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The Ashes Know Her Name: From Academic Publishing to Fiction Born from Tragedy I discuss my debut fiction novel, The Ashes Know Her Name, marking a significant shift from my academic publishing career, since I share how the novel emerged from two devastating events: the Lahaina fires and the October 7th attacks in Israel. With family directly affected by both tragedies—including loved ones kidnapped and murdered—I explore how personal loss and community trauma inspired this w

Writing 'Ashes': Using Fiction to Explore Trauma and Grief I talk about how I wrote my novel 'Ashes' to teach people about trauma and grief through fiction rather than direct instruction. Drawing on my scholarly background in trauma and identity, I created a story about a family dealing with complex trauma from both a terrorist attack and a fire. The book has resonated deeply with readers, earning 171 five-star reviews on Goodreads, and I've recently signed with a literary ag

We explore the emotional depth and narrative power of The Ashes Know Her Name, a novel that weaves together geopolitical tension, intimate trauma, and hard-earned love. We follow Anna's journey from her shattered childhood on an Israeli kibbutz through the long shadows of grief and abandonment, to her transformative connection with Kimo against the backdrop of Maui and the devastating Lahaina wildfires. We discuss how the story's authenticity lies in its formative pain, the h

I answer a reader's question about the Hawaiian language (Olelo Hawaii) and Pidgin, the unique Creole language featured in my novel, The Ashes Know Her Name. I explain how Hawaiian is the indigenous language with ancient roots and beautiful words like mahalo and aloha, while Pidgin is Hawaii's local talk that developed from the multicultural communities working in the sugarcane and pineapple fields. Pidgin blends English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Tagalog, Portuguese, Chinese, and

We discuss a thrilling debut novel that blends a fast-paced fight against terrorism with a slow-burning romance, themes of healing and forgiveness, and a strong focus on family. The story is filled with layered suspense and second chances, exploring powerful themes of resilience and identity. #Thriller #Terrorism #Romance #Healing #Forgiveness #Family #Suspense #SecondChances #Resilience #Identity

We discuss The Ashes Know Her Name, a powerful novel that weaves together Anna's traumatic past in Israel with the devastating impact of the Lahaina wildfires. We explore how the story layers generational trauma, the heartbreaking loss of her beloved dogs Lilikoi and Ellie during her childhood, and her displacement to a new family in West Maui. We also dive into the compelling slow-burn romance and emotional tension between Anna and Kimo as they navigate love, trauma, and sel

We discuss how characters are developed, explaining that they emerge from a blend of real-life experiences, memories of people encountered, and imaginative storytelling. #WritingTips #CharacterCreation #AuthorInsights #CreativeWriting

We discuss the surprising and empowering experience of writing a fiction novel, sharing how creative control and storytelling can be incredibly enjoyable and motivating. #WritingJourney #AuthorLife #CreativeWriting #NovelWriting #BookWriting

We discuss the significance of female protagonists, highlighting how complex female characters like Anna can inspire and represent real-world challenges, especially during difficult times like the COVID pandemic, economic struggles, and global conflicts. #WomenInLiterature #FemaleProtagonists #StrongWomen #BookTalk #Storytelling

We discuss the symbolic meaning of ashes in a story, exploring how they represent a character's journey through pain and trauma, and ultimately signify renewal, hope, and strength through community support. #BookTalk #CharacterJourney #Perseverance #Healing #Transformation