Hello Readers,
An old boyfriend of mine once told me that my writing sucked because it didn't present to readers a new way of processing their world. To him the best writers in any field--from novelists to screenwriters to poets to authors of nonfiction books--all produced works that gave their readers new ways to contemplate the world and examine their choices. In other words, they presented to readers new perspectives that could take them to new horizons.
Of course I was hurt when he said my writing sucks, and at that time I wasn't ready to accept that my creative works were leaving my readers flat. But the more I read, the more I examined things, the more I knew he was right. Perhaps the person that helped me understand his position the most was Roger Ebert, the acclaimed film critic for the "Chicago Suntimes" daily newspaper. When examining how many stars Mr. Ebert gave the movies he reviewed, most of those that he gave four stars, his top rating, were ones that affected people's conscience, ones that made them think.
Okay, accepting that, when I wrote "The Deposition Handbook: A Guide to Help You Give a Winning Deposition," my aim was to empower my readers, help them to feel like they had some say-so in what happened to them during their examination. I strove to empower them. By demystifying the deposition process, the book's readers can feel like they had some control over how their deposition proceeds--they don't have to be just pawns that attorneys get to maneuver as they see fit. (Video of me with red shirt on talks about this book.)
As far as my novel, "Laughter Kills...Laughter Heals," it's conscious fiction that's all wrapped up in a suspense-thriller-mystery. It's the kind of book that the all-time master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock and the ever-so-weird David Lynch (director of the cult classics "Twin Peaks" and "Wild at Heart") might have collaborated on. As you follow the story from its very dark beginning to its feel good ending, don't be surprised if your thoughts swing from "I'd have to kill that sucker," to "God, love truly does make the world go round." And all along the way, you'll find your beliefs about life and human behavior challenged to the nth degree. I wrote the book like this because the words my boyfriend spoke years ago now forever echo in my head, so my writing now has to have a greater purpose than to just entertain. Through the development of my characters and the crafting of my stories, I strive to shed light on ideals that will help shape us as a people. So as you read this book---or my fictional writings in general---you may feel like you're on a nail-biting roller coaster ride, but just when you're about to be ejected from your seat, I'll throw you a parachute. You can then choose to tumble down roughly into a hard, cruel world or take a mind-altering float through the ethers of higher thought. Enjoy! (Video of me with print shirt on talks about this book.)
