Overview:
Katherine Kelly’s mentor says she has the makings of a good
reporter, but to be great, she must learn to find the emotional core of a story
and not hold back in its telling. Then he suggests one last grad school
assignment: find someone who has influenced her family and tell that
story.
Early Reviews:
Expect to be so wrapped up in The Concealers’ story that
these characters begin to feel as if you know them, and that their problems,
hopes, and dreams are real.”
Terri,
Night Owl Reviews
The Concealers, the Second Book of The Collectibles Trilogy,
is absolutely a must-read, and the ending leaves us all anticipating Book Three
of the Trilogy!
Terry
Santore
Book Club
Reviewer
“James Kaufman once again delivers a mighty punch in literature with a soft spoken voice as he continues his trilogy several years in the future from where he left off with The Collectibles. He manages to fill in the blanks of past characters catching us up on their lives and also introducing us to his brand new star Katherine, who rules every page she’s on by her humility, her honesty and her forbearance with not only the surprises life throws at her but how she handles those surprises … another mind blowing walk in Kaufman’s amazing world, and I can’t wait to see how the final curtain falls.”–Debbie Haupt, The Reading Frenzy
Kirkus Review:
Kaufman’s
storytelling and his warm, personal style have won him praise both in his
online community and with those who’ve attended his many speaking engagements.
Meanwhile, his publisher, Downstream Publishing, says they are already seeing
movie interest in The Collectibles Trilogy, in addition to the growing
buzz around Kaufman’s new book, The Concealers.
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Please welcome back to the forum a friend and personal
favorite author Jim Kaufman.
Jim welcome back to The Reading Frenzy!
Thank
you, Debbie. I have fond memories of joining you and others for a wonderful
discussion of The Collectibles, and I am delighted to be with you again today
Tell the readers here a little about your new novel.
In my new novel, The Concealers, Book Two of The Collectibles Trilogy, the
Collectibles story continues as characters, old and new, face life-‐altering
decisions in a world tainted by deceit. My readers will reunite with most of
the Collectibles, and of course, Preston.
They will also meet Katherine Kelly, a 23-‐year-‐old
investigative reporter.
Katherine’s mentor has told her that she has the makings of a good
reporter, but to be great, she must learn to find the emotional core of a story
and not hold back in its telling. Then he suggests one last grad school
assignment: find someone who has influenced her family and tell that story.
Katherine decides to pursue the only family story that has ever eluded
her: the identity of the father she never knew. Her mother, knowing her
persistent daughter won’t stop until she gets the truth, breaks her years of
silence and makes the call she always swore she would never make.
The reality of her father stands in stark contrast to the father of her dreams, and Katherine must soon decide who her father really is: the guardian of a group of wounded souls he calls “The Collectibles,” the attentive father of a newly discovered daughter, the person of interest in a bank fraud investigation . . . or a little of all three. Blood is deeper than principle, or so she is told. And a great journalist follows a story wherever it leads. It’s Katherine’s call, and only she can make it — and she does.
On your
website
you put a lot of importance in trust, you even go as far as saying that it’s
fading as a core value.
What is the most important thing that trust brings to a relationship whether in
real life or in your stories?
Trust is the foundation and a strong foundation is essential for growth. Think of the grand trees in Yosemite National Park or Redwood National Park in California — the size of the trees and how long they have lasted, their longevity enabled by the depth and strength of their roots. For a relationship to endure, its architecture must be founded on a solid, strong base. Trust — which must be earned — is the foundation upon which relationships are built. Trust is the critical component. It impacts the quality and durability of a relationship more than any other single thing; its presence makes possible credibility, clarity of character, and commitment.
The Collectibles was supposed to be a stand-alone novel.
What changed?
What
changed The Collectibles from being a stand-‐alone novel to a trilogy were
the incredible responses from those who read The Collectibles. I’m not talking about the fact that it
became an Amazon best seller, won a number of awards, has a 4.3 rating with
Amazon and is in the hands of more than 100,000 readers — all of which I am
humbled by and appreciate. I’m
referring to the nearly 200 five-‐star reviews and the letters
and e-‐mails
I receive once a week from readers throughout the country telling me how much
The Collectibles meant to them and how the story caused them to examine their
relationships and the way they look at life. When so many of my readers tell me
they want a sequel, I’m compelled to listen. That was the driver for
The Collectibles Trilogy
Jim you were just elected Chairman of the Board to a
charitable organization dear to your heart, Imaging The World. Congratulations!
