Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Celebrating the Joys of Letter Writing by Nina Sankovitch

In the era of texting, Twitter, and Facebook, getting a letter in the mail has become an unexpected, blissful experience—one that brings feelings of love and kinship to its receiver.  What has historically been the main form of communication is now viewed as passé due to the technological, instant communications of today.  Sankovitch’s book explores the endless world of letters from bygone days through correspondence between, for example, Jack the Ripper and the police, and between Wilkie Collins and Charles Dickens.  While digging in her backyard, she uncovered an old trunk containing a trove of letters, which became the inspiration to write this “biography” of letters.  Although most of the letters were written in the early 1900s by a Princeton student, James Seligman, to his mother, the letters became the launching pad for research into the history of letters and their treasured significance. 

Author Sankovitch sets out to understand the spirit and potency of long forgotten stories bound up in letters.  There is a certain power in letters that is absent within the boundaries of text messages and e-mails.  Holding a tangible object in your hand connects you to the sender through the aroma of the paper and ink and through their particular, quirky handwriting.  Upon reading the book, perhaps you, too, will recognize the benefits of letter writing by taking up pen and paper to connect to someone on a whole new level.  Nina Sankovitch reminds us “…there is more than enough happiness in the world, isn’t there; we just have to acknowledge it.  And what better way than through a letter”. 

Information on her books and reviews can be found on her blog www.ReadAllDay.org .

Interview with Nina Sankovitch:

1) What initiated your interest in writing?

I have always been interested in writing, but even more interested in reading!  During my year of reading a book a day, I wrote every single day - I wrote a review of the book I'd read the day before. I wanted to share what I had learned from the book or liked about or what I didn't like about it with readers of my blog, www.readallday.org.

2) Have you ever though of writing a novel?

My blog originally began as a way to encourage reading by adults for pleasure, and its motto was "Great good comes from reading great books."  For me, that turned out to be true in so many ways. I learned to live with my sorrow over the death of my sister, and how to carry her with me always, and live in joy, appreciating the small and big moments of life - and always enjoying moments spent reading!  I also wrote my first book about my year of reading and what I learned - Tolstoy & the Purple Chair - and was able to continue writing books, with my third one due to come out in 2016.

3) If you could choose one of the letters you have found/read, which would be your favorite and why?

My favorite letters are the ones written by my children and my husband. Through the kids’ cards and letters, I can keep them young beside me - even as they grow up.  And my husband's letters are both very funny and very loving - perfect for making me feel better when I read them over again.  But my favorite letter that I found? I have so many - but I do love the letters of James Seligman, because he started me down the path of looking at the entire history of letter writing. He was so funny: "Your letter and your check couldn't have possibly been more welcome...If you send a check with every letter, write as often as you want, twice a day if necessary." 

4) Could you talk a little about your next upcoming writing project?

My next book is about The Lowells of Massachusetts, from the 1600s through the 1900s - they were a fascinating, dynamic family, of Puritan origins and then great patriots during the Revolution, and then becoming a leading family of the Boston Brahmin. Their story is the history of New England, both in terms of crises and successes, and offers a unique twist on the American dream. 

5) Who are some of your favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Nadine Gordimer, Wilkie Collins, Charles Dickens, Louise Penny, Haruki Murakami, Anne Cleves ... to mention just a few. 

6) Finally, what advice would you give aspiring writers?

The best advice I can give aspiring writers is to write every day, every single day. Don't wait for inspiration, set goals and meet them. WRITE EVERYDAY - you won't keep it all but it is all good practice. And READ every day, if you want to write well - you learn so much just about writing by reading lots of different types of books. 

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: A Modern Reimagining by Sarah Daltry

Perfect for readers on the go, this short but sweet novella is an independently published modern take on T.S. Eliot’s famous poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.  Told in flashbacks and present day scenes, Daltry weaves a modern summer beachside romance between two young lovers.  Echoing the original poem, she expresses lonely, desperate themes as seen here: “For eighteen years, summer was our chance to find the key, and every fall brought disappointment, when we ended up back at school with no new stories and we were the same people we’d been three months earlier”.  The character of Eliot’s narrator is reimagined in Daltry’s short piece as she traces his life from a hopeful past to a disillusioned present.  Told in the first person narrative, main character Jake meets Emily, a beach town resident at a general store where he works.  Their romance quickly follows and hastens its pace through the summer months.  As autumn approaches, the two begin to question what will become of their love and struggle to make every attempt for a lasting affair.  As the cruel hands of fate sweep in they provide an unexpected close to the short novel.  This accessible modern interpretation of such a widely read poem is a perfect bridge between readers of novels and readers of poems.  Grab yourself a latte and this book and see if you agree with Eliot that “in a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse”. 

Interview with Sarah Daltry:

1) What inspired you to begin writing?

I made up stories my entire life.  My parents worked a lot and we didn’t have a lot of money.  I was always reading, spending many days in the library.  Writing always came natural to me.

2) How did you come to choose T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” to write your novella?

