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While we marvel at the beauty of spring, it comes as no surprise that most of us are counting the days until summertime. The familiar scents of suntan lotion, warm breezes, and even chlorine from the pool evoke such pleasant memories of time spent with family and friends. As we grow older, we come to appreciate these special moments especially those long, hazy days in the sunshine spent with our siblings.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Zoe Fishman tackles this very topic in her latest release SAVING RUTH. It’s the story of two college-aged siblings who return home to Alabama for the summer and wind up experiencing a near tragedy that changes their relationship forever. Perfect for this time of year, it’s a must-read for all those with college-aged children in their lives.

As part of this interview, William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to enter the contest. Please come follow me on Twitter @JenniferVido or on Facebook www.JenniferVido.com for sneak peeks into the world of book publishing. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: The story behind the road to publication can sometimes be as fascinating as the book itself. So that my readers may catch a glimpse into the life of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Zoe: I grew up in Mobile, Alabama and then went onto Boston University, where I majored in English and graduated in 1998. After college, I went immediately to New York, and thanks to a family connection, got a job at Random House as the assistant to the Audio Book publisher. From there, I went onto work as an editorial assistant at Dell. This was just as the web industry was taking off, so after a year or so I left publishing to work as a copywriter for first, a luxury goods website and then, when that folded, an astrology website. I am very skilled at describing velvet house slippers and debating the wherefores and whys of Mercury retrograde as a result. After both sites folded, I returned to book publishing, but this time working in the Foreign Rights department of Atria and Pocket Books. Though I was a bit skeptical about sales at first, the job turned out to be a tremendous learning experience that I enjoyed very much. Not only did I learn about invaluable negotiating skills, but I got to travel internationally and meet some really wonderful people from all over the world. After about six years there, I began to miss editorial work, and left to handle the rights and try my hand at agenting with Lowenstein-Yost Associates. When my bosses split, I followed Nancy Yost on her journey to realize her own agency. In August of 2012, I left publishing and moved to Atlanta with my husband, where I am currently writing full time and enjoying getting to know my three month old son, Ari.

Jen: Please share with us your “Aha!” moment when you decided to take the plunge and pursue a career as a writer.

Zoe: I always knew that I wanted to be a writer, but actively pursuing it was a whole different story. In my twenties, working in book publishing, I would marvel at the discipline required to bring books to life. At a certain point, I got tired of hearing myself complain about my lack of drive. I needed some discipline. In my mind, I had two choices – join the army, which I was pretty sure was out of the question given my advanced age, or enter The New York Marathon lottery. I went with option two, and to my great surprise and initial despair, was picked. When I somehow managed to cross that finish line after months and months of training, I was a new person. If I could drag myself across five boroughs without dropping dead, I could certainly commit to writing a damn novel. And eventually, I did.

Jen: In terms of nuts and bolts, approximately how long does it take for you to write a novel? And, do you plot first or simply allow the novel to take on a life of its own?

Zoe: I’d say about a year, but that’s before submitting it to my editor for a thorough gutting. I wish I was the kind of free spirit that could just allow my writing to find its own path! I’m way too much of an anal control freak for that. I am an outlining fool.

Jen: In your latest release SAVING RUTH, you explore the affect of a near-death tragedy on a family. First of all, how did you arrive at the premise?

Zoe: I worked as a lifeguard and swim coach all of the summers of my employable teenagerdom. I always wanted to write about the spirit of that time – there’s something about the vibe of a neighborhood pool during the summer that registered with me even as I was “in it” as the encapsulation of youth. Although I was lucky enough never to have to resuscitate a drown victim, there were a few close-ish calls, and those were enough to scare the hell out of me. I thought it would be an interesting premise to explore. How are you ever the same after something like that? How do people’s perceptions of you change? How does your perception of yourself change?

Jen: The story centers on the relationship between siblings Ruth and David Wasserman. Why did you choose to write about the dynamics of a brother/sister relationship?

Zoe: I really enjoyed writing about Ruth and David’s relationship. What brothers and sisters mean to each other changes so much as they get older, especially as they’re searching for their own identity outside of the family they were both raised in. That thread of communication is so easily lost; I think more so between sisters and brothers than between sisters because of the fact that they’re so incredibly unrecognizable to each other at certain points – first through puberty and later as a result of the different interests they invariably develop.

Jen: Set in Alabama, the Wassermans are a Jewish family living in a predominately Christian community. In what ways do race and religion affect Ruth’s perception of how she is viewed by her peers?

