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Interview with James Mulhern

Published 2016-02-07.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The greatest joy of writing is imagining possibilities. Sometimes imagined life can be even more thrilling than real life.
What do your fans mean to you?
I appreciate all fans. Someone reading your work is the highest compliment. I am humbled and grateful.
What are you working on next?
Another novel, a follow-up to "Molly Bonamici"--a continuation of her life story that brings her to Ireland. I am also writing short stories.
Who are your favorite authors?
Flannery O'Connor, James Joyce, Emily Dickinson
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
The alarm on my iphone.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Reading, people watching, teaching, enjoying time with friends, movies.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Surf the web.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
No.
What is your writing process?
A cycle of imagining/planning, taking notes, and then writing, repeated over and over. Every scene must have some sort of conflict and end unresolved. I think "cause and effect,"; "What motivates the character?"; "What will help propel the plot?"; "Am I getting off track?"; "What is my theme?" . . . . These are just a few questions I ask myself constantly. And I am always revising, looking for the perfect word, and cutting, cutting, cutting.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
No, but two stories that I love are "The Dead" by James Joyce and "The Beast in the Jungle" by Henry James. I also love the stories of Flannery O'Connor and Truman Capote.
How do you approach cover design?
I imagine a concept/scene and then work with an illustrator. The cover should have telling symbols of what the book is about thematically; it should evoke mood.
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Books by This Author

A Collection for Grade Nine: Guide for Analysis by
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 14,820. Language: English. Published: February 24, 2016 . Categories: Essay » Literature
Because analysis is a higher-level critical thinking skill, students have a difficult time understanding the concept, especially if their reading comprehension is at a lower level. Most often, students end up writing summaries of what they read, rather than explaining how a text is effective through the author’s use of rhetorical strategies. This Guide provides exemplars, questions, and strategies
How to Analyze Literature by
Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 44,060. Language: English. Published: February 17, 2016 . Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Teaching methods & materials / language arts
This textbook is an excellent Teacher’s Guide for the skill of Analysis. Included within the book are lesson plans, strategies, and sample analyses, ranging from Native American literature through the present day. There are also examples of how to respond to Analysis prompts on the AP English Language and Composition Exam. This is a useful Guide for the AP English Language and Composition teacher.
AP English Language and Composition Exam: Guide for Essays by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 5,910. Language: English. Published: February 15, 2016 . Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Essays
This Guide for the AP English Language and Composition Exam provides valuable specific, concrete directions for writing each of the three essays—the Synthesis, the Analysis, and the Argumentative. Also included is a generic AP Rubric that can be used to score any of the essays, as well as lists of the types of mistakes to avoid when writing the essays.
Assumptions: A Short Story by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 5,380. Language: English. Published: February 12, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Christian » Short stories
Helen and her grandchildren, Jimmy and Beth, take their sad neighbor Peggy Fleming to Nantasket Beach in Massachusetts on the Feast of the Blessed Mother's Assumption into Heaven on August 15th. Peggy wants to assuage her grief for her deceased husband Jim through a cure in the ocean.
Myra Bocca: A Short Story by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 8,810. Language: English. Published: February 12, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay
Molly and Gabe have just moved to a gay community in Wilton Manors, Florida, where they meet Myra Bocca, the proprietor of a New Age Bookstore called Sacred Ashes. Myra takes an instant liking to the pair and invites them to dinner. Before that evening, Molly meets Mr. Michaelis, who warns her to be careful of Myra. He has a long history with her and knows her quite well.
The Mannequin: A Short Story by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 7,260. Language: English. Published: February 12, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Literature » Literary
Molly and her friends at Boston University try to scare a fellow student by conjuring the ghost of Eugene O'Neill, who allegedly haunts the fourth floor of their dormitory. The prank quickly falls apart and they are forced to deal with the repercussions.
Drenched to the Bone: A Short Story by
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 5,550. Language: English. Published: February 12, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Literature » Literary
Jack's wife insists on a divorce. He moves to Florida, where he begins a new life teaching at an inner-city school. It seems everything has fallen apart: his marriage, the school, and his vision of the future. After the school descends into chaos, a student teaches Jack more than he wants to know about himself. With his newfound knowledge, he begins to reassess his past and his future.
A Prayer for Home: A Novelette by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 13,990. Language: English. Published: February 7, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
Mrs. Muldoon wants to return home to Ireland after living many years in Boston, Massachusetts. She desires to be cured spiritually before embarking on her journey. Molly, a senior in high school, and her Nonna want to help fulfill her wish.
Assumptions and Other Stories by
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 45,180. Language: English. Published: February 3, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
This collection of stories ranges in tone from comic to philosophic. Influenced by writers such as Flannery O’Connor, James Joyce, and Edgar Allan Poe, Mr. Mulhern renders slices of Boston and South Florida life with comedy, horror, moments of grace, and an assortment of quirky characters.