Five by Five—“Lifers” explores a world where age really is just a number

By Max Bowen

Let’s face it—getting older can suck.

But what if you could change all that?

In Keith G. McWalter’s new book “Lifers,” we’re introduced to a new technology that can a prolong a person’s lifespan. This creates a new world where the young find themselves in the shadow of their elders and the older are resented for not shuffling off their mortal coil.

In this Five by Five interview, McWalter talks about the world created through this new technology and the societal impacts. He shares the real-life science behind his fictional (for now) tech and whether he’d take advantage of it.

I know I would.


What are some of the consequences of a prolonged lifespan that you explore in your book?
When the aged all over the world stop dying, there’s a brief period of confused euphoria. But then society’s attitudes quickly change. 

First comes resentment, when it becomes clear that the wealth controlled by the aged is not going to be inherited by their children and grandchildren anytime soon – perhaps never – and that younger generations will continue to live in the older generations’ shadow. 

Then comes fear, as it becomes clear that the “young” (called “doublers” in the book, for double-digits, or those under 100) face untold decades more life in a world where youth itself has lost its distinction – that is, its relative immunity to death.

Then, finally, anger, as the failure of the aged to die in the accustomed timeframe puts enormous strains on housing, social services, and national economies, and new political movements arise in an effort to impose “normative lifespans” and “common-good mortality.”

“Lifers” follows a group of age activists as they navigate violent ageism, the politics of scarcity, love rivalries, and dreams of a centenarian utopia in a trans-generational struggle to redefine what it means to be mortal.

How is this prolonged lifespan achieved in your story?
By manipulating the human genome with an artificial virus-like molecule that improves cellular mitochondrial function, rebuilds shortened telomeres, increase sirtuin production, and crafts abnormally high volumes of Daf-2 and Nrf-2 proteins, tricking the cell into behaving as though it’s in a food-scarce environment and slamming on the metabolic brakes.

Just how realistic is this technology? Do you think it’s something we could see in the near future?
All of the background of the longevity breakthrough described in the book is based on actual science, and refers to real people, such as the maverick gerontologist Aubrey de Grey, who was an early trailblazer in conceptualizing aging as a disease that can and should be cured. So it's only science fiction in the sense that the science hasn't quite gotten there yet, but it's coming fast.

While a lot of researchers have recently become more modest in their expectations of when a longevity breakthrough will occur, the futurist entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil, who is 76, believes that if he can live another 10 years, longevity science will extend lifespans for at least a year for every year he lives, thus allowing him and others to achieve longevity “escape velocity.”

Does the book touch on any current issues?
I very much hope that “Lifers” is seen as an anti-ageist screed and a satire on the absurdities of our age-stratified society. I think all of us in western culture are so steeped in ageism, like fish in water, that we’re not even aware of it, though when you grow older, as we all must and I have, you can’t avoid feeling its effects – which are, to be specific, ostracism, condescension, progressive invisibility, forced irrelevance and isolation, to name a few.

The “sequestration camps” that in the book are set up to house the increasing masses of the old are only a short step from the retirement homes and extended care facilities we accept as normal today. The systematic curtailment of the constitutional rights of the aged depicted in the book are not far different from the curtailment of rights that some political figures would like to enact on all of us today, and that are informally but forcibly imposed on the very old. The overt antagonism exhibited by the “doublers” in the book toward the “triplers” is foreshadowed in the dismissal of the old as useless and irrelevant that our current society routinely visits on its elders.

The book also touches on climate change and our current political divisiveness.

Is this kind of technology something you’d want to take advantage of?
Yes, I’m glad to be able to say that I’d want to be a “Lifer.” I’ve had a wonderfully fortunate life and don’t think I’d ever give it up willingly, no matter how long I lived. I also hope I’d be so outraged by some of the backlash against the super-aged that’s depicted in the book that I’d be a Lifer in political terms, too—that I’d ally myself with Marion’s “Lifer Liberation Front” and agitate for change. If they’d have me.

Derek Smith takes us on a cosmic journey with ‘Opus’

For this episode, we’re going to pivot from the authors we’ve been interviewing and focus on the music with Derek Smith from Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures.