Zoe: Ruth feels like an outsider. She’s a dark, curly haired Jewish girl with a sharp tongue that up until very recently was just overweight enough to not be able to cram herself into the sorts of popular styles her peers wear effortlessly. She’s different, and as a result, very insecure. Her sense of humor is the armor she creates for herself against the judgments, real and imagined, of her peers.

Jen: When Ruth returns home from college for the summer, her significant weight loss is the hot topic not only in her own household, but also throughout the town. Why does her “new” appearance cause a rift between Ruth and her mother?

Zoe: Ruth’s mother is simultaneously alarmed and seduced by her daughter’s weight loss – a duality that she is very much aware of and bothered by. On the one hand, her daughter is literally a shadow of her former self, and on the other, there is no denying that she looks great. Her reaction to Ruth is a wake up call about her own body issues, and she worries that she’s subconsciously passed on her own insecurities to her daughter.

Jen: Growing up, Ruth was by far the troublesome child while David was the picture-perfect son. When a role reversal takes place due to a near-death tragedy, why does David choose to pull away from his sister rather than embrace their kindred connection?

Zoe: David is grappling with some personal issues that make distance a necessity for him. The accident only intensifies his need for isolation.

Jen: Throughout the novel, Ruth’s relationship with her father transforms catching them both off-guard as to the path where it is leading them. Why does Ruth so strongly identify with her father despite not fully recognizing it?

Zoe: Her father’s approval means a lot to her. With David as the sports/academic star of the family, she’s always sort of taken the back seat, but now, things are different. It’s interesting that you feel that Ruth really identifies with her father because I didn’t set out to convey that at all, although I certainly thought about it in an obscure way as I was writing.

Jen: SAVING RUTH is a coming-of-age novel touching upon the sheer essence of finding one’s true self amid crisis and heartache. How do David’s struggles enable Ruth to break out of her preconceived notions of herself?

Zoe: Ruth has always just assumed, in her self-involved and insecure way, that David really was as “perfect” as he seemed. The idea that he was intimidated or disappointed by anything was inconceivable to her. Once it becomes apparent that this is not the case – that he is just as vulnerable as she is – her head and heart open considerably.

Jen: Let’s switch gears now and talk about your website. Please take us on a brief tour highlighting points of interest.

Zoe: Well, my website is embarrassingly basic. I’ve been meaning to amp it up, but laziness is a helluva’ drug.

Jen: Do you participate in social media?

Zoe: I just joined Twitter @ZoeFishman76. I’m also on Facebook.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next novel? If so, what may you share with us?

Zoe: I am. LOOSELY, it’s about motherhood, marriage and driving. The plot has changed a lot since the idea’s original inception, but I like where it’s headed.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I absolutely loved SAVING RUTH. It took me right back to my own summer memories. Best of luck on your book tour!

Zoe: No, thank you! I am so grateful for your support. All the very best to you and your readers!

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Zoe Fishman. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or library branch and pick up a copy or download an e-book to your iPad, Kindle, or e-reader today.

Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question.

What is the title of Zoe’s next release?

In June, I will be bringing to you my interview with Melanie Gideon, author of WIFE 22. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time…

Jen

As we brace for what will surely be a pivotal election year for both sides of the aisle, what goes on behind closed doors in Washington is just as crucial. Our elected officials are entrusted with our good faith to act in accordance with our best interests whether it advances their political career or not. Sounds good on paper, but these days it seems it is becoming more of a challenge to achieve.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Phillip Margolin addresses this very topic in his latest political thriller CAPITOL MURDER. Set in historic Washington, D.C. with fan favorite characters private investigator Dana Cutler and lawyer Brad Miller, Margolin delivers a gripping insider’s view of the behind-the-scenes workings of the most powerful country in the world. With exciting plot twists and unforgettable characters, Margolin’s fans will surely be entertained.

As part of this interview, Harper Collins Publishers has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your spring reading list!

Jen: As the author of fifteen New York Times bestselling books, you know firsthand what it takes to become a successful writer. So that my readers may catch a glimpse into the life of the man behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Phillip: I graduated from the American University in Washington, D.C. in 1965 with a B.A. in Government. After two years in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa I went to law school at New York University. During my last two years at NYU I worked my way through school at night by teaching junior high school in the South Bronx. After law school, I clerked for the Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals. From 1972 to 1996 I was a criminal defense attorney. In addition to a variety of other cases I handled 30 homicides including several death penalty cases and I was the first Oregon attorney to use the Battered Woman’s Syndrome to defend a battered wife accused of killing an abusive spouse. As an appellate attorney I argued at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oregon Supreme Court and other appellate courts. I wrote part time while practicing law from 1978 – 1981, 1993 – 1996. In 1996 I retired from my law practice to write full-time.

