Why the title Cruel Whispers?   (I think I know after reading your book)

          I ORIGINALLY NAMED THE BOOK "WHISPERS" BUT BECAUSE MY PUBLISHER ALREADY HAD A BOOK IN PUBLICATION WITH THAT NAME, THEY ASKED THAT I RENAME IT.  I CHOSE "CRUEL WHISPERS" BECAUSE JANICE, A CHARACTER IN MY BOOK, WOULD CRUELLY WHISPER TO FREDRIC THAT NO ONE WOULD HAVE HIM IF SHE COULDN'T...IT WAS A TWIST TO MAKE THE READER THINK THAT IT WAS JANICE THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.  IT IS MY HOPE THAT I MANAGED TO HAVE THE READER WONDER UNTIL THE END.

How many books have you already written and published?

           CRUEL WHISPERS WAS MY FIRST PUBLISHED WRITING.  ALTHOUGH AS A CHILD I DABBLED AND WROTE QUITE A BIT.  I THINK MY EARLIER DABBLES AT WRITING ARE WHAT LED ME TO CRUEL WHISPERS.  AS I MATURED, SO DID MY WRITING STYLE.

How does it feel to have Cruel Whispers published?

           LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE!  I CANNOT EXPLAIN IN WORDS HOW MUCH THIS HAS MEANT TO ME.  AS A CHILD IT WAS A DREAM, ONE THAT I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD EVENTUALLY COME TO REALIZE.  I HAVE BEEN BLESSED AND THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR ALLOWING ME TO FEEL THIS, TO KNOW THAT A CHILDHOOD DREAM ACTUALLY CAME TRUE.

When I was reading Cruel Whispers, I noticed that Salina grows stronger and stronger, did you intent her to become so strong or did it just happen?

           I INTENDED SALINA TO GROW STRONGER AS THE STORY WENT ON.  SALINA HAD BEEN THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN A BAD MARRIAGE (AND BEFORE HER BAD MARRIAGE - WHICH IS WHAT YOU WILL FIND OUT IN THE SECOND BOOK) AND THOSE SUCH OBSTACLES IN HER LIFE WERE PUT THERE TO MAKE HER A STRONGER, MORE ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL.  ACCEPTING MEANING THAT SHE ALLOWED HERSELF TO ACCEPT THAT LIFE WASN'T WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT WHAT YOU MADE IT.  SHE FACED THE CHALLENGE OF HER EX-HUSBAND KIDNAPPING HER AND WENT ON WITH HER LIFE.  (AGAIN, AS YOU WILL SEE LATER)

Janice is a very labile, obsessive person, have you ever met anyone like that in real life?

           OBSESSIVE PEOPLE I HAVE DEFINITELY MET THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.   BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK IF THOSE PEOPLE HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON HOW I BUILT JANICE AS A CHARACTER, I WOULD SAY NO.

When may we expect a new novel from you hand?

           I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY SECOND NOVEL.  I AM PRAYING THAT I WILL HAVE IT OUT
TO THE PUBLIC IN MID TO LATE 2006.

Like I wrote in my review of Cruel Whispers, I regret that it only counts 67 pages. I like Saline a lot. Is there any chance that she will be a character in one of your future books?

         YES, SALINA WILL BE THE MAIN CHARACTER IN MY NEXT BOOK.  ALTHOUGH IT IS A SEQUEL OF SORTS TO CRUEL WHISPERS, IT WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED A STAND ALONE.

I know that you grew up in a family that loves to read. Do you have a favorite author?

           YES.  I GREW UP READING NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS.  NOW, MORE MATURE, I LOVE, TO NAME A FEW, JANET EVANOVICH, STEPHEN KING AND DANIELLE STEELE.  THERE ARE MANY AUTHORS I ENJOY READING.

What made you decide to have Cruel Whispers published?

           TWO REASONS.  FIRST, MY MOTHER, RUTH GARDINIER WAS THE SOLE PERSON WHO KNEW THAT I  HAD STARTED THAT BOOK.  SHE HAD ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO FINISH IT BUT I NEVER DID.  THEN I LOST MY MOM IN SEPTEMBER 2004.  AFTER SHE PASSED, I PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND FINISHED IT - FOR HER.  AND IT IS DEDICATED TO HER. SECOND REASON IS MY HUSBAND.  PHILLIP ENCOURAGED ME ALSO.  HE TOLD ME I SHOULD SEND IT IN TO A PUBLISHER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.  HE BELIEVED IN ME (AND STILL DOES).  I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO BOTH MY MOTHER AND MY HUSBAND.
 

Thank you for this interview Starr!