Derek talks about the new album, “Opus,” described as a sort of “best of” collection of music, though the tunes here are all new. 

Derek shares his exploration of different music styles and how it all came together for the 10-track lineup.

We also go into the band’s origin, his musical parentage and how he settled on such a cool band name. 

Derek talks about the cool cover art made for “Opus” and his dad’s own artistic contributions. And of course, we talk about the plans in place for 2025.

Closing out this episode is “Preacher,” one of the tracks from “Opus.”

Five by Five: Robert Steven Goldstein explores hidden lives in new book

By Max Bowen 

Author and past guest Robert Steven Goldstein tackles the theme of what we hide in his new book, “Golda’s Hutch.” In the book, were introduced to Craig Schumacher and his wife Shoshana and the secret life they would do anything to keep hidden.

In this interview, Robert talks about the creation of Schumacher and how he incorporates a bit of himself into his characters. He shares how psychologist Carl Jung’s concept of the “shadow” and how this shaped the story.


I like the theme of ‘what we hide from the world versus what we reveal.’ How do you explore it in your book?
“Golda’s Hutch” is an emphatically psychological novel. How the characters interact with each other vs. what they agonize over in their own private thoughts is how the book splits its time. Although Craig Schumacher is ostensibly the protagonist, there’s really an ensemble cast of seven characters at play (three couples and a single woman) all of whom are professionally accomplished but also flawed, and in various ways dysfunctional. Readers will come to know each of these people well. They’ll also come to know an intriguing rabbit named Golda, who practices yoga with Craig, and joins him in his spiritual journey.

How did you create the character of Craig Schumacher?
There are bits of me in Craig, as well as bits of other people I came to know during my 35-year corporate career. When I first started out, in 1974, as a mail-boy earning $500 a month (yes, a month!) I naively believed that as I moved up the corporate ladder, at each new rung I’d encounter people with greater intelligence and more integrity. I was sorely mistaken.

With each promotion I mostly met people who were more scheming, cunning and Machiavellian. But there were exceptions—and the leaders I encountered who modeled values of honesty, integrity, and compassion were not just better people to be around—they also tended to build the most hardworking, loyal. and successful teams. And most of these leaders had a solid spiritual core—and for a select few of them, that spiritual core was shaped more by experiential Eastern mysticism than by faith-based Western traditions. Craig Schumacher is one of these fascinating folks.

Can we get some insight into the secret he’s hiding?
Here’s where the novel gets controversial, and where some readers will really latch on, whereas a few others may shy away. Craig and his wife Shoshana are members of the San Francisco Bay Area’s clandestine BDSM community. Shoshana, in fact, makes her living as a professional dominatrix, although both she and Craig go to great lengths to hide all this from Craig’s work associates.

There have certainly been novels that explore BDSM—some have even been bestsellers—but those novels tended to eroticize BDSM and employ it as a vehicle for titillation. “Golda’s Hutch” is very different. “Golda’s Hutch” gets deep inside the minds of people who are otherwise ordinary, but whose innate sexual orientation demands power exchange and dominant/submissive play. The novel reveals the furtive machinations these people are forced to engage in to keep their propensities secret. And it questions why, despite societal acceptance of many other sexual orientations, this one remains taboo.

Byron Dorn sounds like Craig’s opposite, but how do the two interact?
Byron, an ambitious, and bitterly envious man, reports to Craig in the corporate hierarchy. Quite by chance, he stumbles upon the secret Craig and Shoshana have worked so hard to keep hidden. After his initial discovery, Byron proceeds to uncover still more evidence through purposeful and meticulous spying. Byron and his wife Adelle ostensibly remain friends with Shoshana and Craig, even as they secretly plot to use the potentially damaging information for self-gain.

When I develop characters for a story, I always like to put a little bit of myself into each one, whether that character is male or female, likeable or unlikeable, old or young. When creating Byron Dorn, I was reminded of the famous psychologist Carl Jung, and his concept of the “shadow”—the part of us we’re not particularly fond of, and which we keep hidden away in the deep subconscious recesses of our psyche. The aspects of me that went into Byron were mined from my shadow.

