CJ Palmisano has written since she could scribble “no” on her mother’s immaculate kitchen wall. She has never stopped writing–a few pages here, an entire story there–but for the majority of her adult life, writing couldn’t be a priority. She raised a family and taught, something she did well (for what it’s worth, in 2006 she was in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers).

In 2010, the moment to write full time arrived. She exchanged a classroom for a tiny, poorly lit storage room destined to become a darkroom. She dragged boxes of STUFF to the garage, rolled in a desk and creaky office chair, and settled into a space with a window that natural light couldn’t seem to find. She was determined to become a Real Writer.

What inspired you to start writing?

(CJP): It’s difficult to point to anything specific. I’ve been a storyteller my entire life. Around 3rd grade I wrote little stories teachers encouraged me to submit to kid magazines like “Jack and Jill.” A couple even gave me a copy of the magazine with submission info highlighted. I’m also the oldest of six kids so grew up babysitting (bossing them around is what they’d tell you). We’d construct blanket tents, crawl inside and I’d tell stories. Neighbor kids gathered in our back yard which abutted a wood we all explored. As the oldest, I’d often suggest a story we’d occasionally play out, or “improvise” (though I didn’t know the word at the time). I’d devise a scenario, tell each kid who s/he was, take the best part myself, then we’d act it out.

You’ve written a lot of work for different categories: mini stories, dark, humorous. Do you have a favorite genre you like to work in?

(CJP): It depends on my mood. Every genre gives me a different satisfaction. I love storytelling overall and narrative fiction edges out script writing. When I imagine a story it nearly always reveals itself in a particular way: I might see it as “pure” narrative–a short story or one that might grow into a novella or novel. At some point I moved away from narrative and began writing stage and then screen plays. 

Do you have any goals when it comes to your writing?

(CJP): I currently have four writing goals, the first two are my primary ones:

1. Two screenplays are today getting a lot of attention. Some of the twentyish notices I’ve received in the past couple years include: “Best American Screenplay” at the London Film Fest (Jan 2025) and the NY Script Awards (Dec 2024);  “Best Feature Screenplay at Staged Film Comp (Jan 2025), at the Berlin Women’s Cinema Fest (Apr 2025), and at Boston Indie Films (Nov 2024); “Best Script” at the LA Indies Fest (Mar 2025); Best Female Screenwriter at the Tokyo Film and Screen Awards (April 2025); “Best Fantasy Screenplay” at Hollywood Indie Screenplay Awards (Feb 2025).  
2. I have multiple novel drafts, two of which are close to ready for human eyes. For now, I plan to take a standard publishing route (send to a publishing house and cross my fingers for two years), rather than the quick and “easy” self-publish path. It’s an ego thing–as in I need independent, objective confirmation that my writing is print-worthy.
3. I have a stage play I wrote ages ago which I believe is the best writing I’ve ever done. No one has seen it except my late husband, and though it’s really completed, every now and then I open and tinker with it. I keep planning to send it off but haven’t yet figured out where.
4. I’ve enjoyed writing and publishing on Substack (which I began August 2023) and hope to get back to. I’ve been busy with other projects, but it looks like things will calm down by summer.

You mentioned undergoing a severe writer’s block that spanned years. How did you overcome it and do you have any advice for others?

(CJP): In fall 2014 I stopped writing. I’d open a document, stare into space, then close it. Within months I hated writing and stopped even trying. Then January 2020 I was at the Sundance Film Festival, recruiting people for the newly formed Sundance Collab–an international on-line site for film artists, directors, actors, writers, etc. I signed up to demonstrate how to navigate the site though didn’t expect to join full time. That April, as COVID was heating up, Sundance’s Collab introduced a MWF screenwriting workshop. Largely because I was fed up with myself about not having written a word for 6 years, I committed to joining the Collab for an hour every MWF even if I didn’t do anything other than (perfunctorily) scribble off a paragraph. Yet, within a month I was not only attending every 8:00 write-in but writing on non Collab days. Months later, after I’d stopped writing drivel, I joined London Writers’ Salon (LWS) which met three times a day, Sunday through Friday; I religiously attended at least two session every day. I also began reading my work in (on-line) Open Mics, Prompt Writing Socials, and created a Substack Newsletter. Sorry for another cliché but I felt as though Writer Me had risen from the dead. LWS was a godsend as was the Sundance Collab which got me started.

