Vestige received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Monique Gliozzi.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of the book is Vestige published in January 2020. The first line of the Prologue is- “Ghosts. Do they exist? Some say yes, while others perhaps more sceptical , deny it.”
What’s the book’s first line?
The first line of Chapter ONE – “Dr Maxwell Stein enjoyed the walk from his Manhattan apartment to his modest private rooms in Brooklyn, where he saw his patients.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
It’s a ghost story taking place in New York City/The Hamptons. It starts off with a child psychologist who is about to go on vacation with his son. While tying up loose ends at his practice, he gets an unexpected visitor- at first he doesn’t recognize her, but later remembers that he once had treated her as a child for an anxiety disorder. She (Olivia Croft), hands him a diary which depicts several of her life long ghostly encounters in a form of vignettes. Some frightening but others less so. No sooner has she handed him her gift, does he find out by reading the morning paper, that she has been dead for three days. The more he reads the personal entries, he finds himself becoming obsessed with her story and begins to have his own paranormal encounters. The emotional intensity of Olivia’s story have an impact on Dr Stein, where his son becomes concerned seeing his father derailing. In spite of their now strained relationship, his son tries to help. There are subplots that link into the story adding to the suspense.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
The inspiration for Vestige was brought on by an unsettling experience I had at work. I was asked to attend a meeting via teleconference in one of the board rooms in the old part of the hospital I work at. The room was comfortable but I kept sensing a cold draught brush past my shoulders. There was no explanation for this. Also, from the moment I walked into that area of the hospital (which once was a ward for patients), and climbed the staircase, I had the impression that “something” was following me and lingered in the conference room. After the meeting , walking back to the car park, the eerie feeling left me.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Vestige poses questions in the readers mind (and in Dr Stein’s) , whether there is another realm besides that of the living. Why do some have these experiences and others don’t? Why do spirits return, is it for unfinished business, or to help us understand something long forgotten, warn /protect us from danger, help the living overcome the fear of death, perhaps to accompany us into the light when our time on earth is up?
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I think that the most distinctive thing about the two main characters is that they are potentially realistic, something that the reader can relate to. Even Olivia in spirit form , through her diary gives an account that is believable to those who believe in the spirit world.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I would love to see this story made into a movie/short film. It’s been an ambition of mine to become more involved in the arts/entertainment industry (as a script writer). Vestige will also be available as an audiobook, which is an additional step in my publishing and promotional journey. Who doesn’t like to listen to a ghost story late at night tucked under the covers with a cup of hot chocolate. If anyone reading this interview knows of a director/producer who may be interested in taking on a film project, feel free to contact me on [email protected]
When did you first decide to become an author?
I first decided to write a story I would publish in 2017 whilst on holiday in Alaska. My genre is suspense/mystery/thriller/action/paranormal.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
My first book Foresight was published by Tellwell Talent in May 2019, soon after followed by Hunted (a follow up to my first book) in the same year. Vestige is my third publication also with Tellwell, who have been amazingly supportive and creative.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am a doctor by profession with an interest in neuropsychiatry and forensic sciences. I also love teaching others how to fly light aircraft on weekends (Commercial pilot/Senior Flight Instructor).
So you may be asking where do I find the time to write? Well Sunday is my day off, so I generate ideas over a few weeks , jotting these down/plotting the storyline until I am motivated to be creative.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
When I’m writing my first draft, I can write up to three hours in a sitting. Usually I average writing 5-6 hours per week.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
The best advice I can impart is to keep the plot simple, for the complexity of the characters you’ll create will just enrich the story.
Thank you dear readers for this opportunity to discuss my journey.