Reading about your past works, you really span different ideas and genres. How do you develop your stories?
I start with characters. I try to recall people I’ve known, combine the interesting traits of two or three of them, toss in a sliver of myself and a huge chunk of imagination, and after a bit of cerebral kneading and manipulating, I have a character. That character often suggests to me what sorts of other characters would make for intriguing compatriots. And a week or so later, when what feels like the right number of characters have materialized, they as a group pretty much take over—they make it quite clear where the novel needs to be set—and then the plot starts oozing slowly from their collective fictional pores.

This process doesn’t lend itself to producing works of a consistent and predictable genre or brand. Some of my novels are light and humorous—some are probing and philosophical—whereas my latest, “Golda’s Hutch,” is a bit of both while also being gritty, and suspenseful. And that, I guess, is a reflection of me as a person. Sometimes I’m serious, sometimes I’m silly, and all sorts of places in between. My novels reflect this sort of variety. And as a novelist, it’s really the only way I feel comfortable working.

Comics by the lake: Previewing the Lake Como Comic and Art Festival

Longtime listeners will know that when it comes to comic-cons and arts festivals, we’re always down. 

But for this week’s guest, we’re not headed to Boston or New York City—we’re going to Italy to get a closer look at the Lake Como Comic and Arts Festival, which takes place May 16-18.

Steve Morger, the co-founder of the festival, talks with us about how this unique event got its start and the growth he’s seen over the years. 

We hear about some of the guests, Steve’s personal favorites and what he enjoys the most about this comic-con by the lake.

The location of the festival— the historic Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Lake Como Italy—is perhaps the best part, and Steve shares how he found the place and why it’s remained their home all these years.

Citywide Bytes-Jeffrey Gardner joins the “Shapers of Worlds”

I hope you enjoyed our first episode of 2025 with LJ Cohen, because we’re keeping things rolling with the writers. Jeffrey Gardner is part of the upcoming “Shapers of Worlds” Vol. 5, an anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories out in March through Shadowpaw Press.

In this episode, Jeffrey and I talk about his story, “Magic That Cannot Be Undone,” which ties into his existing novels and the new angle it gives on one of his characters. We talk magic, the price it takes, and the path of the mage. Jeffrey shares how he went from novel to short story and the challenges that entails.

We talk about Jeffrey’s work in genetics and biochemistry and how he shifted from technical papers to novels.

Five by Five: Tim Piper reflects on the growing world of Jubilee Walker

By Max Bowen 

When Tim Piper wrote “The Powell Expeditions,” a series wasn’t quite on his mind. But as he progressed through the book that introduced us to Jubilee Walker, things took off, and now we’re seeing the third book in the series, “The Northern Pacific Railroad.”

In this interview, Tim talks about how the series grew from his first novel, plotting out the stories and where we’re going from here.

Was it always your plan to write a series?
When I began writing my first novel, “The Powell Expeditions,” I had given no thought to writing a series. It was my first attempt at writing a novel, so it was enough of a challenge just to complete the book. But as I neared the end of writing it, I was enjoying the process so much that I wanted to keep writing. I thought my Jubilee Walker character could be woven into other historical explorations and adventures, so I researched America’s western expansion during the post-civil war years. I found events that I could envision getting Jubil involved in—and the series was born.

The second book, “The Yellowstone Campaign,” revolves around the expeditions and events leading up to the creation of America’s first national park. Book three, just released, “The Northern Pacific Railroad,” is based on Jay Cooke’s efforts to build a second transcontinental railroad. I am currently working on a fourth and final book in this era of the series. I have some other literary ideas that I would like to pursue next, but I’m not ruling out the possibility that I may someday return to the Jubilee Walker series.

Now that we are three books in, do you need to re-read the other two in order to keep the details straight?
Yes, I re-read the earlier books. It helps to refresh my memory of the timeline, and review the arc and portrayal of characters. However, my memory is not up to the job of recalling the finer details, so I rely on another source for that. I create a summary document for each book that lists every scene and the pages it begins and ends on.

