Monica Brinkman is the author of The Turn of the Karmic Wheel. She writes speculative genre fiction which contains the paranormal, spirituality, horror and suspense.

She hosts the Meaningful Writings as well as the online radio site Two Unsynchronized Souls.

She met me at The Slaughterhouse where we talked about the media and gun culture.

Do you think we are manipulated by the media?

That’s an easy question to answer for all we need to do is look around us and see how much the media influences our lives.

One of the first things you are advised to do when turning your life into a positive, goal-seeking path is to turn off the television. It is the most important part of achieving your personal success. The media delivers tons of negativity into a persons’ life.

Think about it for a second. You wake up in the morning, a bit groggy, get your coffee or tea, sit down and turn on the morning news. Not only are you being told news that is ‘sensationalized’ to get large ratings, you are reported news to keep you in fear.

Fear that the economy will collapse. Fear that a tornado will hit your town. Fear that there are no decent jobs. Fear that someone will walk into your child’s school and shoot them. Moreover, don’t even get me talking about the Fear of those who have different political views than you or those who are of a different ethnicity. These are just a few examples. In addition, much of the news is simply someone’s opinion.

On top of this, you are bombarded with useless, silly and many times senseless advertisements.

Credit card companies trying to get a laugh while, in reality, they suck many middle-class working people into their clutches until these people over extend their credit, which can be ruinous. Car manufacturers showing the new, improved, sleek model with all the bells and whistles, which costs more than most average households can afford.

It goes on and on, cleverly attracting our children to plead and beg for the latest electronic gadget or delicious cookie.

Then there are the movies. Sex, violence, and corruption fill the screen. It has made many of our youth numb to the finality of death. The killing of anyone should be shocking and unacceptable, yet it is treated as if it is just another statistic…look the other way…be glad it didn’t touch your life.

I could go on and on about this topic but will end in saying it is time this country and the world stopped allowing the air-waves to lead our lives and tell us how to act, talk and what makes us happy. For true happiness is reaching for your passions in life, making that journey until you are able to work doing something you truly enjoy.

Media has taken away our imagination, replacing it with their thoughts, images and concepts. It is a form of control. For me, yes I watch television but try to focus on shows that have meaning, truth and purpose or just make me laugh. For laughter will heal your heart and soothe your soul.

As an author, I wish our youth would read books, for that is where your imagination goes wild. It is your perception of the story, which is personal to you alone. Imagination also brings forth creativity, without which, nothing new would come into the world.

Who are your literary influences?

As so many authors have influenced me, this is a more difficult question to answer.

Readers will notice I start each Part of a novel with a poem and I will continue to do so with each book written. The works of the Brothers Grimm, Edgar Allen Poe, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow are innate within my spirit as I grew up reading and listening to their works.

More recently, I have favoured none other than Mr. Stephen King, perhaps because he chose to take a unique look at normal, ordinary objects and situations and add that bit of magical realism. Truth be told, to me, his books are more frightening than any other horror writings to date.

Some very recent influences have been found reading new authors books. Take for example, Kenneth Weene, author of ‘Memoirs from the Asylum, Oana, author of The Healings and Sal Buttaci, author of ‘Flashing My Shorts’ and ‘200 Shorts.’ I’ve marveled at their creativity and well-crafted stories. It makes me wonder why their books are not on the NY Times Best Sellers List today. I implore any inspiring authors to look at some of the unknown authors for they are the future of writing.

My own writing tends to lean toward speculative genre, which many say is death to an author. Are they kidding?

Many traditional publishers shy away from this genre fore they are unable to place the work in any one area and they do not have the knowledge to market the books. All I can say to them is they are underestimating readers intelligence and placing the readers of the world in their self-made ‘box.’ Every person whom has read ‘The Turn of the Karmic Wheel’ has not only given it fantastic reviews, they are asking when the next book will be available. So, why then are publishers failing to offer speculative genre to the public? Simply put, it is economics. They rely on what has worked for them in the past and are afraid to put money into something different. It is a shame.

Do you think the idea that the people around us are unknowable is the ultimate source of horror and how true do you think this idea is?

What a great question, Richard. I tend to disagree with this statement.

It is according to your prospective. I see true knowledge available to the masses, yet they hide from it, deny it, or sometimes even scorn it. Thus, if they are not knowledgeable, it is due to their own lack of interest. This scares me.

One example is you point to the sky, state it is the proverbial blue and those around you say no, it is yellow. The knowledge lies right above them in the blue sky yet they bury their head in the sand, wanting to be right, and call it yellow. You see this around you every single day.

On the other hand, as an author, I find the most frightening stories come out of nowhere, jump out at you when you least expect it. In this instance, it is not lack of knowledge but rather the knowledge itself that frightens. You know that the man travelling alone in the wilderness is soon to meet that ghastly apparition, so knowledge in this case, provides the fright factor.

