Your background is remarkable—you’re a U.S. Army veteran, a General Surgeon, and an MIT graduate with a Biology degree and Writing minor. How have these diverse experiences shaped your approach to storytelling and, specifically, the creation of The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor?
The military and medicine share common themes: attention to detail, dedication, and concern for others. Both have a methodical way of weighing risks and benefits, considering alternative managements, formulating a plan, and following through for success. Many of the characters in the story embrace this approach to problem solving. However, there are a lot of bad decision making in this story.
I minored in Writing in college and The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor has been swimming in my head for years. Now that Mom’s Taxi is officially closed and my presence is no longer needed in the stands on the soccer or football fields, I have the time to devote to realizing my dream. Since the first day I started to outline the story, the words have flooded the pages like a tsunami, and haven’t stopped. This book is the first in a series. I chased a dream and now am a self-published author. I set my goals high and work every day to achieve them.
The Third Estate has garnered an impressive list of awards and recognitions—from the BREW Seal of Excellence and the Literary Global Gold Award to Readers’ Favorite 5-stars, the American Writing Awards Finalist honor, and The BookFest wins. Which of these acknowledgments has been the most meaningful to you, and why?
I'm thrilled honored to receive each and every one of these prestigious awards. The time and effort the judges invested in reading and critiquing The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor is greatly appreciated. It will provide potential readers with the information they need to make an educated decision if they would enjoy the story before purchasing the book.
An early draft of my novel was named a Chanticleer International Book Awards 2023 – Finalist Clue Division – Thriller & Suspense Fiction. I entered 12 contests that year and won one. Many of the contests offered judges feedback for an extra fee, worth every penny. I learned more from what the judges didn't like, then what they did, and applied that insight into my future edits.
Fast forward to 2024, when my manuscript underwent several more edits, with developmental, copy, and proof reading. I self-published the novel in December, 2024, with Outskirts Press helping with formatting and distribution.
Currently I have won or placed in over 50 competitions, but this is my first overall win. I’m so thrilled and honored to receive the Author of the Year. Thank you so much to the judges for your time and talents.
Suspense and medical thrillers often rely heavily on authenticity. How did your career in medicine, especially in high-pressure environments, inform the tension and realism woven throughout your novel?
As a General Surgeon, my day is filled with all kinds of decisions, some small, some life or death. Especially in a trauma situation, what if the patient left a few minutes earlier? Would they not have gotten into the car accident? What if the person with a perforated bowel came to the hospital a week earlier when their symptoms started. Could they have avoided an operation?
“What if” occupies my thoughts daily. It doesn’t matter if I’m writing or in the operating room. What if I’m in the OR and encounter bleeding – I have five solutions preplanned to address the problem. What if a character gets himself into trouble? I have different solutions to fix the situation and pick the most interesting and unexpected. I’m constantly analyzing my options and formulating a plan to act and counteract the outcomes.
Readers and reviewers consistently praise your book for its intricate plotting and gripping suspense. Can you share a glimpse into your writing process? Do you outline meticulously, or do you allow the story to unfold more organically?
This is my most asked question.
I’m a plotter and planner in every aspect of my life.
Sophie and Lovac's stories are intertwined, run parallel, and finally clash, before separating again at the end of the story. First, I outlined Sophie's story from beginning to end. Lovac had minimal importance in my first draft. As I continued my subsequent developmental edits, I realized that Lovac's actions in the first chapter are what propels the motivation and consequences of the main characters, and he deserved more of a story line. As the edits progressed, Lovac's story became just as important as Sophie's and added much needed layering in the intrigue and complexity of the story. I had one reviewer tell me he was rooting for the assassin.
I love the Great Courses. I listened to a course called “How to Write Best Selling Fiction.” The courses are about 45 minutes, which works out great for my 20 min ride to and from work. The instructor, James Scott Bell, JD, is amazing. He talks about writing from sign post to sign post, all organized in the three-act structure. I use this method and I never get writers block or lose my way in the story. I outlined The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor in about two hours. I did add new characters and scenes along the way, but that’s all part of the journey.
With accolades across so many categories—Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Women’s Fiction—The Third Estate seems to transcend a single genre. Who was your ideal reader when you wrote this book, and how do you feel about the wide range of audiences it has connected with?
To be honest, I was the ideal reader when I wrote the book. I wanted to write a book and tell the story my way. If, at the end, I was the only one who read the book and it sat on my shelf and no one else’s, I would be OK with that as long as I put my best effort into making it. One of my life goals was to be a published author. Box checked. I write for me because I enjoy telling stories. Not everyone can like your story. I entered a contest and came in third. The judges feedback was eye opening. Two judges gave me a 95 and 100! The third judge gave me a 60? The story definitely resonates with some people and not with others.
I had one developmental editor tell me the book crossed through too many genres. I totally disagree. Genres, like people, are more alike, then different. The same elements of good story telling cross genres all the time.
You’ve been affectionately called the “Mamarazzi” for your photography of your children’s sports teams. Do you see any overlap between your eye for capturing a moment on camera and your ability to create vivid scenes on the page?
A friend of mine asked, “When is your book going to be on Netflix?” People have told me when they read the novel, they feel like they’re watching a movie. Photographs tell stories just as well as movies or books. I consider each page of my novel to be a still photograph. When you flip through the pages, a story emerges that grabs the reader’s attention as they walk side by side with the characters, smell what they smell, see what they see, and feel and experience every high and low as it happens.
As a debut novelist who has already received such global recognition—from Hollywood and Paris Book Festivals to the International Firebird Book Awards—what has surprised you the most about the publishing and award circuit journey?
I appreciate and enjoy every award. I tap on my phone, refreshing the page like I’m trying to win concert tickets from a radio station, on the day of the award announcements. I recently had the privilege through the Bookfest Awards to share a billboard in Time Square with many amazing authors. We liked and follow each other’s social media pages and cheer on each other’s successes. They say being a writer is a lonely and competitive field. I disagree. Leave the jealousy on the pages and out of your life.
Write the best book you can, cheer on other’s successes, and enjoy the journey, or why bother doing it?
Suspense and thrillers often hinge on atmosphere, secrets, and reveals. Without giving too much away, what do you think makes Secrets of the Manor unique among other thrillers in its space?
I concentrated on ending every chapter with a “What?” moment, especially the last one. Every edit (of which there were a lot!) raised the stakes in each action scene. Each secret revealed leads to another layer of revelations and the reader is left asking where the character’s loyalties lie.
Your book has already been praised as “Most likely to inspire a sequel” (Speak Up Talk Radio / Firebird Awards). Can fans expect a continuation of The Third Estate story, or are you exploring something entirely new for your next project?
I’m planning to finish the next installment of the series by the end of this year. Fingers crossed. Unlikely alliances will form, lines crossed, friendships challenged, and destinies changed forever. Someone asked me, “How many books do you plan to write?” I answered, “Until I run out of stories to tell.” You’ll just have to stay tuned and check out the next epic adventure.
With your work resonating so strongly across readers, critics, and award programs, what advice would you give aspiring authors who are struggling to balance demanding careers, family, and the pursuit of creative writing?
A friend of mine at work recently stopped me in the hallway and said, "Thank you." I said for what? She said she was following me on Facebook and watching my journey from afar. She thought, "I can do that too." She also wrote a book and told me I gave her the motivation to not only finish it, but self-publish. If I could do it, she could too.
If you think you can or you think you can't, your right. Think you can, and anything is possible.
My advice? The only person you have control over is you. Set a goal, reach for the stars, and enjoy the journey along the way.