Jen: Please describe for us your “Aha!” moment when you decided to take the plunge and pursue a career as a writer.

Phillip: There was no “Aha!” moment. I stumbled into a writing career. In my last semester in law school I had some free time so I decided to write a novel because I couldn’t figure out how anyone could possibly do it. The book wasn’t very good, but I enjoyed the writing process and wrote another awful novel. In my 30′s I submitted a mystery story to Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine and was shocked when it was published. That gave me the self-confidence to try to tackle a more serious novel, but I had not taken any writing courses and had never met anyone who had written a book or anyone in publishing so I didn’t know what I was doing. My big break came when Marty Bauer, a friend from law school who I had not seen in many years, came to Oregon on vacation. It turned out that Marty was one of the three lawyers for one of the largest literary agencies in the world. I had five chapters written and I asked Marty if he would show them to someone at the agency who could tell me if the novel was worth completing. Without asking my permission Marty sold the novel and that’s how I became a published writer.

Jen: As a successful attorney in your own right, how did your stellar law career help prepare you for the rigors of the publishing business? And, what has been the most challenging part of the process thus far?

Phillip: The best thing about having legal training is that it teaches you to be objective and unemotional about your work. It’s a big help when you are editing your own book or when you are receiving criticism about it from an editor. The most challenging part of the process so far is that I had no training whatsoever in how to write novels. When I was starting out, I had no idea how to develop characters and they were frequently stick figures in early drafts. I am still learning on the job.

Jen: As I mentioned, all fifteen of your books have hit the New York Times bestseller list. Congratulations! That is quite a feat. As you begin each subsequent novel, how do you cope with the pressure of trying to meet and/or exceed your readers’ expectations to write another blockbuster hit?

Phillip: I don’t have any pressure on me because I write for fun even though I am getting paid for it. Writing a novel for me is like doing a crossword puzzle or solving a chess problem. I have a group of characters and an idea for a plot and the fun is getting them to fit together and make them a book that will entertain people. I never try to write a blockbuster. I try to think up an original idea and see what I can do with it.

Jen: Your latest release CAPITOL MURDER is the third installment of your popular political fiction series. For those readers not familiar with the two previous titles, Executive Privilege and Supreme Justice, please share with us the premise of the series.

Phillip: I have a continuing cast of characters in the three novels in my Washington trilogy. In EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, Brad Miller is a young lawyer who starts out as the lowliest associate in a large Portland, Oregon law firm. While working on a pro bono case for Clarence Little, a convicted serial killer who is on death row, Brad begins to suspect that his client may be innocent for one of the murders for which he has been given a death sentence and that the President of the United States might be involved in the murder. On the other side of the continent in Washington, D.C. private investigator Dana Cutler stumbles across evidence that leads her to the same conclusion. Together with FBI agent Keith Evans, the trio solves a baffling series of serial murders that may have been committed by people at the highest levels of our government. In SUPREME JUSTICE Brad is working as a clerk at the United States Supreme Court and he, Dana and Keith help to unravel a plot by a former director of the CIA to fix a case in the United States Supreme Court. In the final book in the series, CAPITOL MURDER, Brad is working as a legislative assistant to a United States Senator from Oregon and he, Keith and Dana help to stop terrorists from blowing up FedEx Field where the Washington Redskins play. Meanwhile in Oregon, convicted serial killer Clarence Little escapes from death row and Brad begins to receive threatening letters that indicate Little may be after him.

Jen: The theme of CAPITOL MURDER is relevant to present-day scenarios taking place in Washington. How much research was needed in order for the plot to ring true with your readers? And, what was the most fascinating tidbit you uncovered along the way?

Phillip: I had a great time doing the research for CAPITOL MURDER. One of Oregon’s United States Senators Ron Wyden let me hang out in his office in Washington, D.C. for several days. I got a terrific tour of the Senate and the Capitol from his press secretary. I also got an opportunity to tour the Department of Justice and there were a lot of interesting things that I learned while doing my research. The most interesting things I did was take the Capitol dome tour and peek into the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Jen: As the plot unfolds, Senator Jack Carson’s political career is in jeopardy. How do his misguided extracurricular activities, if you will, affect his ability to perform his duties as a United States Senator? And, how will the choices he has made put the safety of the American people, who he has sworn to protect, at risk?