I taught high school English.  I love classic literature.  I started working on this piece, which took me almost two years to write.  I’ve always loved that whole time period.  For example, when the movie “Midnight in Paris” came out I fell in love with the setting and time.  I was never a fan of Hemingway until I read The Sun Also Rises.  I loved teaching authors such as Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Eliot.  I was inspired to think about nostalgia and really loved Eliot’s poem.  There were so many interpretations to be made with unspoken pieces that were relevant to any decade. 

3) Do you feel that you relate to either of the main characters in your story?

I relate to the man a bit but he is older than me.  I used personal observations in reimagining the poem.  I don’t live in New York City but I have lived in New England my whole life so I tried to use a city I was familiar with.  I thought, how could I take these observations and make it into a story.  It was an experiment.

4) Can you talk a little about independent publishing, what made you decide to go this route, and the difficulty level?

I’ve been writing for a long time.  I have a lot of novels and many half written pieces.  Fifteen years ago I wanted to be a writer.  I tried the traditional publishing route and got rejected many times, so I only ended up publishing a couple short stories here or there.  I liked teaching and thought I would go after writing someday.  A few years ago my grandfather died and I was talking to my grandmother about writing.  I realized my aunt, who’s in her 60’s now never acted on her talent for writing.  I had all these ideas for writing but knew that I would never actually do anything unless I started writing seriously.  My first novel was a vampire romance based on biblical themes and was published through an imprint of Harlequin.  I decided to work on young adult fiction, specifically a college story.  It turned into a sexy romance because of the stigma that ‘sex sells’.  It worked for self-publishing and took off for a little but I knew I didn’t want this.  I wrote Backward Compatible and tried to go traditional with that, but I was told there would be no market for it.  I realized, however, that this is what I wanted to be writing.  I was making the choice to write what I want not to write what’s marketable.  I am not a big advocate for either self-publishing or the traditional route, however, I would rather sell 20 copies and be on a shelf somewhere than sell millions writing about something I don’t care about.  I’m willing to work really hard but would like someone to filter it.  I would prefer the traditional route but appreciate the self-publishing route, which gives opportunity. 

5) What are you reading now and who are some of your favorite authors?

Right now I am reading The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.  I finished The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring this summer.  Also on my list is the third novel in the Anna and the French Kiss series, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins and Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor.  My favorite classical authors are Hemingway, the Bronte’s, and Salinger.  My favorite more contemporary authors include Courtney Summers, Lauren DeStefano, Jodi Picoult, and Tom Perrotta.  I like to read realistic contemporary and young adult fiction.  A lot of adult fiction tends to have a certain focus, genre or literary.  Sometimes I just want to read a story that isn’t genre, just realistic, but also not trying too hard to be literary. 

6) What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

You need to know what your goal is.  You need to write the story that matters to you.  Ask yourself, do you want to be a storyteller or a businessperson?  Why are you writing it?  It took me a while to follow my own advice, but I’m happier now writing a book I’m happy with.  Your first question you should ask yourself is why are you writing?

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker

This recently published literary thriller, the author’s first novel, became an instant international bestseller. Presented as a book within a book, it echoes Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” series, which began with “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”  If you liked that series, you will most certainly enjoy “The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair.”

In the summer of 1975 in the small, seaside town of Somerset, N.H., 15-year-old Nola Kellergan vanishes without a trace. Her story doesn’t pick up again until 2008, the year in which the novel is set. Enter Marcus Goldman, a successful writer living in New York City who is desperately searching for his next big bestseller, a second novel that will supersede his outrageously popular first novel. Faced with the doom of writer’s block and his editor’s impending manuscript due date, Marcus flees to his mentor and former professor, Harry Quebert.

Soon after his arrival, Nola’s body is found on Harry’s property buried with a very compelling item, one that will throw a shadow of guilt on Harry. Has Harry had an affair with the girl?  Did he murder Nola?  It doesn’t look good for Harry, so believing he owes his career and happiness to his mentor, Marcus sets out on a search of his own in the hope of proving Harry’s innocence.

As the situation becomes more and more miserable for Harry, one in which his life and reputation hang in the balance, Marcus develops an agenda of his own. He begins to use his research and resulting story to spark a new novel, the great novel that will continue to enhance his fame and popularity as a modern author. He cares about Harry, but does he care more about his own career? Plagued by death threats from unknown sources, and pressure from his editor, Marcus races to discover “The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair.”

The writing is so seamless and flowing, you wouldn’t ever be able to tell it was translated from French. This book will sweep you under like the waves relentlessly hitting the shore in Somerset. When you finally come up for air, the amazing denouement will take your breath away again.

Death Logs In by E.J. Simon

E.J. Simon’s “Death Logs In,”  the sequel to debut novel “Death Never Sleeps,” is part sci-fi, part crime thriller.  The story is reminiscent of “Transcendence,” a film starring Johnny Depp, which came out earlier this year.  The familiar themes of artificial intelligence and the Italian mafia are woven into and around the entangled love affairs of the main character, Michael. He inherits a business, but part of the package is a slew of deadly enemies.  His impending murder hangs in the air like a sinister London fog.

