I was recently interviewed by the illustrious Hank Phillippi Ryan, the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen suspense novels, winner of five Agatha awards and one Mary Higgins Clark award. She is also an on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors. It was a thrilling and entirely new experience for this novice author.

I just finished reading So Big by Edna Ferber, an author whose work I may never had read had I not discovered a “Grandparent Book” in my mother’s belongings after she died in 2019. As a result, not only have I been exposed to an enjoyable novel by a talented writer, but I also feel more connected to my mother even after her death. It’s as if she has posthumously given me a gift.

I’ve always considered myself a fairly low-stress individual, someone you might refer to as “mellow” or “laid-back” or, more modernly, “chill”, as in that Eileen Brill is so chill, she’s all peace-love-granola.

I’m discovering that my self-image may be just a tad biased.

That’s not to say that I’m highly anxious either. But wearing what I perceive to be a low-stress mindset as a badge of honor might not be in my best interest if I’m not being truthful with myself.

Sometimes when I’m falling asleep, lying in the comfort of my bed and soft, cotton sheets, I am struck with the following thought: What if my life were such that I knew when I woke up in the morning, the day would not be mine to shape as I see fit? No decision involving my body, my mind, my opinions, or my future would belong to me, but rather, to another human being, establishment or government.

About 15 years ago I had a conversation with a newly-published debut author who described his path from the first inkling of an idea to publication of his novel which he described as a seven-year process.

Welcome to my very first blog posting! And, let me tell you, folks, this has not been easy for me. In fact, it has been downright torturous to figure out exactly what kind of message I want to convey as I introduce myself as Eileen Brill, Author.