It made me think about the Bosnian conflict of the early to mid-nineties. This war isn’t noted like other major wars of the 20th century, largely in part because other countries, NATO included, didn’t get involved until the end of fighting. Unfortunately, many people have scant knowledge of this conflict, even though it was more ruthless and tragic from the standpoint of innocent lives lost.
There have been several novels written about the Bosnian war but not many on Srebrenica, a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, mostly notable for the Srebrenica Massacre, the July 1995 killing of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys. It is notably, the worst European genocide since WWII. This brought me to question; what about a novel that could employ the Srebrenica Massacre as a backstory? Thus, The Sava Steps was born.
The Sava Steps does not dwell on Srebrenica. The plot is driven by modern-day illegal harvesting of human kidneys with Srebrenica as a revenge motivator for the main protagonist. To me, back-alley organ harvesting when combined with horrors like Srebrenica bring out a whole range of rationales and human emotions.
- What is it about and who is it for? This is an international thriller
that centers on a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre and her daughter.
Now, 25 years later, the mother plots revenge against two men from her Srebrenica
past that now are involved in the illicit kidney transplant trade. I am
convinced the mother and daughter relationship will fulfill all
expectations that readers are looking for. This novel will appeal to those who are
fans of action and suspense with a generous dose of fascinating characters,
all locked on an emotional course between brutality and the gift of life. Women
and mothers, take note.
- What takeaways might the reader will
be left with after reading it? In our not so perfect world, we
continue to witness atrocities perpetrated against innocent people. Like
Bosnia, we see parallels to what is happening in the current
Ukrainian/Russian war. The novel’s intent is to explore evil, yet provide
examples of compassion and hope.
- How did you decide on your book’s
title and cover design? The title, The Sava Steps come
from the St. Sava, a Serbian prince and Orthodox monk during the 12th
and 13th centuries. It is also named for the river that flows
through Belgrade to the Danube. The steps are fictional, carved into a
limestone cliff in a mountainous area of Montenegro, once part of medieval
Serbia. The book cover depicts a portion of the steps as they reach the
top of the cliff where an old, abandoned nouveau riche hotel sits.
This is where the climactic scene takes place.
- What advice or words of wisdom do you
have for fellow writers? Stick with it. The joys of meshing
together a captivating plot and intriguing characters far outweigh the headaches,
frustration, and writer’s block that inevitably will occur.
- What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The book world is still experiencing a metamorphosis that creates uncertainty. Fortunately, it seems to be slightly more favorable for new writers. Still, the conglomerates still rely on the same best-selling authors which in my view limit the opportunity for new talent and ideas, as opposed to the formulaic plots and characters they normally publish.
- What challenges did you overcome to
write this book? Fine-tuning a plot that is
effective, researching and keeping the facts true and accurate.
- How would you describe your writing
style? More along
the lines of thriller/suspense authors such as Steve Berry, Douglas Preston,
Daniel Silva, and if I really stretch it, Edgar Allan Poe. I write at all
times, no set schedule, and it takes draft after draft to get it the way I
envisioned.
- If people can buy or read one book
this week or month, why should it be yours? The Sava Steps is entertaining,
fast-paced with engaging, intriguing characters that elicit a myriad of
human emotions.
About
The Author: Lee Lindauer has
BS and MS degrees in Architectural and Civil
Engineering
respectively and spent over twenty-five years as principal of a consulting
structural engineering firm in Western Colorado. He is a member of the
International Thriller Writers. He and his wife, Teri divide their time between
Colorado and Nevada. Visit his website at www.leelindauer.com
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PR Help
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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/great-book-marketing-podcast-interview.html
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