How have your experiences in theater influenced you as a writer?

(CJP): Theater has been a lifelong passion. I was active in High School (my yearbook includes “future actress” in my bio). I fully intended to move to NYC upon graduation and likely would have become one of the many starving actress/waitresses living in the Big Apple. Life, however, threw me a curveball, though I continued performing regional theater into in my thirties.

I was 16 when I wrote my first play; it’s embarrassingly bad. Years later I decided to rework it but just reading it was torturous, so still it gathers dust. I had minor theater successes in New England (where I lived until 25 years ago), seeing four of my plays staged. I shifted to screenplays when, one day I was hit with a story I envisioned unfolding on screen, instead of on-stage as was typical. I studied a few scripts and drafted the story. Months later I took an intro class in screenwriting. Screenplays are what I primarily wrote for the next couple decades.

And lastly, do you have a favorite piece of writing that you have worked on before?

(CJP): Maybe “How Far to Woodstock,” my first published short story (in Stanford’s 2020 anthology, 166 Palms). Also, the evolution of the actual story carries special meaning to me. I’ve since drafted a companion piece, “State of Grace,’ which was supposed to be another short story to include (with the “Woodstock” story) in a collection of my short writings. But it kept expanding and at 60K words is turning into a novel. I’d also mention A Legend of Persephone, the first screenplay I wrote (and mention above in #5), the first to receive any kind of recognition: quarterfinals in BlueCat Screenplay Competition, and in Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope Screenplay Contest, both the first year I submitted it anywhere. It’s also one of the two scripts getting awards and recognition these days. I’m currently editing the novelized version of it (mentioned in #3B).

Palmisano has a B.A. in English and Art from University and an M.A. in English Lit from Middlebury College (1995). Under list of her jobs, you’ll find university publications editor, admissions officer, and world and dramatic literature teacher. The résumé details her love of learning: classes and workshops–in theater, film, art, writing, and animation. Her passion for collaboration, exchanging ideas and working in community: film festivals and theater companies, as well as sixteen years as an information guru for the Sundance Film Festival.

Lenore Weiss serves as the Associate Creative Nonfiction (CNF) Editor for the Mud Season Review and lives in Oakland, California. Her environmental novel Pulp into Paper was published last year on Earth Day as was a new poetry collection, Video Game Pointers from WordTech Communications.

What inspired you to write your environmental novel, Pulp into Paper?

(LW): I lived in the Louisiana and Arkansas area for several years. When I stepped outside my house in the morning, I detected a strange smell, almost like a convention of cigar-smokers. This was my introduction to paper mills. 

Through what was then called, the Louisiana Environmental Action Project, I got to know people living in Crossett, Arkansas. Retirees were organizing to pressure the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to investigate high levels of cancer and asthma in both adults and children. Georgia Pacific (Koch Brothers) were dumping the mill’s effluents in people’s backyards, primarily in the black community. People couldn’t eat anything they grew. No tomatoes. The groundwater was polluted. Areas of Crossett were like a toxic dump. While more modern mills employ technologies to recycle the chemicals produced in the pulping process, this particular mill was old. The company did not want to invest in making it a safer place for the workers and people who lived in the area.

My novel, Pulp into Paper, grew out of that experience.

How did your journey into poetry begin?

(LW): My mother loved poetry and recited poems to us as kids by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I loved the rhythm and sound of those words. As I grew older, I read more poetry. I loved The Odyssey by Homer, and Shakespeare’s plays. Of course, I didn’t understand all the words, but his metaphors were like puzzles. I studied 17th and 18th century English poetry from anthologies in our school library: John Donne, and later, William Blake, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and others. I loved poetry and often visited the Gotham Book Mart (now defunct) located in New York City’s jewelry district where I could smell all the old books stacked up to the ceiling and on top of each other. Poetry was like a romance with an attractive lover and I wanted more.

