"The Long Harbor Testament" by New Novelist Tom Minder

Interview conducted By Dawn Byrne

Tom Minder’s first novel “The Long Harbor Testament” was published and released this month through Black Rose Writing. He’s no newbie to fiction though with his short stories that can be found in: Tall Tales and Short Stories (mephitis mephitis), STORGY (At the Diner), Fiction on the Web (Murder in South Jersey), PILGRIM: A journal of Catholic experience (Self-Denial), CommuterLit (The Battling McManns), Spank The Carp (Squirrel!), Cat & Mouse Beach Nights Anthology (Burning for Rehoboth).

Tom answered questions about his book and other writings. The following are tidbits about this author of dry humor and his new and upcoming works.

Tell us about you and how writing fits in with your life. 

I’m retired and live in Turnersville, NJ with my wife, Paula. After years of promising to write my novel, I started in October 2012. After fifteen months for the first draft, nine more for beta reading and edit, and three years of querying agents and small presses, "The Long Harbor Testament" was accepted by Black Rose Writing. Since I retired, I spend fifteen to twenty hours a week on writing-related activity. This includes new writing, self-editing, submitting short stories, submitting my novel for reviews and planning the marketing steps. 

The characters drive your cozy mystery novel in a fun way. How did you come up with these colorful people and how they are connected to the murder?

Sixty-five years of attending weekly mass, Sunday breakfasts, thousands of diner dinners, and seeing criminal elements in Philly and South Jersey via TV, movies, and real life, created a roster of characters waiting to be stuffed into a book. Sit in a diner for an hour and tell me you can’t find characters stranger than fiction. 

Why is food included so much in your narratives? 

Food, and consumption thereof, is the great equalizer in our society. Where else do people gather together voluntarily and happily? Sporting events, maybe, but people go for the beer, nachos, questionable meat products, and overpriced pretzels as much as for the contest. Speaking of athletic feats, navigate through the crowd at halftime looking for a rest room and you’ll see moves unmatched on the field. All making room for the next beer and crab fries. 

Beside diners, your settings tend to be along bodies of water. Is there a reason for this? 

I hadn’t thought of that. I guess the seaside and ocean have calming effects on people while also posing dangers from rip currents, large people on inner tubes, unexpected waves which can cause wardrobe malfunctions, etc. 

I've read some of your short stories, and am excited about your next project. Can you talk about that?

I’m planning an anthology of the short stories, all featuring the same two main characters, with occasional cameos from the Jersey Devil. This married couple is a composite of myself and Paula, Dagwood and Blondie, and Nick and Nora Charles. I’m not sure about my next novel but am thinking along religious lines. 

Thank you for the interview, Tom. Looking forward to your collection of short stories, and more.

What Inspires You?

By Glenn Walker

This has been a busy week for the South Jersey Writers' Group, and Kathryn Craft as well. She can't seem to get rid of us! Thursday she spoke at our regular meeting, and Sunday she was the Philadelphia Liars Club representative at this month's Writers Coffeehouse. She moderated a terrific session on inspiration and motivation.

Kathryn's prelude to the meeting came via the Writers Coffeehouse Yahoo! Group where she posted before the meeting:

Since I'm getting the impression we've all about had it with winter, let's think inspiration and renewal—and tap into our inner child by having show and tell! Bring one or two quotes or small items along to share that you keep in your writing space for inspiration. We know you have them. If propriety suggests this item not be brought (no booze or pets, please!), then you can just tell us about it. BECAUSE WE NEED ALL THE INSPIRATION WE CAN GET!!

Sure enough, come Sunday afternoon, all of the writers in attendance brought something from their workspace, whether an actual object or a description of same to share with the group. It was like a mad, creative game of show and tell. I have to say, it was wonderful and inspiring just hearing about all the things that inspire other writers, full of unique items, motivational quotes, pictures, and even Legos.

It's worth mentioning that the Writers Coffeehouse is always in itself an inspiring and motivational experience, just hearing what other writers are doing and going through, and meeting and networking with folks you already now or only know online - in person. I got the chance to finally meet in real life Uriah Young, who I've known only online for some time. He's a terrific young writer who has a bright future ahead of him, you should all check out his blog and Follow him on Twitter.

When it came around to me to talk about what inspires me, I blathered on about making music playlists, and how I had some action figures and Legos on my desk, but it wasn't until after the meeting that I realized what really inspired me. As fellow South Jersey Writers Patti O'Brien, Dawn Byrne, Robert Repici, Tom Minder, and I sat around talking writing at Panera Bread, it came to me. I'm inspired by the presence, encouragement, and support of fellow writers. I think we all are. As much as writing seems like a solitary sport, it's really a group effort. That's why get-togethers like the Writers Coffeehouse are so important.

Now, what inspires you?