remind them that they are not broken, even when things in their life break down. Wholeness lives within all of us.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: The Essential Ingredient is a comprehensive, wide-ranging book on the issue of transformation both personal and collective. What I am working on now is creating the necessary pathways into it—and there are so many.

Some might come to it through identity crisis, or an existential breakdown. Others might feel fear about the direction of the culture, and seek a way to stay steady. Still others might be navigating a personal loss or transition—a death, a divorce, a career that no longer fits—and seek a map that does more than just tell them to get on with it already.

 

Whatever breakdown people are struggling with in their lives, I am confident there is a message for them in this book.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I put together a media kit with more about why I wrote the book, how it is different from typical self-help, whether I consider it political, and more.

 

Beyond that, I would like to suggest to anyone who picks this book up: take your time. Done correctly, this book should have you questioning things you’ve long taken for granted. That’s good: that breakdown is where real change lives. There is no telling who you might become through the process.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Raven Howell

  

 

 

Raven Howell is the author of the new children's picture book A Day with the Dragons. Her other books include The Look Inside Book.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write A Day with the Dragons?

 

A: I was inspired by the majesty and magic of dragons. I also believe dragons have a wonderful sense of humor, so they were the perfect characters for my new kids’ book.

 

The story introduces two dragon brothers, Blue and Green. They love and respect each other but have completely different ideas on how to spend a fun day together. After many shenanigans, mishaps, and finally remorse over tricking each other, they follow their little brother’s advice, and a happy ending ensues.

 

Q: What do you think Alexander Santos's illustrations add to the story?

 

A: Alexander added depth to the dragon characters. His illustrations are like full-body visual text mirrors. The pages show children how the dragons, like humans, actually experience and express their feelings.

 

This is not art fluff. Alex and I spent lots of time crafting each sequence and if the feelings were illustrated even just a little off from the true intention, he went back to the drawing board.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between the two brother dragons?

 

A: Blue and Green are like the flip sides of the same coin. Blue likes the ocean. Sailing, surfing and swimming are his happy activities. He begs Green to sail with him to the point of making up false claims.

 

Green is happy as an earth-bound dragon. Hiking boots on his big sturdy feet, he’ll climb the mountains and forge the valleys all day. Blue was none too happy to join him on a hike. Things went from bad to worse when Blue broke out in red spots, apparently allergic to dandelions!

 

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

 

A: In summary, A Day With the Dragons’ characters have non-negotiable preferences. The reader sees and experiences the collision with a touch of humor as well as a genuine crisis. With honest, detailed admission of what was done, why they did it, an apology isn’t just a “sorry,” but a true repair to love and joy.

 

Not only for kids, it’s a story about relationships that just about every adult has experienced.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I have a new release, a picture book titled The Look Inside Book, coming out in September! But for now, I’m busy in summer schools and book fairs with the dragons.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: These days the world can seem upside down, tumultuous. Books are a great way to stimulate positive feelings. Sharing books with the children in your life offers them the gift of believing in the magic that’s within themselves.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Raven Howell. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of five signed hardcover copies of A Day with the Dragons. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a cozy A Day with the Dragons throw pillow plus 10 of Raven Howell's bestselling children's books, spanning preschool through early reader favorites.