fuonlyknew

1. The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers has an unusual structure, with two linked novellas based on the same main character, Sidonie Ross. When you began writing, did you envision this work as two related stories?

No, I didn’t. I wrote The Black Leopard’s Kiss and was so fascinated by its narrator, Sidonie, that after incorporating suggestions from one very helpful reader about The Black Leopard’s Kiss, I rolled up my sleeves and started the second novella.

2. Sidonie Ross is an author who is 64, 70, and earlier ages (there are time regressions in both novellas). Is Sidonie like you?

Sidonie is a bit of a curmudgeon. Yes, probably like me. Her mother was a glamorous artist as was mine, though my mother didn’t have Béatrice’s personality or behave as she did. In both novellas, Sidonie is having some difficulty with physical infirmities, which I, too, am dealing with and wanted to write about. And the setting is based on my childhood home in New Jersey. Close friends may note other similarities, but other than the above, I’m not telling!

3. What genre best fits the book?

This is a literary work with magical realism (not the fantasy/speculative kind), interwoven themes, yet it also contains some suspense, twists, turns, and psychological introspection. In many ways, this is a unique book and certainly very different from other fiction I’ve written except for The Swimmer, which was my first modest foray into magical realism.

4. You’ve written in different genres, for different readers. Most authors stay in one area and cultivate readers who expect the same type of novel each time. Why don’t you do this?

My first inspiration was Patricia Highsmith. I loved her sociopathic characters and how she entrapped an innocent person in a slowly tightening web. As a result, some of my first novels were in the psychological suspense genre and some continue to be: Jenny Kidd, Doublecrossed, A Bittersweet Tale, and The Psychologist’s Shadow. However, I’m also fascinated by the coming-of-age maturation period and have written books with teenage characters, such as Once, Upon an Island, The Outcast Oracle, Turnabout, and The Firefly. I’ve also strayed into comedy—couldn’t help myself when I happened to channel a very funny guy. As for readers, they range from general market to LGTBQ+ audiences. Mostly, I tend to write the book that needs to be written and consider myself a “bridge” writer.

5. Who do you envision as the primary readers for this book?

Anyone who enjoys Virginia Woolf, literary conundrums, and is willing to follow an author who is having great fun concocting a strange plot. Although there are some lesbian and bisexual characters, their orientation doesn’t necessarily tilt interest toward LGTBQ+ readers.

6. How long have you been writing?

My first poem was written at age seven, a novel at age twelve, and more poetry and some short stories in high school. Although I continued to create poems throughout my life, I didn’t concentrate on writing until I was closing my career as a book designer. So, unfortunately, I had a late start, but I’m trying to make up for lost time!