For us readers in Connecticut, the settings of Westport and New York City are recognizable and comfortable, but we are then swept up into over-the -pond locations such as Paris, Rome, and Venice.  This exciting international sci-fi thriller may hop around between places and events, but the author deftly spins a spider web of connections that keeps you anticipating the next chapter.

Michael’s brother Alex, who was murdered in “Death Never Sleeps,” is now back as a virtual character.  His mind was uploaded onto an Apple Mac computer using highly advanced programs found within the walls of Michael’s wine cellar.  The system works to preserve the emotional and technical aspects of a human mind within the confines of a computer.  Many are in disbelief of this modern phenomenon, so Michael tells very few people, and mistakenly confides in his wife Samantha.

The multilayer plot includes futuristic elements, but also deals with Michael’s new every day life as CEO of Gibraltar, a Fortune 500 company, and as CEO of Alex’ s company, Tartarus, one of the world’s largest illegal gambling operations. Once a straight corporate man, Michael appears to have absorbed Alex’s persona in his sudden affinity and ability for treacherous, organized crime.  This business has new requirements, including the need for a bodyguard in the form of the stunning, yet toxic, Sindy Steele.  Loyalties will be tested as the stakes reach a crescendo of unlikely twists that will leave you astounded, on the edge of your seat and eager for Simon’s next installment, “Death Logs Out,” which is coming soon.

Interview with author, E.J. Simon:

First, knowing your background in the corporate world, what motivated and interested you in writing?
I enjoyed my college writing, but abandoned it to earn a living in business. It’s a pretty typical scenario. I have always been an avid reader, however, and I think it’s been the constant reading that actually inspired me to write. Some of that reading – Stuart Woods’ novels, for instance, are not necessarily the finest “literature” but very entertaining. By the way, I’m not trying to be Tolstoy or Hemingway myself – my goal is to write great, entertaining commercial fiction.
Briefly where did you get the inspiration for “Death Logs In?”
“Death Logs In” is the follow up novel to “Death Never Sleeps” – it’s a free-standing sequel. The inspiration for both books came from two of my favorite movies: “The Godfather” and “2001 Space Odyssey.”
I loved the treatment of the family relationships and the realistic depiction of mob violence in “The Godfather.” The idea to add the aspect of artificial intelligence into my story came from “2001 Space Odyssey.” In that movie, the computer onboard the spaceship, named Hal, refuses the astronaut’s command to disconnect itself and, in fact, takes over the space craft.
Do you believe artificial intelligence, specifically what is keeping Alex “alive,” is a thing of the near future?
Yes, artificial intelligence is already at work all around us. It’s still in the early stages but, for example, “Watson” the computer defeated the best human contestants on Jeopardy already, not to mention Siri on the iPhone. I also believe that governments are using it to predict behavior in ways we can only imagine. You should also check out the Westport Library where they have two robots, Vincent and Nancy, to help teach coding and computer programming skills. They can recognize faces, respond to verbal commands and carry on conversations. Scientist Stephen Hawking and Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, both have been quoted recently stating that soon computers will have a consciousness.
What was the hardest part about writing this?
Wondering if anyone was going to read it. Writing a novel is a long project, beginning with the idea, the concept, the actual writing, then editing, the creation of the actual book, getting it published and then the whole marketing effort necessary to be sure that it gets onto Amazon and into bookstores. Finally, there is the publicity work necessary to ensure that people actually purchase it.
Today, writing a novel is more like starting up a business. The book is simply the product and the beginning of the process.
Will the two novels continue into a longer series?
Yes. I’m working on the third novel in the series, it’s titled “Death Logs Out.” Alex’s artificial intelligence software is learning, as it was designed to do, and so he’s becoming more powerful.
On a more personal level, which authors do you feel have been your mentors over the years?
I’m not sure about mentors, but the authors who have influenced me to become a writer are James Patterson (not so much for his most recent writing but for his ability to capitalize on his writing, turning it into a huge commercial success) and Stuart Woods, (I love his “Stone Barrington” series; he makes it appear so effortless but, I know, it takes hard work to make anything appear to be easy). Dan Silva and Dan Brown are also my favorites, I admire their stories and their writing.
Do you have plans for other upcoming writing projects?
Yes, I’m co-authoring a true crime book with Vito Collucci, Jr., a Stamford, Conn. detective who went undercover for the FBI to uncover corruption in the Stamford police department. The book will also go into the “Bra Murders,” which occurred in Stamford, and Vito’s investigative work on behalf of  Robert F. Kennedy’s nephew, Michael Skakel, in the Greenwich murder of Martha Moxley.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Read a lot, write a lot, take some writing course in the genre that you want to write and never give up. I’d also recommend Stephen King’s book, “On Writing.” I like it even better than his novels.

E.J. Simon’s book “Death Logs In” and many others can be found for sale on his website here. Use the promo code “stags” for 20 percent off your purchase.