Exclusive Interview with
When did you start writing?
I started writing as a young child. I once told a friend that I was going to write novels and she responded by telling me that eight-year-olds cannot write novels. Well, she was right...but I did publish my first novel in my sixties!
What makes writing your passion?
Writing is my passion because it is the way I can share so much with so many. This includes my love for family, my dedication to education and my fascination with history and the human psyche.
How long have you been writing?
I have written and journaled since I learned my letters. However, I first began writing as an education professional, writing two trade books before I published my first novel.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
It was so exciting and uplifting when I published my first book, "Career Pathways: Preparing Students for Life" (Corwin, 2004). My first publication also launched my educational consulting business in assisting schools to build curriculum and career pathway systems for student achievement and transitioning.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
In my novel, "Young Man on the Front Line: Lessons of War," the characters are my father, Sgt. Chris Makas, and a few of his men. The characters are all real and I built their personalities on the stories my dad told me.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
Well, for me it is the promotion part. I love the writing but promoting my book also means promoting 'me' and as a public servant (educator) I'm not very good at self or social media promotion!
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I have a trick for writer's block. I refuse to believe in it. A person can always write something...even about not being able to write. I tell my students to put anything down on paper. It is easier to work with 'junk' than a blank page. Also, other tips for steady writing is outlining and not always writing sequentially.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
What keeps me going is making sure my writing tells a passionate, important and often overlooked tale that combines my love for teaching with my love for writing. Humans learn by story...and there is nothing like a good story!
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Get beyond yourself. It is harder to take risks when you worry about how things look or how people will take this or that. Live your life with passion - get out of your own way.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
I would love to have more book reviews! I have a few on Amazon but it is not always comfortable for me to push others to review my work.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
How do I feel l when I get a good review - Soaring! I think, "yes, they got it!"
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Yes, I have absolutely used my life experiences in my books. In my trade books I shared my experiences in the field. In my novel, I shared conversations and events that occured between the main character (who was my father) and me.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
The book cover is important and such a fun part of putting all the pieces to your book together. It ranks right up there with the title. It's tricky because you cannot 'catch' everyone so you have to ask yourself, "What audience is my title and/or cover going to best pull in?"
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I would love to connect to my readers. I have a quite a few times in person (when I do a book presentation or talk). My book has an email where readers can contact me. The book's email address is young.man.on.the.front.lines@gmail.com
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
It feels better to me when people recognize the sacrifice of the characters and events in the novel than appreciation or recognition of me. The heros here is not the storyteller but those who actually sacrificed and taught us so much by their life's testimony. I am just the messenger.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
My favorite writer is Ernest Hemingway. However it is more of a fickled love affair. I love the way Hemingway writes - his sentence structure. Yet, what he chose to write about is not always of interest to me. I mostly enjoy reading his autobiographical writings.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
Trolls! Ugh. Hey, life is full of unhappy people. Pray for them and move on!
What would you say to your readers?
I would love to say to my readers that I hope the story of Sgt. Chris Makas and Company B has touched their hearts, their minds and their understanding of how other people's life journeys can teach us about past lessons and, more importantly, about ourselves.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I grew up in the Detroit area during the riots and VietNam era. My kids sometimes call me a 'Boomer!' I have four amazing sons, Mark (Rochelle), Ben, Jake and Sam and three beautiful (and talented) grandchildren, Sarah, Ethan and Joshua. My life has been endlessly enriched by my forever sweetheart Fred. I am also blesssed to have a large entrouage of extended family - siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and a church family.
What is your day job if you have one?
I walked so many job paths before retiring during the pandemic. I started as a social studies teacher, becoming an administrator, curriculum director, consultant and college professor. Also, I consider myself a professional student since I never stop learning.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I love to oil paint, design shell creations and hike. In the Upper Pennisula of Michigan we have hundreds of waterfalls and Fred and I are crossing them off our list one beautiful encounter after another. Other than that, I have my nose in a book.
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes, I had a happy childhood but no childhood is without trauma. I was a child in the 1960's and a teenager in the 1970's so (although I don't admit it to my kids or students) we sure enjoyed life along with practicing atomic bomb drills by hiding under our desks or later carrying anti-war signs. College in the 70's? The best time ever.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
What started me writing (journaling)on a regular basis? Well I'm afraid that it was not anything awesome or intellectual - it was early adolescent anguish over boys and mean girls! Lol
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
I am working on a book that is a personal journey thorugh cancer. I think if I can honestlly and candidly share my experience it would help those with cancer, and their loved ones, make such a journey too. I also have lots of other ideas and a few short stories in the making. My mind never rests when it comes to thinking of plots, characters, events, lessons and how they intertwine.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
We must never let the challenges and the events of the present interfere with the continual and high quality education of our children. My advice? Keep it rigourous, keep it skilled-based, keep it relevant, keep them thinking! For many, many children education is their last best hope. We must never forget that - but you are talking to an educator! Hurrah for teachers.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
Three wishes - Ah a genie story! Okay here goes:
1. Our nation would heal its divisions and get back to being united as a democracy.
2. Our doctors and researchers find a way to prevent and heal cancer.
3. A million people will read my book "Young Man on the Front Line: Lessons of War." (After all this is my genie!!)
What is your favorite music?
When it comes to music I love all the genres of classic rock-n-roll and blues. Is there any other kind of music? Oh yes, in December there is Christmas music.
Share a secret with us 🙂
My secret - I think my father, Sgt. Chris Makas, is smiling down on me from heaven and saying, "Well done daughter dearest."