Tell us what this organization does, who it serves and how we can get involved?
Imagingthe World was co-‐founded by Kristen DeStigter,
M.D., and Brian Garra, M.D. Dedicated to making the world a healthier place,
ITW is changing global medicine
through a revolutionary concept integrating technology, training and community
to bring medical expertise and high quality health care to remote and under-‐served
areas worldwide. Dr. DeStigter,
associate professor and vice chair of radiology at the University of Vermont
and Fletcher Allen Health Care, is leading ITW’s team of impressive doctors and
volunteers. She has just returned
from one of her many trips to Uganda, and her service and the service of all of
those involved with ITW, is truly making a significant difference in the world.
Due to the unavailability of advanced imaging technology, rural
populations suffer needlessly. Without early diagnosis, many treatable
diseases, especially maternal conditions, can quickly become critical,
resulting in death or injury. ITW
has created a new sustainable model for ultrasound imaging, making basic
life-‐saving
diagnosis accessible in the poorest regions. ITW’s low cost, sustainable and
scalable imaging model is possible anywhere cell phone signals are available.
As the son of a small town family doctor, I have a personal appreciation for those who serve rural communities, here and around the world — and I know what a difference people like Dr. DeStigter and her team members can make.
I am honored to be a board member and a vice president of ITW and now Chairman of its Board. I invite
those interested in ITW and its
work to visit us at ImagingTheWorld.org.
ITW has received grants
from leaders in world health including leading supporters Philips Healthcare,
the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation and The Joseph Fineberg Foundation, as well as from technology
partners, and through the generous support and collaborative efforts of so many
others.
Imaging the World is a non-‐profit organization with
501(c)(3) tax-‐exempt status. There are
three methods for making donations:
Mail checks made out to “Imaging the World” to: PO Box 25, Charlotte, VT 05445-‐0025
Or donate through PayPal by going to ITW’s website and following the prompts.
Or call 206.200.7560 to process a credit card donation via telephone.
Jim, this is not your first plunge in the writing pool you
have in fact written several non-fiction titles as well.
Which type of writing do you find more personally satisfying fiction or non-fiction?
Which is easier to write?
My
first writing was Noise: A Problem to Be Heard, which was presented to The
American Academy of Sciences while I was still a young man working as a
legislative assistant to Congressman Kupferman in Washington, DC. I had drafted the first noise
control bill introduced in Congress, and noise, together with its impact on
hearing, is of keen interest to me. Based on my trial experience, West
Publishing invited me to write about trial practices, and as a result of my
work with automobile dealers, I was asked to write a guide for automobile
dealers entitled What to Do Before the Money Runs Out. Because of the interest
in the subject matter, I enjoyed writing these books as well as the many
decisions I wrote as a judge. But that writing was quite different from writing
fiction, and I found the latter far more exciting and satisfying. Writing
fiction is much harder for me. Yet
while more challenging, I find it to be ultimately more rewarding, particularly
because of the interchange with my readers. In the end, I have always been a storyteller — and to be
able to write, drawing upon all my life experiences, has been more work and
more fun than I ever could have imagined.
Jim many authors that I interview have a special place in which they write and a few write wherever they happen to be.
Which category do you fall under?
Before I write I engage in a lot of thinking. It begins the minute I wake up and continues in the shower. Then I head to my office and begin writing. I work best in the early morning, quiet solitude of my office and most effectively without interruption. The ideas, however, for my stories occur at all times and places, driven by hopeless curiosity and interest in what people do and what makes them tick.
Jim before you were a novelist you were an attorney and then
a Judge.
When did the writing bug bite?
Can you share your personal “how I became an author” story with us?
After I practiced law, I was asked to run a large Australian boating company in North America. I loved boating, and being CEO of that company was one of the highlights in my life. I had the idea for The Collectibles in my head for many years. I wrote some early drafts, but while I liked the story, I was not satisfied with my writing. It was not until I finished my executive work as senior adviser to the company that I finally gave myself permission to write. I was able to put aside thoughts of business and focus completely on my writing. At that point, the writing bug certainly was there — and I wrote with a fury. It was exhilarating. I was a writer who dreamed of being an author. Three years later and after Lord knows how many rewrites, I became the author of The Collectibles. When it was well received, I started to believe my being a writer, an author, was no longer a pipe dream but true. It took a little getting used to.