In your biography, your trilogy of poetry focuses on the feelings of love, loss, and being mortal. Why do you think that you gravitated toward those emotions in your work?

(LW): Most of human life is shaped by the emotions of love, loss, and being mortal. In my case, I was frequently sick as a young person. In my early twenties, both my parents died. Poetry helped me navigate through those difficult times. In my twenties, the Black Liberation Movement was emerging, new independent poetry presses like Broadside emerged to publish the work of Sonia Sanchez; Third World Press published Don L. Lee (now Haki R. Madhubuti). Margaret Walker published her poem, “For My People.” I understood how poetry allowed writers to speak from a deep place of longing for freedom and liberation. It took writing three books of poetry to see those interconnections in my own work—how I was grieving my losses and wishing to free myself.

How do you choose which topics to write about?

(LW): I think topics choose me. I have to care about something. I keep notebooks with quotes and phrases from my reading, combinations of words that are interesting. I listen to people’s conversations and write descriptions of individuals who I see on the street. These things converge and emerge in my writing.

Do you have a favorite project you’ve done before?

(LW): When I worked as a technical writer, I authored a blog called, “Tech Table Talk: It’s Not Over Your Head.” Outside of writing tedious manuals and deciphering the notes of software engineers, I wanted to challenge myself and make my job more interesting. I had the idea to create a blog aimed at explaining technology. This was at the beginning of what is now called the “Computer Revolution.” A lot of my friends who worked outside of technology felt intimidated by computers, similar to the discussion we are having today about AI– is it good or bad? Many people were suspicious. I decided to focus my blog on new and positive environmental technologies that I found interesting like capturing methane gas produced by cows and converting it into electricity. I reported on new software for desk top publishing that was being created by companies like Adobe. I felt I was providing a service, and at the same time, educating myself.

And lastly, who are your writing inspirations and why? 

(LW): I find inspiration from writers who love humanity—the writers who come to mind are Luis Alberto Urrea, Carolyn Forché, Joy Harjo—writers who are technically and otherwise brilliant like Virginia Woolf and Ursula K. Le Guin, or who care deeply for the environment like Terry Tempest Williams. I also draw inspiration from visual artists like Ruth Asawa who worked continually with new forms and explored the potential contained in each one.

Lenore’s poetry collections form a trilogy about love, loss, and being mortal: Cutting Down the Last Tree on Easter Island (West End Press, 2012); Two Places (Kelsay Books, 2014), and The Golem (Hakodesh Word Press, 2017). Her most recent poetry chapbook is From Malls to Museums (Ethelzine, 2020). Alexandria Quarterly Press published her prize-winning flash fiction chapbook, Holding on to the Fringes of Love.

Catherine Lawrence has spent the majority of her career as an Administrator in the field of Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). In this capacity, Catherine has helped students navigate University programs at the Undergraduate and Graduate levels. While working full time Catherine completed her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees (in the evening) receiving a B.S. in Communication, Political Science and History; as well as a M.S.Ed in Education (Reading, Writing and Literacy/Adult, Family and Community) with a certification as a Reading Specialist.

What led you to becoming a writer?

(CL): I have always been a writer in the academic setting while earning my graduate and undergraduate degrees; as well as writing as a requirement of my position as an administrator in the work place. The writing continued once I retired and became a Peace Corps Volunteer. I wrote and published weekly blogs of my experiences both as a Volunteer and as an Ex patriot; and continued to publish articles during this period with an on-line publication OpEdNews.com. 

However, the true writing fire came as a result of COVID. I know I am not alone as I have heard this story from so many people. As a result of being sequestered during the pandemic I was able to take classes to expand my knowledge of the craft as well as becoming aware of resources to publish.  COVID and all that came with it gave me the confidence to think that I could be a published author. 

