New Update!

Hello everyone. All of my Reviews, that I have yet to write, will be posted sporadically during the summer. After the end of this summer, I will not be posting on here anymore, as you will see the info on the right side of the blog.
Thanks for your understanding.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

*Interview* The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap By: Paulette Mahurin

Hello everyone! I'm very happy to feature Author Paulette Mahurin today! Below, you will see the Book Description of her Novel: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, my Interview with Paulette, and her Book/Social Links, so check this all out, and thank you for stopping by! :) 


Book Description Via Goodreads

The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, United States Secretary of State, expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When news of Wilde’s conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment. It is a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing. 


My Interview With Paulette


- Tell us a little about you :)

First let me say thanks so much for doing this interview with me to help spread the word of my book, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, which forwards the message of tolerance and also helps animal rescue, since the profits from the book are going to the first & only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County, Ca (Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center).

I’m a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in women’s health in a rural clinic where I live in Ojai, CA, with my husband Terry & our two rescue dogs, Max & Bella. I have taught in various college level nursing and Nurse Practitioner programs in California. 

- How did you come up with the idea for The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap?

I was in a writing class, when the teacher came in with a stack of photos. There was one of a couple of women standing very close together in circa turn of the twentieth century clothing. We had to write a ten-minute mystery. The photo screamed out to me, lesbian couple afraid of being found out. 

- How long did it take to write?

Six years.

- What was the research process like?

I loved it, stretched my brain cells. When I first started research into that time period and found it was around the same time Oscar Wilde was imprisoned, in Britain, for homosexual activity, the light bulb went on, to make this the impetus that caused the lesbian couple, Mildred & Edra, to become fearful of being found out. After this, I got very excited about what else the research would turn up. The year Wilde was imprisoned, 1895, was ripe with things that could generate a lot of bigotry and hatred, the theme of the story. There was the Dreyfus Affair that divided France’s view on anti-Semitism, Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta Address to help get his race into school which was fodder for racism, and the U.S. had expanded it’s the Monroe Doctrine’s reach into South America, which generated international hostility. 

- This sounds like an Incredible Story; what do you want your reader to get from it? What do you want them to be aware of?

I’d love for the reader to take away the message that intolerance existed then as it still does, and to see how what we think, what we believe, and go into agreement with about another human being, can be hurtful, and ruin lives. Thoughts generate wars. Thoughts put into action can kill. We as a human race need to put a little space around how we judge someone and see what our judgments do to our hearts and souls. I’d also love for the reader to see the beauty and power of friendships.

- I always ask this Q when I can…which actors do you see playing your main characters? 

I’m laughing. Wouldn’t that be something… I’ve often thought if it ever came to that, I’d love some unknown actors to get a chance to play the parts. I would love someone like Paul Haggis or Ron Howard to direct that would be more important to me. 

- Other Qs-

- How long have you been writing?

Around fifty years! 

- What are you currently working on?

While in college I wrote an award winning non-fiction short story about a couple that met in their oncologist’s office, both suffering with terminal illness. They connected and formed an incredible bond… I’m up to chapter 7, but it’s now on the back burner because I have to single hand promoting this book.

- For aspiring writers, do you have advice for them?

Sit in the chair and write. It’s that simple, a writer writes. Don’t buy into the excuses, self-doubt, or justifications that there isn’t time, etc. Just sit your butt down in the chair and start vomiting out the words. Tell the critic in your head to shut up. Just do it, whether ten minutes or ten hours.

- What are your favorite genres do read?

I’m open, especially lately, since I’ve been helping some writer friends with reads and reviews of their work, and read some really great paranormal. To me a good story is a good story and if it grabs and holds my attention, and I’m sorry when it ends, then that’s the book for me. I think to be genre specific can be limiting, within reason. I can understand if someone isn’t into erotic or violence and they just don’t want those images in their heads, but you can find that in any genre. I’m not opposed to any story lines, bring ‘em on! 

- Have you read any books lately? Which ones?

I read the Siren of Paris, by David LeRoy, which I loved. It took place in Paris, during WWII-Hitler’s regime. He really brought it home, the oppressive environment, all the betrayal. Am currently reading Suzy Witten’s The Afflicted Girls, about the Salem Witch debacle. She’s a masterful writer. I read and loved Brenda Sorrel’s The Bachelor Farmers. She’s a beautiful writer and wrote into that story one of the best winter scenes of any book I’ve read of late. And, I don’t want to forget mentioning, Amelia Cruzon’s Mungai and the Goa Constrictor, in which she used animals as her character’s. It was a wonderful parable of so many philosophical themes, innocence vs. manipulative evil, brain washing vs. freethinking, etc. I just loved it.

*Thank you so much Paulette for your time in answering these Qs! 

My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me and helping me spread the word on my book. It is my hope that the word will spread all over the world and create an energy that will help those unhappy faces get off death row and have wagging tails in their new forever homes. 


About The Author
(Via Goodreads)

Paulette Mahurin is a nurse practitioner, specializing in women's health in a rural clinic in where she lives with her husband and two rescued dogs. She also taught in several college level nursing programs, including UCLA, where she had a Master's Degree in Nursing from their nurse practitioner program. Her two passions are writing and rescuing dogs.While in college she wrote and published two award winning non-fiction short stories. 


Book & Social Links

Book's Blog & Website 



5 comments:

  1. Thank you for the opportunity to be featured on your great blog site! It's been such a pleasure to connect with you, Marissa.
    Paulette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's my pleasure to be hosting you today! :)

      Delete
  2. Great interview ladies. I enjoyed reading about the author and the book sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Naida!
    Paulette

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful interview, Paulette. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I did reading your wonderful book. Thank you so much for your incredible mention as well. A lovely surprise :)

    ReplyDelete

I love to read what you have to write and I like to write back, so feel free to comment :)

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