Phillip: Senator Jack Carson – who is nothing like real life Senator Ron Wyden – gets involved in a sex scandal with a woman who is working with terrorists who are seeking to blow up a football stadium and he is blackmailed into compromising the safety of the American people by feeding information to the terrorists to avoid his political career being destroyed.

Jen: The plot thickens when a group of terrorists devise a plan to blow up an NFL stadium. How does ex-military man Steve Reynolds’ involvement contribute to the future of the senator’s career?

Phillip: Steve Reynolds is the person who is organizing the attack on FedEx field. If the Senator’s involvement is discovered, his career will be destroyed and he will go to prison.

Jen: When serial killer Clarence Little escapes death row, recurring character Brad Miller is put on high alert in fear for his safety and that of his newlywed wife’s. In what ways does this recent development cause Brad to become more cognizant of what may be going on in the Senator’s office?

Phillip: Little has just pulled off a brilliant escape from death row and Brad fears that Little is after him. A key character is murdered in Senator Carson’s house and the MO is identical to Clarence Little’s MO and the murder victim has been blackmailing the Senator into helping the terrorist plot.

Jen: Let’s take a side step now and talk about your debut young adult release, VANISHING ACTS. Why did you choose to venture into this genre?

Phillip: I hadn’t planned on writing a novel for 8 to 12 year olds until one of the editors at Harper Children’s asked my adult editor at HarperCollins if I would like to write a novel for young adults. I mentioned this to my daughter Ami Margolin Rome and she suggested we write the book together. It was terrific fun writing with my daughter and I really enjoyed working in a different genre. The hardest part for me was figuring out the difference between the voice in an adult novel and a middle grade novel.

Jen: And tacking onto my last question, what sets VANISHING ACTS apart from a typical Young Adult mystery/thriller novel on the market today?

Phillip: VANISHING ACTS is a courtroom thriller/mystery for young readers. Madison Kincaid is a seventh grade soccer star whose best friend fails to show up on the first day of middle school. Her dad, Hamilton Kincaid, is a top criminal defense attorney who has a case involving a missing body. While solving the mystery of what happened to her missing friend, Madison helps her dad solve his case. What makes VANISHING ACTS different are the courtroom scenes and the discussion of criminal law. There are also no Vampires or Wizards in the book. It’s a throw back to the old Hardy Boy/ Nancy Drew mysteries.

Jen: In terms of reader involvement, please take us on a brief tour of your website highlighting points of interest.

Phillip: I really enjoy my website www.phillipmargolin.com because it is interactive. There is a message board on which readers can post questions. I check the board almost every day and try to answer the questions as quickly as possible. There are times when I am out of town and not able to do this, but most of the year I can respond very quickly. I really like answering questions about writing because I never had any training and I like to help people trying to break into publishing. The website also has a section that gives a synopsis of each of my books so that readers who are unfamiliar with my work or have not read them can see if the plot sounds interesting. I also post my picks of good reads and movies.

Jen: Do you participate in social media?

Phillip: I am a dinosaur and do not even carry a cell phone, so the answer is no.

Jen: And, do you participate in Author Phone Chats? If so, how would my readers go about scheduling one?

Phillip: If someone wanted to do an author phone chat they could contact me on the website. There is a section for reader messages. I have received requests to appear at writer conferences and book groups. I am always excited when someone is interested in my work and wants me to speak about writing.

Jen: Are you currently at work on your next project? If so, what may you share with us?

Phillip: Yes, I have completed the THE OTTOMON SEPULCHER. This is a Dana Cutler stand-alone. I am also very excited by the fact that HarperCollins has purchased a historical novel that I began writing in the 1980s. This has been a side project and a labor of love. It may be the best book I’ve written.

Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with me. Congratulations on all of your successes! I thoroughly enjoyed CAPITOL MURDERS and highly recommend it to all my readers.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Phillip. Please stop by your favorite library branch or local book seller and pick up (or download!) a copy today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?

Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me with the correct answer to the following trivia question and you’ll win!

What is the name of Phillip’s upcoming Dana Cutler stand-alone novel?

Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Zoe Fishman, author of SAVING RUTH. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time…

Jen