Jim, this is a very challenging time for authors, even some
established authors are having to reinvent themselves, decide if
self-publishing is better than the brick and mortar houses. But it’s also an
exciting time where authors have more choices then they ever have before.
If you were asked to give one piece of advice to an aspiring author what would
it be?
I would go back to the importance of trust, in this case, trust your self. Have the courage to dig deeply inside and find the story that is trying to come out. Then, engage in serious introspection. What are you trying to say and why? To whom are you speaking? How much time do you have to finish your work and get it out there? Can you afford to go it alone? Don’t be afraid, and don’t look to others to tell you what to write. Just write the story. Get it out. There will be time later for edits and objective review, particularly as to the craft of writing, the rules and all of that. Accept the fact that discipline is critical and that rewrites are inevitable. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Keep writing.
What’s the biggest change from “before you were an author” to your life
now?
As an attorney, a judge, a businessman and in many other capacities, I’ve spent more than 45 years providing advice, counsel and leadership to clients and other people of various ages and in all walks of life. Those years were highly rewarding, driven by the desire to help others and do good and well. I’m still involved in helping others. But my life now as an author has entered an entirely new phase — one that is more enjoyable than I ever could have imagined. While the respect of my clients, peers and friends has been expressed in many ways, professionally and otherwise, I don’t recall being as excited as I have over the last two years speaking to countless book clubs, library associations and readers at book signings and hearing from my readers. There is something about listening to readers tell me how they felt about my book, the characters, the story, why things happened the way they did and, more importantly, how these stories related to the stories of their lives . . . how these stories have caused them to reevaluate their own lives and their purpose in life. I find it astonishing and exhilarating. I love it. It makes the arduous work of writing bearable, and in the end, when the book finally comes out, all worthwhile. In short, I love reading, I love writing and I love being an author.
Jim will there be any author/signing events for The Concealers where fans could
meet you in person?
I truly
enjoy meeting and hearing from my readers. I have several book signings and
speaking engagements noted on my website. I invite my readers to visit
jamesjkaufman.com and Amazon, where the book is available for purchase in hardcover,
softcover and e-‐Book The Concealers
Jim thank you for taking the time to let us get to know you and your new novel a little better. Good luck!
Thank
you, Deb. You have been a wonderful friend to me and to so many other writers
and authors, providing us with understanding and encouragement and welcoming us
into your community of readers. You wrote the book on relationships built on
trust.
Connect with Jim
Website
–
Facebook -
Twitter
My review of The Concealers
Katherine Kelly’s had a good life, a mother who loves and supports her and a grandfather who she adores the only thing she’s ever felt she’s missed out on was having a father. Just when all the pieces are falling together nicely in her life, having just completed her masters in journalism and hoping to soon find a job as an investigative reporter, her worlds gets up-ended by her mother’s confession about who her father really is.
Preston Wilson’s life is the envy of most, he’s a very successful businessman
thanks to the past involvement of Joe Hart. He and his wife Marcia have been
blessed with a son. But there’s also unrest in both his personal and
professional life and he’s at odds as to how to fix the problems before the unraveling
continues and to top everything else off he’s just learned he has a 23yr old
daughter.
In the following months Preston and Katherine start building their
relationship. Katherine learns about Joe’s intervention and his subsequent
demand about Preston’s new role with the “Collectibles”. Preston learns about all the years that he
missed with her. They also learn they have some unexpected common connections
in their lives that neither would have known if fate hadn’t intervened. Katherine
has also begun a new job as a reporter and as a result of an ongoing
investigation discovers something that may once again change her life and the
lives of those she’s come to care about.
James Kaufman once again delivers a mighty punch in literature with a soft spoken voice as he continues his trilogy several years in the future from where he left off with The Collectibles. He manages to fill in the blanks of past characters catching us up on their lives and also introducing us to his brand new star Katherine who rules every page she’s on by her humility, her honesty and her forbearance with not only the surprises life throws at her but how she handles those surprises. We also get to see how Preston is or isn’t fulfilling his promise to Joe, how his “Collectibles” are doing and a hint of the future story. He does this by his unique and amazing mix of high impact edge of your seat action mixed with his innate ability to talk softly and clearly so that anyone and everyone can and will get total enjoyment from his wonderful words.
The novel stands well on it’s own but I suggest reading the volumes in order for maximum understanding. But whatever you do make sure you put this novel on your must read list.
Thank you Jim for another mind blowing walk in your amazing world and I can’t
wait to see how the final curtain falls.
