Why the title Cruel Whispers? (I think I know after reading your book)
I ORIGINALLY NAMED THE BOOK "WHISPERS" BUT BECAUSE MY PUBLISHER ALREADY HAD A BOOK IN PUBLICATION WITH THAT NAME, THEY ASKED THAT I RENAME IT. I CHOSE "CRUEL WHISPERS" BECAUSE JANICE, A CHARACTER IN MY BOOK, WOULD CRUELLY WHISPER TO FREDRIC THAT NO ONE WOULD HAVE HIM IF SHE COULDN'T...IT WAS A TWIST TO MAKE THE READER THINK THAT IT WAS JANICE THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. IT IS MY HOPE THAT I MANAGED TO HAVE THE READER WONDER UNTIL THE END.
How many books have you already written and published?
CRUEL WHISPERS WAS MY FIRST PUBLISHED WRITING. ALTHOUGH AS A CHILD I DABBLED AND WROTE QUITE A BIT. I THINK MY EARLIER DABBLES AT WRITING ARE WHAT LED ME TO CRUEL WHISPERS. AS I MATURED, SO DID MY WRITING STYLE.
How does it feel to have Cruel Whispers published?
LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE! I CANNOT EXPLAIN IN WORDS HOW MUCH THIS HAS MEANT TO ME. AS A CHILD IT WAS A DREAM, ONE THAT I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD EVENTUALLY COME TO REALIZE. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR ALLOWING ME TO FEEL THIS, TO KNOW THAT A CHILDHOOD DREAM ACTUALLY CAME TRUE.
When I was reading Cruel Whispers, I noticed that Salina grows stronger and stronger, did you intent her to become so strong or did it just happen?
I INTENDED SALINA TO GROW STRONGER AS THE STORY WENT ON. SALINA HAD BEEN THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN A BAD MARRIAGE (AND BEFORE HER BAD MARRIAGE - WHICH IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND OUT IN THE SECOND BOOK) AND THOSE SUCH OBSTACLES IN HER LIFE WERE PUT THERE TO MAKE HER A STRONGER, MORE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL. ACCEPTING MEANING THAT SHE ALLOWED HERSELF TO ACCEPT THAT LIFE WASN'T WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT WHAT YOU MADE IT. SHE FACED THE CHALLENGE OF HER EX-HUSBAND KIDNAPPING HER AND WENT ON WITH HER LIFE. (AGAIN, AS YOU WILL SEE LATER)
Janice is a very labile, obsessive person, have you ever met anyone like that in real life?
OBSESSIVE PEOPLE I HAVE DEFINITELY MET THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK IF THOSE PEOPLE HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON HOW I BUILT JANICE AS A CHARACTER, I WOULD SAY NO.
When may we expect a new novel from your hand?
I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY SECOND NOVEL. I AM PRAYING THAT I WILL HAVE IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN MID TO LATE 2006.
Like I wrote in my review of Cruel Whispers, I regret that it only counts 67 pages. I like Salina a lot. Is there any chance that she will be a character in one of your future books?
YES, SALINA WILL BE THE MAIN CHARACTER IN MY NEXT BOOK. ALTHOUGH IT IS A SEQUEL OF SORTS TO CRUEL WHISPERS, IT WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED A STAND ALONE.
I know that you grew up in a family that loves to read. Do you have a favorite author?
YES. I GREW UP READING NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS. NOW, MORE MATURE, I LOVE, TO NAME A FEW, JANET EVANOVICH, STEPHEN KING AND DANIELLE STEELE. THERE ARE MANY AUTHORS I ENJOY READING.
What made you decide to have Cruel Whispers published?
TWO REASONS. FIRST, MY MOTHER, RUTH GARDINIER WAS THE SOLE PERSON WHO KNEW THAT I HAD STARTED THAT BOOK. SHE HAD ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO FINISH IT BUT I NEVER DID. THEN I LOST MY MOM IN SEPTEMBER 2004. AFTER SHE PASSED, I PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND FINISHED IT - FOR HER. AND IT IS DEDICATED TO HER. SECOND REASON IS MY HUSBAND. PHILLIP ENCOURAGED ME ALSO. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD SEND IT IN TO A PUBLISHER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HE BELIEVED IN ME (AND STILL DOES). I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO BOTH MY MOTHER AND MY HUSBAND.
Thank you for this interview Starr!
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