Do you have a favorite work that you’ve written?

(CL): Yes, actually I have 2 articles that I am very proud of:

WINGS – Published in the November 2023 Issue of Airways Magazine. This piece chronicled my experience as a first time pilot of a single-engine Cessna.

Living “Out of the Box” – Published in 2016 in Peace Corps Passports Publication. This piece spoke to my feelings of living in the Peace Corps.

What inspires you as a reader and writer?

(CL): I am in awe of authors who can articulate their thoughts with words. Curiosity and a desire to understand not only how we live; but, why we live drives me at times to reading multiple books simultaneously on different topics. I often seek answers in books; but, I realize there really are no answers in books. However, reading does give me the tools to formulate my own answers giving me ideas and new perspectives.  As an aspiring writer it is my goal to emulate all that I derive from reading.

What topics do you usually delve into when writing?

(CL): My main source of material is myself and my experiences on topics such as travel, food, art, relationships, education, family, trauma, emotions, survival and teaching to name a few. I draw inspiration not only from my internal reflections; but, from everything around me. The world as my palette for writing. Also, I love being a member, for the past four years, of the WNBA Great Group Reads; and, have recently expanded my book reviewer skills to include NLAPW – National League of the American Pen Women by being given my first assignment as a book reviewer. 

You’ve held a lot of different job titles in your life. Does any of your past experiences influence your work? 

(CL): My Motto has always been “Buy experiences, not things”.  I am always seeking out new experiences as a means of entertainment and growth. So often I am asked: “How do you find time to do all the things you do?” and my response is that “I don’t have television”. Twenty plus years ago I gave away my televisions as an experiment moving into a studio apartment. This allowed me time to spent my time seeking out new adventures and writing about them. 

What is your favorite genre(s) to write and read?

(CL): I so enjoy reading historical fiction as well as (my guilty pleasure) murder. Books that deal with the human condition; how behavior is a predictor of events that drives me to see behind the facade of why we do what we do. Honestly, I would read any genre. As I said I write about myself and my experiences (as outlined in a previous response).

Once retired from her position at the UPenn in 2014, Catherine served in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Georgia. This 27 month program used her skills as an Educator in primary, secondary and University settings. Upon completion of the Peace Corps Catherine remained in the Republic of Georgia as an ex-patriot continuing teaching English and Reading. Catherine is also involved with the OSCE/ODHIR which observers elections in 57 States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. Its mandate includes many issues and Catherine is involved as an observer in one of their mandates which is to ensure free and fair election.

Catherine loves to travel and to-date has visited 55 countries. Her love of books and libraries have involved her in the WNBA where she was a facilitator of the monthly book group within WNBA; as well as a member of the Great Group Reads for the past four years. For the past year, Catherine has been working as a SP (Specialized Patient) at hospitals in the Philadelphia area. This role allows her to work with medical students, doctors, nurses and other members of the medical community to enhance their continuing education and medical school curriculum. Presently she is taking writing classes with the goal of publishing in the genre of Flash Fiction as well as honing her skills in journalism and interviewing.

When Rebecca Rosenberg discovered the real-life widows who made champagne a world-wide phenomenon, she knew she’d dedicate years to telling their stories. These remarkable women include Veuve Clicquot, Madame Pommery, and Lily Bollinger.

Can you tell us about your new book? Is it connected to any of your old works?

(RR): My new novel, Silver Echoes, is a dual-timeline historical mystery set in the Roaring Twenties. It centers on Silver Dollar Tabor, a burlesque and movie star who, beneath the glittering facade of fame, wrestled with a profoundly fractured identity, potentially indicative of undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder, while navigating the era’s dangerous gangster underworld. Seven years after her disappearance and reported brutal murder, her mother, Baby Doe Tabor, is left to grapple with the mystery, desperately searching for answers.