As I’m writing a book, the scene summary is very useful for referring back to find some detail, and invaluable for finding details that occurred in previous books. Keeping this scene summary updated during the revision stage is a bit tedious, but I find it worth the effort. I make one final review of the scene summary before freezing a book for publishing. Another method of keeping details straight is to find a good editor. Mine seems to be able to remember everything that anyone ever said or did at any point in any of my novels. I don’t know how she does that. I use my scene summaries in an effort to avoid over-reliance on her to point out my inconsistencies.

What are some of the real-life events that you incorporate into the book?
In 1864 a company was chartered to build a second American transcontinental railroad, the Northern Pacific, to connect the Great Lakes at Duluth, Minnesota, with the Pacific Ocean at Puget Sound. The project got off to a weak start due to difficulties in obtaining funding, but that changed in 1870 when famed financier Jay Cooke took control. Public bond sales soared, largely on the strength of Cooke’s reputation, and the project was finally underway. But many people questioned the need for the railroad and also doubted it could ever be made safe.

By 1872, six hundred miles between Bismarck and Bozeman remained to be surveyed, but the route would pass through the traditional hunting grounds of the Sioux. Sitting Bull was gathering strength to resist this incursion into their hunting grounds. My novel, The Northern Pacific Railroad, portrays the events of the railroad surveys that took place in 1872 and 1873 to determine the route the railroad would follow through this territory. Two surveys set off in 1872, one starting in Bismarck going west, the other from Bozeman heading east to meet the westbound crew. The westbound survey made it to the planned meeting point, but the eastbound survey failed to reach the goal. In 1873, another survey set out to complete the job. The events of these surveys are portrayed accurately in the novel, with my protagonist, Jubilee Walker, participating in them as Jay Cooke’s representative. The impact that these events had on Cooke’s financial empire are also portrayed true to the historical record.

When it comes to picking these historical settings, do you look at different options?
I wasn’t really a writer looking for a historical setting when I got the idea for my first novel. I was a hiker who dreamed of writing. During one of my early trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, I hiked the Longs Peak Trail. After the hike, I purchased a book on the history of the mountain and learned the first person to summit it was Major John Wesley Powell.

Researching Powell, I was surprised to learn he had close connections to my hometown, Bloomington, Illinois. Much of Powell’s life struck me as something out of an adventure novel, but I did not find any fiction that had dramatized it. I carried the idea with me for years until I finally wrote my novel. With its completion, I had established my protagonist, Jubilee Walker, as a young man with dreams of becoming an adventurer and explorer in the post-civil war west. So, I only looked at historical settings that fit my characters. Fortunately, that era of American history had some dramatic events that gave Jubil more opportunities for adventure.

I’ve read that the series has won a number of awards. As a writer, does this make you want to “up your game?”
I would not know how to do that. I don’t believe anyone writes in an effort to win awards, or if they do, they must very often be disappointed. Awards are a wonderful affirmation that you are doing something right, but I don’t think they should be a goal. All you can do is make your best effort, and hope that it resonates with people.

Ink and Riffs: Vampires, ghosts and debut albums, oh my!

Ink and Riffs is a regular review series written by me, Citywide Co-Host Max Bowen, to talk about what I’m reading and listening to. Send suggestions to citywidemax@yahoo.com. 

“Impact Winter” (Audiobook)
I came across this audiobook series one day and thought “Why the hell not?” And damn, am I glad I did.

From executive producers of The Walking Dead and Travis Beacham, the writer of Pacific Rim, this Audible Original is set in the near future and seven years since a comet hit the earth and blotted out the sun. The world is a dark, frozen landscape. And then, beastly creatures emerge and take over. Can they really be vampires?

This series includes an absolutely amazing cast, plus great music and sound effects. The voice cast is really good, and clearly experienced. They really dive into their roles and owned them right from the beginning. The music, which includes full songs from different bands, sets the scenes perfectly and the sound effects paint a very complete picture.

The story is very well-written and the twists and turns keep you hooked. I’ve finished the first two volumes and am currently on the third one now, and really looking forward to how the story ends.


