Page 10 - Reader's House Magazine Issue 48

EXPLORING THE JOURNEYOF AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
KEITH STEINBAUM
From Lyrics to Literature
Keith Steinbaum discusses his transition from songwriting to novel writing, exploring themes of supernatural suspense and social issues, while drawing inspiration from personal experiences and real-life scenarios.
Keith Steinbaum’s journey as a writer is as compelling as the stories he crafts. With a background that spans poetry, song writing, and a lengthy career in the landscape industry, Steinbaum’s path to becoming an award-winning author is a testa- ment to his unwavering passion for storytelling. His novels, in- cluding “The Poe Consequence,” “You Say Goodbye,” and the recently released “In Lieu of Flowers,” showcase his unique ability to blend supernatural elements with human drama, creating narratives that are both thrilling and thought-provoking. Steinbaum’s work often delves into complex social and ethnic issues, reflecting his belief in the power of literature to explore and illuminate the weightier aspects of life. In this interview, we delve into the inspirations be- hind his novels, the influence of his song writing background on his writing style, and the themes that drive his creative process. Join us as we explore the mind of a writer who has seamlessly transitioned from crafting lyrics to penning novels that captivate and challenge readers.
You transitioned from a succes- sful career as a song lyricist to becoming an award-winning author of supernatural thrillers
and murder mysteries. How did your background in son- gwriting influence your writing style and storytelling in your novels?
One thing I want to clarify from the beginning is that, unfortuna- tely, my career as a song lyricist shouldn’t be termed, “successful.” Some highlights, yes, but not ne- arly enough to safeguard me from the eventual need to seek another career. However, through those 100+ lyrics (and many poems writ- ten earlier), I learned that creative writing originates from the ability to first look inside yourself and isolate the motivating reason(s) for what and how you want to say something. My second novel, You Say Goodbye, features a protago- nist who is a former rock ‘n roll star and that vehicle allowed me to write passages of lyrics from son- gs he’d written and thought about when confronted by a particular experience. This was a very impor- tant factor in familiarizing him to the reader, exposing his depth and sensitivity despite being admitted- ly unlikable for the first half of the story.
The Poe Consequence deals with themes of gang violence and supernatural elements. What inspired you to blend these two worlds, and what
message do you hope readers take away from the story?
During the period of time that these “two worlds” formulated, I had already worked in various gang-affiliated neighborhoods for close to twenty years – but only during the daytime as a landsca- pe professional in many housing projects. The gang-banger types I observed at these complexes, or in the streets around the neighborho- od, stuck with me. Managers and supervisors told me of incidents in- volving killings, rape, and drug de- alings, and this fueled an inner fire to create a story of supernatural vengeance against two rival street gangs. Being an Edgar Allan Poe fan, I wondered if something from his dark themed stories could offer a clue as to what I could create. Upon re-reading The Tell-Tale He- art, that turned out to be the ‘ah-ha’ moment. By the end of the story, I hope that readers will come away with, as I write near the end, the belief that one’s life can, “change for the better in the most unlikely of situations, at the most unexpec- ted of times, and in the most unpre- dictable of circumstances.”
Your upcoming novel, In Lieu of Flowers, is described as a time-traveling cemetery story. Can you give us a sneak peek into the plot and explain how it connects past, present, and
Keith Steinbaum, acclaimed author,
shares insights into his creative journey and the inspirations behind his compelling novels.
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