Yes, Silver Echoes is a direct continuation of my exploration of the Tabor family. It’s connected to my previous novel, Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor. While researching Baby Doe’s life, I was consistently drawn to the even more compelling and ultimately tragic story of her daughter, Silver Dollar. I realized that her life, marked by the dramatic loss of wealth, psychological trauma, and a public persona that masked deep inner turmoil, offered a rich narrative landscape. I felt compelled to delve into the darker undercurrents of her life, revealing the less-celebrated aspects of the Roaring Twenties, and to explore themes of fractured identity, the corrosive nature of ambition, and the enduring bond between mother and child, all through the lens of Silver Dollar’s captivating, yet ultimately heartbreaking, story.

As a self proclaimed champagne geek, how does your interest continue through your stories? I’ve noticed that many of your stories revolve around the champagne industry.

(RR): My passion for champagne, or as I affectionately call it, my ‘champagne geek’ persona, naturally permeates my writing. I find it’s a constant thread that runs through my storytelling, manifesting particularly in my two interwoven series: The Gold Digger Series and the Champagne Widows series. This structure keeps my creative process dynamic and invigorating.

My connection to the world of sparkling wine is deeply personal and multifaceted. Living in Sonoma County, with the vineyards of Chateau St. Jean as my daily backdrop, I’m immersed in the culture. But it extends far beyond that. I actively engage with the industry as a speaker, event coordinator, social media influencer, and through my work interviewing producers and experts for SparklingDiscoveries.com, as well as podcasts and broadcasts. Each of these roles deepens my knowledge and appreciation for the intricacies of sparkling wine production and history.

My fascination led me to the extraordinary women who shaped the champagne industry. Veuve Clicquot, Madame Pommery, and now, Lily Bollinger, the subject of my current work-in-progress, License to Thrill: Lily Bollinger. These women revolutionized not just champagne, but the business world as a whole. Their stories, filled with innovation, resilience, and a touch of glamour, provide a rich tapestry for my narratives. My ‘champagne geek’ tendencies, therefore, aren’t just a hobby; they’re an integral part of my creativity, fueling my storytelling and driving my exploration of these remarkable women and their legacies.

What is something fun or unusual you’ve learned about champagne when researching your story?

(RR): Oh, where to begin? Researching champagne history is a constant source of delightful surprises. One of my absolute favorite discoveries, which features prominently in Champagne Widows, involves Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, the legendary Veuve Clicquot. She possessed an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, ‘Le Nez,’ which many considered a curse. However, she brilliantly transformed this perceived weakness into a cornerstone of her champagne empire. What’s even more remarkable is her audacity during the Napoleonic Wars. She defied Napoleon’s blockades, risking execution, by sending American ships laden with her champagne, cleverly disguised as shipments of chocolate and coffee. Imagine the sheer nerve!

Another captivating story comes from my research into Madame Pommery. During the Franco-Prussian War, when her home and winery were occupied by the Prussian Army, she faced the challenge of protecting her precious champagne. Not only were the Prussians stealing her stock, but she also needed to safeguard it for the French Resistance. Her solution? She ingeniously excavated the ancient chalk caves beneath the city’s refuse dump, creating a hidden sanctuary for her champagne and a refuge for the Resistance. It’s a testament to her resourcefulness and unwavering determination. These women were not just vintners; they were strategic geniuses, and their stories are truly inspiring.”

Where did your interest in historical fiction come from?

(RR): My passion for historical fiction truly blossomed while exploring the abandoned ghost towns of Colorado. Hearing the echoes of past lives sparked a deep fascination. Then, when I moved to California, the vibrant history of the Gold Rush and San Francisco completely seized my imagination. The dramatic narratives and the larger-than-life figures were irresistible. It’s precisely this allure that fuels my writing.

How do you come up with an idea for a book? 

(RR): Discovering a woman’s story that hasn’t been told. I’m especially eager for next year’s project, a novel about Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She was a spirited heiress who built Coit Tower to honor the firefighters who bravely defended San Francisco from devastating fires. Her story, a captivating blend of a wild spirit, audacious daring, and remarkable generosity, perfectly embodies the kind of historical narrative that ignites my creativity.