“Say Something” by Ashley Elle (Music)
Ashley Elle’s first EP, released last December, came to my attention through my Blackout Collection playlist. “Conditions” was on the playlist and I decided to check out the rest of the album.

Ashley has such a great voice and it really flows through songs like “They Always Come Back” and the title track. This folk/pop artist has released a number of singles since 2021 and “Say Something” is her first album release, so I suppose it’s fair to say she’s still in the early stages of her music career. If this album is any indication, she’s got a bright future ahead of her.

This seven-track album showcases a lot of Ashley’s versatility within the genres. “Falling” has a pretty upbeat sound while “Save Us” is more mellow. “October” is one of my favorites. This has a very layered folk sound that drew me right in. That’s something I really like about this album—the music really varies song to song, and we see the range that Ashley works with.

Overall, this album has a lot to offer, and I hope there’s a lot more to come.


“Grammaton Punch” (Comic)
I’ve talked about this comic before in a previous Citywide Blackout episode, back when it was first released. Written by Miles Gunter, with art by Briane Andan, colors by Lee Loughridge and letters by Taylor Esposito, this limited series is available on ComiXology and definitely worth reading. Here’s a look at the story.

“Born on an eclipse, Van Nguyen has the ability to see ghosts that feed off the energy of unsuspecting adults. Unfortunately being "extra" makes him a target for these evil spirits but what he soon realizes is- Van can fight back.”

This series is sharp, witty and very human in its delivery. Van is a great hero, not because he’s always winning, but because he has plenty of challenges that he has difficulty overcoming. You feel a lot for the guy, especially in one part that you need to see for yourself.

The art is just brilliant, with a wide range of colors, varied and unique designs for all the characters and detailed scenes that are worth a second look. I loved all the designs for the ghosts and each one stood well on its own.

“Grammaton Punch” is a great—and often dark—ride into a world where punching ghosts in the face is just plain awesome.

Holiday hilarity ensues with “The Other Christmas Show”

For this episode, we’re headed back to the film set with director, writer and actor Adam Griswold for his upcoming movie, “The Other Christmas Show.” Here’s a look at the story behind the story.

For years, Aaron Hawthorne and his theater company staged ambitious musical productions in a suburban New England theater, and ultimately went their separate ways when the shows failed to find much of an audience.

However, when Aaron learns that a famed Broadway producer is staging a new production of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol in his hometown theater, he sees it as a chance to finally be noticed and reunites his old team to scrape together a Christmas show of their own to be performed the night before.

As the team powers through the setbacks and complications of bringing their show to life, it starts to become apparent that the Broadway troupe that’s invaded their town may have a hidden agenda.

Joining us for this interview is Adam, along with cast members Bob Tourangeau, Ritik Rao and longtime friend of the show Kate Eppers. We talk about how this film came to be and hear from the cast about their roles and experiences on set. Adam shares how he brought such a massive cast together and the different locations used in the filming process.

Adam’s been making movies through his company, Smoking Bottle Entertainment, for the past decade, and talks about his past films and what it’s been like to working in the New England film scene.   

Citywide Bytes: LJ Cohen’s new book seeks to heal a broken world

Our first Citywide Bytes of the new year features friend of the show LJ Cohen for her soon-to-be-released book, “Litany for a Broken World” (Feb. 10). 

In it, three strangers are drawn together in a conflict that threatens not only themselves, but all reality.

In this episode, LJ talks about her characters and the reality-spanning conflict they must face. We go into the development of the protagonists and how they face this challenge. 

“Litany for a Broken World” is the first in a new series and we get a peek at what is next. We also look at the cover art, which is just amazing!

Kicking off the 2025 season with Jonathan Maberry

We’re getting 2025 off to a stellar start with one of the greats of the writing world! Author Jonathan Maberry is a NYT bestseller and 5-time Bram Stoker Award winner. He’s the creator of the Pine Deep Trilogy, V-Wars, Rot and Ruin and of course, the Joe Ledger series among many others.

