The old musician and the enigmatic gypsy guitarist, Tiago, engage in philosophical dialogues with Niels Larsen. Could you elaborate on how these characters either mirror or challenge Niels’ own beliefs and life choices? The philosophical dialogues that occur between Niels and important people in his life are not abstract, but reflections by older and wiser folk to help him interpret and draw meaning from his observations and experiences. They mark the progression of his personal growth and maturity. Your book has been compared to Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist.” How do you feel about this comparison? I have not read The Alchemist but having seen the synopsis of the book I can understand why readers might see similarities in the storylines of young men embarking on a journey of discovery and self- actualization. But while the young shepherd in The Alchemist is spurred on by a dream of treasure, Niels in Rhapsody in a Minor Mode is fleeing a nightmare. How did you balance the existential themes with the romantic storyline? Were there challenges in merging the two? The rupture in the romantic relationship is intended to show how profoundly Niels has been affected by the news he learns and how extreme the disconnect from his former self and life is. He feels shame and fears Aude’s judgment–he is not the man she has known and loved. How to relate to her is one of the many questions he needs to resolve. The cello and Flamenco are not just musical elements; they seem intricately tied to Niels Larsen’s personal journey and transformation. Could you discuss the pivotal role that music plays in the emotional and thematic fabric of the story? I f music is not actually in Niels’ DNA, he was exposed to it from such a young age and with such intensity that it becomes the medium through which he interprets the world. As a child he chooses the cello as his instrument during a lonely and difficult time, anthropomorphizing the ones that change and grow with him. Abandoning music is a major element in disconnecting himself from his past life. Yet it’s through this medium, although with a more combative instrument and in a more adult and much grittier mode, that Niels redefines himself.
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ABOUT ELAINE: Elaine Kozak came to writing after several fascinating careers. She designed and sold information-retrieval systems, worked on policy and agreements to expand international trade, and, with her husband, planted a vineyard and established an award-winning winery. This last experience inspired Elaine’s first book, a vineyard mystery titled Root Causes. She followed it with The Lighthouse, a family saga set in New Mexico. A question about one of the characters in The Lighthouse intrigued her, and she wrote Rhapsody in a Minor Mode to answer it. Elaine now lives in Victoria, Canada.
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