Do you have any advice for writers who are struggling to finish a story?

(RR): If you’re struggling to finish a story, my strongest advice is this: don’t be afraid to set it aside. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to work on something completely different. Start a new novel, explore a fresh idea. Then, when you revisit the original manuscript, you’ll often see it with a clearer perspective, and understand what needs to be done.

I experienced this firsthand with Silver Echoes. I wrote it ten years ago, and despite multiple drafts and edits, I felt it was missing something crucial. I shelved it because I couldn’t capture the story’s essence, the depth and complexity it deserved. The initial version was too bleak, too weighed down by despair. Yet, the story wouldn’t let me go.

What kept pulling me back was the profound bond between Baby Doe and Silver Dollar Tabor, revealed in their letters at the History Colorado archives. Re-reading those letters, I had a revelation. I realized Silver Dollar’s behavior—her request to be addressed by multiple names, her constant movement, her manic descriptions of fleeting jobs—strongly suggested Dissociative Identity Disorder. This insight completely transformed the narrative.

Suddenly, I knew how to tell the story. I decided to use a dual-timeline structure, interweaving Silver Dollar’s fragmented reality with Baby Doe’s desperate search for her missing daughter. By giving Silver Dollar’s internal struggle a name, and by showing the true love between mother and daughter, I was finally able to capture the heart of the story. So, don’t give up on a story that haunts you. Sometimes, you just need to step away, gain new insights, and let the characters reveal their truths.

Visit www.rebecca-rosenberg.com and preorder Silver Echoes!

Rebecca Rosenberg is a champagne geek, lavender farmer and multi-award-winning author of historical novels.

A voracious reader, Valerie Saul grew frustrated with the way women her age were portrayed in fiction. Mature women can be more than caregivers, grandmothers, and book club aficionados. They can also ride motorcycles, use chain saws, rescue drowning people, and chase bad guys on occasion. Her debut novel, The Badass Widows, is about women doing all those things while also dealing with love and loss.

In your bio, you mentioned that you were tired of the way older women were depicted in media and fiction. How do you challenge the domestic older woman stereotype in your work?

(VS): I’ve shown 4 women from different backgrounds being daring and bold with their life choices. They are kind and helpful like the stereotype, but also they chase bad guys, go back to school, found companies, race boats and chop down trees.

What books, movies or other media inspired you when writing this book? Do you have any recommendations for books with badass older women? 

(VS): There are lots of good ones right now; I think it’s a trend. There is Matlock on CBS starring Kathy Bates, The Thursday Murder Club, the best selling book by Richard Osman which is being made into a Netflix movie with some huge stars. Check it out here!

But probably my favorite is a more obscure book I love, Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn.

Did you face any challenges while working on your story?

(VS): No more than most people do. I started writing this thinking it would be a fun romp about older women. But then COVID happened, my mom passed, then her husband passed… and pretty soon the book was also about grief and how we deal with it in different ways. So I guess it became a more thoughtful book along the way.

What does your writing process look like? 

(VS): I guess I am a semi-plotter. I make a vague outline. Having that plan gives me confidence to keep going when it gets difficult but then I ignore and revise it as I go along.

How does your background in psychology influence your work? 

(VS): Studying psychology helps me understand people who are different than I am. Unless you are writing memoir/autobiography, you have to understand people before you can write good characters, right?

What was your favorite moment during the writing of The Badass Widows? 

(VS): I wouldn’t know how to pick one moment. I realize now that I wrote it as escape and as therapy. The last few years have probably taught a lot of us not to take anything for granted. There were just lots of moments with my husband and family that were extra sweet because I had the time and the freedom to write what was in my heart.

Valerie Saul has a psychology degree from Stanford, a master’s degree in special education, and a doctorate in audiology. She has been a clinician, a college professor, and a cochlear implant representative in four countries. Valerie now lives just north of San Francisco with her husband and two rowdy golden retrievers.