In our first episode of the new year, Jonathan talks about “Burn to Shine,” the 14thbook in the Joe Ledger series. In this book, a covert group is infiltrating the world’s most secure bio-weapons research sites. All across the country, people are acting as human ‘disease bombs’ by infecting themselves and walking into public places. And heavily-armed groups of illegal private soldiers are massing for some unknown strike.

Old enemies are rising and joining forces to hit Joe and his team with one devastating blow after another. What is the end game for all of this madness and terror? Outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outgunned, Joe Ledger has to find a way back from the fires of grief in order to make a stand between these enemies and millions of potential innocent lives. But Joe has allies, too. His team, the vicious fighters of Arklight, and friends who may or may not be entirely human.

Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Jonathan, Curtis and Max talk all about the new book, the fights awaiting RTI and some callbacks to characters in past books.

Jonathan also talks about Joe Ledger, what defines this character, and how his trauma over the years has shaped him. We learn what keeps in the fight and why after all these years, he has no plans to back down.

We also talk about the big news that the Joe Ledger series has been optioned by Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick movies to be optioned for TV development. Jonathan talks about how he and Chad met and the process of working together. We dive into potential actors to play Joe and where we are at in the production process. “Rot and Ruin,” his young adult zombie series, is in advanced development by Alcon Entertainment and we go into how that has come along.

After all these years, working in novels, comics, and much more, one would think that Jonathan Maberry has done it all, and we ask about his “Mount Everest” accomplishments and what else he wants to do in his career.

Five by Five: ‘Unruly Human Hearts’ explores the unheard voice in the Beecher-Tilton scandal

By Max Bowen 

In her new book, “Unruly Human Hearts,” [She Writes Press, Jan. 28] Barbara Southard explores the Beecher-Tilton scandal, but through a new perspective—that of Elizabeth Tilton.

In this Five by Five interview, Barbara talks about how this historical tale caught her interest and how she came to choose this viewpoint, as well as the lengthy research done for the book. She also shares how this scandal resonates with the current times.


How did you become aware of Elizabeth Tilton and what inspired you to write a book about her?
A question raised by a student in a graduate seminar on US history that I taught at the University of Puerto Rico challenged me to focus on Elizabeth. We were discussing the 1875 trial of Henry Ward Beecher, the most famous preacher of his time, for adultery with Elizabeth Tilton, wife of the journalist Theodore Tilton. I pointed out that public fascination with the Beecher-Tilton scandal was comparable to the reaction to Bill Clinton’s impeachment for the alleged cover-up of sexual intimacies with Monica Lewinsky. A young man said that both President Clinton and Reverend Beecher survived the scandal. Yeah, said a young woman, but what about Monica and Elizabeth? Her question reverberated in my mind. If Monica had a rough time with cyberbullying, what did a woman named as correspondent in a famous adultery trial in the 19th century have to endure?

I began to dig into historical sources and found that Elizabeth’s beliefs, feelings and motivations were more difficult to fathom than those of her two lovers, who both had public platforms and testified at the trial. I felt challenged to unravel the mystery of this deeply religious and seemingly conventional woman who was accused of holding beliefs and engaging in conduct that challenged the core values of Victorian society.

You refer to Elizabeth as the “unheard voice” in this story. What does her voice add?
Many historical studies of the Beecher-Tilton scandal picture Elizabeth as a weak personality, a woman who gave in to both her husband and her lover and couldn’t keep her story straight. As I read more about the Victorian code of conduct for women, I suspected that this interpretation was simplistic. Women of her time were truly the “second sex,” excluded from the circles of power and decision-making. Looking at the scandal from Elizabeth’s perspective meant being sensitive to her efforts to influence the decisions of the key men in her life that could ruin them all. Was she a passive victim, or a heroine who courageously tried to protect the careers of both her husband and her lover as well as defend herself against public condemnation and possible loss of everything meaningful in her life, including her children?

Elizabeth’s perspective made me sensitive not only to the complexity of her own emotions but also those of her two lovers. The role of Henry in the scandal can be dismissed as a minister seducing a parishioner. Theodore can be labeled a hypocrite who championed women’s rights in public, but not in private. Elizabeth had a more nuanced view of the motivations of her two lovers, which comes through in her letters, sources that would never have surfaced if her husband hadn’t given them to newspapers to print against her will. Her appreciation for the good in both men adds new dimensions to the story, making it a tale of love and loyalty as well as betrayal.

Tell me about the research you did and what was learned in the process.
After the interesting discussion with my students of the Beecher-Tilton scandal, I began to explore historical studies of the scandal as well as primary sources. The most helpful primary sources were personal letters and the records of the church investigation and the public trial. The sources revealed that there was deep affection among all three participants in the love triangle. Personal ties were strengthened by their involvement, in varying degrees, with reform movements to promote suffrage for women and freed slaves as well as the reinterpretation of the Calvinist heritage.

Elizabeth was inspired by the gospel of love preached by Henry, whose sermons spoke of God’s love and mercy rather than the Calvinist emphasis on punishing sins. The reverend’s comparison of God’s love with the tender care of a mother inspired Elizabeth and helped her see the feminine role as crucial not only with the family unit but in building a better society. Both Henry and Elizabeth saw the concept of free love as an extension of the gospel of love.

In addition to their beliefs, I also strove to understand practical issues that affected the main characters. Did Elizabeth’s financial dependency make it difficult for her to insist that her husband keep his promises to protect her? Did concerns about male honor and reputation, as well as jeopardizing their careers, influenced the decisions of Henry and Theodore to either maintain or abandon a united front in denying scandalous rumors?

What was the concept of “free love” in the 19th century and how does it compare to modern polyamory?
The basic idea of free love in the Reconstruction era was the freedom to choose whom to love and to express true love in a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Those who espoused free love believed that government should not interfere in matters of the heart, because the question of who loves whom cannot be legislated. Some radical feminist leaders supported free love because they believed that marriage and divorce laws were unfavorable to women and often imprisoned them in injurious relationships. Supporters of free love did not express support for promiscuity; they couched their beliefs in terms of individual freedom to express true love outside of marriage.

Polyamory has similarities with free love doctrines of the 19th century and the concept of open marriage put forward in the second half of the 20th century, but it is a more inclusive philosophy, a more open-ended version of free love. Polyamorous individuals may have multiple romantic relationships with the consent of all involved without necessarily viewing one person as primary partner. Elizabeth viewed her husband Theodore as her primary partner, and Reverend Beecher as another love that enriched her life and deepened her love for her husband.

Is there a message from this historical controversy that resonates today?
The story of Elizabeth is relevant to concerns about individual freedom and social ethics in more recent times. The emergence of creeds of sexual liberation and open marriage in the second half of the 20th century raised questions about whether free love is liberating for women. Many women were still economically dependent on men, which made it difficult for them to insist that men grant their partners the same sexual freedom that they claimed for themselves. The MeToo movement that emerged in the early 21st century points to the problems implicit in a sexual relationship in which one partner enjoys the advantage of power and position. Elizabeth insisted that her tie with Reverend Beecher was based on true love, but her husband saw it as a pastor taking advantage of a deeply loyal member of his flock. On the other hand, Theodore was oblivious of the power dynamic in his marriage to Elizabeth. If our society continues to make progress toward gender equality, we can hope that women involved in polyamorous relationships do not undergo the same heartbreak that Elizabeth experienced.

Five by Five: Noir novel brings a different perspective to southern towns

By Max Bowen

Writing coach and teacher Brandi Bradley brings her professional experience to bear in writing “Pretty Girls Get Away With Murder” set to be released on March 14. Here’s a look at the story synopsis:

When a young entrepreneur is killed, everyone in town points fingers at his fitness influencer ex-girlfriend, Gabbi – including the victim’s best friend, Jenna. As detective Lindy D’Arnaud and her partner Boggs search for a motive, they begin to wonder if this is a case of jealous violence or something much deeper. In Lindy's personal life, things aren’t much clearer. When Lindy’s wife’s ex-boyfriend–and sperm donor to their baby–decides to move back to town, she finds herself competing for her wife’s affection.

In this interview, Brandi talks about the Souther Noir genre, the use of different perspectives in her storytelling and her writing style.

How did your work as a writing coach and teacher help with this book?
Teaching actually helps me practice what I preach. For this book, I realized that I was not making the time to work on it, so I set up a few write-in sessions on my campus in the library and invited creative writing students to join me for an hour of uninterrupted writing time. I had to show up and work because there could be students waiting for me. It got me out of my rut.

What is the Southern Noir genre and why was it the one you choose to write in?
Typically noirs take place in cities – the dark and gritty city. Corruption, reputation, aesthetics, cynicism, money: small towns have to deal with this, too. Add to that the mythology of the Good Southern Family. Look at how everyone was intrigued by the Murdaugh case in South Carolina. People want to believe nothing bad happens in small southern towns, but that’s not true. And because these small towns are also hiding big juicy secrets, it makes a fertile ground for story ideas to grow.

Lindy sounds like she’s dealing with a lot in her personal life. How does this factor into the story?
I think Lindy would say she’s fallen under the spell of a pretty girl a time or two. It’s possible her experience makes her project and speculate on theories based on past experiences with women who were dangerously charming.

I like the shifting perspectives you use. How did this become your method of telling the story?
At first, I think I wanted to do a structure somewhat similar to what they did in “Big Little Lies,” where a person’s perception of events is clouded because of what they perceive as a slight or some imaginary adversary. And I remember a writing instructor telling me once to make sure I leave room for fun: to always keep something in my story that does nothing but bring me joy. And it was just too much fun to write in the voices of these women.

Did this story get planned out or was it more “seat of the pants” style?
Oh no. I’m a plotter. But I don’t follow any specific outline. I like to know where I’m going in a story. When I get started on a new idea, I open a Word doc and make a bullet point list of everything that needs to happen for the story to work. It’s more of a flexible list than anything else, but it suits me.

Talking travel, robots, and Moscow marriages at the Rhode Island Author Expo

This December saw the return of the Rhode Island Author Expo, run by the Association of Rhode Island Authors. Along with emceeing the event, Citywide Blackout co-host Max Bowen sat down with some of the many talented writers to talk about their new releases, story inspirations, character development, and what we can expect down the road.

McLaughlin shares details of upcoming books
Heidi McLaughlin, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, joins me to talk about her two upcoming novels, “Sail Away With Me” (Dec. 31) and “The Art of Starting Over” (Feb. 1). Both are romance stories, and we go into the details of the potential couples, her character development process and how these fit into her over 60 previous works.

Getting married in 1979 Moscow
Joann and Jim Mead have an interesting story about how they met—in Moscow 1979. In their new book, “Married in Moscow: A Red-hot Memoir during Cold War Times,” the couple talk about what brought them to Moscow in the first place and their memorable moments there. Joann and Jim share their first impressions of each other and how they went from two strangers to a marriage that lasted the years.

From travel blogging to crime thriller
To say that C.B. Giesinger has had a wide-ranging writing career would be putting it mildly. From her travel blogging, where she shows readers some of the best places to check out across the globe, she’s also tried her hand at all sorts of genres of books. Most recently, she released “Where the Salt Water Ends” a thriller in which the mother of a missing child begins an investigation when other kids are taken, and the truth is not something she wants to learn.

C.B. and I talk about her different types of writing, portraying strong female characters, and future works.

YA author is back with second “Courage Kids” book
In 2023, I got to meet debut author Nishita Roy-Pope to talk about her first book. “Courage Kids: The Secret Soccer Ball.” Now, Nishita has continued the series with “Courage Kids-Robots, Sharks and the Missing Glow” and with a name like this, you just know it’s going to be a great story. Nishita talks about what inspired this book and how it continues the first one. We also go into this new role for Nishita and how she plans to grow it in the future.

Kelly Swan Taylor shares the newest story in teen mystery series
Kelly Swan Taylor is now in the fourth volume of her Wright Detective series, this time set amidst a new love for her protagonist, Tessa Wright. We explore the different ways that the series has progressed and how Tessa has changed since the first book. Kelly also shares the role that Tessa’s love interest Mason plays in the new book as well as the potential for new titles.