Do you think gun culture is prevalent in the Unites States?

Unfortunately, this culture has been prevalent since our forefathers made their way from England to the new land.

The right to bear arms is not specific to guns, though many will use this part of the Bill of Rights as an excuse to own guns. If you look up arms in a thesaurus, you will see it lists weaponry, armaments, missiles, artillery as well as guns. We, as a people, have the right to bear arms against our enemies when threatened.

If you take Canada, for example, more people own guns in that country than in any other yet they have one of the lowest shooting death rates. Why, you may ask. Because they realize the purpose of guns is for hunting, not killing each other.

It runs much deeper than gun culture. It is our views of war, power and superiority that create a culture sustained on supremacy where we will accept peace only on our terms. Instead of seeking a solution via communication or understanding, we rely on force. Until the United States comes to grips with the fact, we are part of the world and look for peaceful solutions instead of almighty force, our society will continue to embrace gun culture.

You see it in our films, our music, our media, our beliefs, and in our everyday lives. I fear without changing our views, American, once so loved and respected by other countries, will find even more hatred from what were once friendly nations.

My one hope is our youth will stand up and be unafraid to change the paradigm.

Do you think a female killer thinks and acts differently to a male and if so how?

Women tend to act on emotions, therefore when they kill it is very personal, for the most part.

I believe we have two types of female murderers. One, the battered partner who either, snaps one day or carefully plans the execution of the source of her abuse. In both instances, she kills from a place of deep-seated resentment and passion. These women usually over-kill; wanting to be certain, their abuser cannot strike back.

The other type of murderess kills for self-gain, cunningly, carefully, methodically, obtaining the trust of the victim. She will blind sight this person without batting an eyelash. Cold and heartless, is this type of female. The poor sap who gets into her clutches will never know what hit him.

Now men, on the other hand, will murder for the feel of power and control. It is much a game to them. Most feeling they are smarter than the authorities, believing they shall never be caught. Part of the pleasure they seek is in the initial plotting of the murder. They may daydream about it until it consumes their mind and they must act upon the impulse growing within.

Some will kill at random, unable to suppress their sick, sexual desires or need for complete control.

So I must answer yes, I definitely feel female killers, overall, think and act quite differently than a male murderer.

What are the most interesting experiences you have had on your radio show?

On the top of list would be the day a guest didn’t show up. Instead of letting it get us down, Oana, my co-host, and I proceeded to discuss the topic, Marketing and Promotion, in great detail treating it as a joke rather than allowing it to affect the show.

There are two shows that peaked my interest more than any other and that was when we had authors, Robert Rubenstein and Jonathan Maxwell as guests. The topic of discussion on both shows was Nazi Germany. It was interesting to see the different approach both authors took on this difficult topic.

Mr. Rubenstein had written a book called Ghost Runners. He centered on two characters, based on non-fictional men, who were expert runners and journeyed to Berlin during the Olympics. Though they were outstanding athletes, they were denied entry into the Olympics as they were Jewish Americans. This book is a testimony to two very real figures.

Jonathan Maxwell took a look at the Elite in his book, Murderous Intellectuals. It covered the years prior to the Nazi takeover, giving the reader an inside look into the participant’s background and minds.

Another that caused my ears to perk and drew my attention was our guest James Goi, Jr., author of ‘How To Attract Money,’ which was based on the Laws of Attraction. The conversation between Mr. Goi and Phil Harris, publisher of Allthingsthatmatterpress, was simply fascinating.

One last show that touched my heart was our Valentine’s Day Special with guest Salvatore Buttaci. Who wouldn’t feel a tug at their heart hearing Sal read poetry he had accumulated, for years, written on special occasions for his beloved wife?

One, I’m looking forward to is the chance to speak with Animal Psychic/Medium, Patricia Bono. She will be a guest on June 8th. This is sure to be fascinating, though by the time this interview is out, people will be able to view the show in our archived broadcasts.

I’ve also had my share of technical difficulties, which can be interesting. You must go with the flow and do the best you can. The audiences seem to understand when a speaker stops working or the line hangs up on the host. You never know what to expect.

Michel Foucault writes in ‘The Archaeology Of Knowledge’ : ‘The frontiers of a book are never clear-cut: beyond the title, the first lines, and the last full stop, beyond its internal configuration and its autonomous form, it is caught up in a system of references to other books, other texts, other sentences: it is a node within a network.’ What do you make of his observation?

Richard, I thought long and hard on this question.

Being an author, I want to say it is mine exclusively, the ideas, the words, and the thoughts.

After all, aren’t I the one who conceived the story, the characters, and the meaning? So, putting whatever small ego I have left aside, I tend to agree, for the most part, with Mr. Foucault. I know somewhere there is a character somewhat like mine. I certainly see that among the millions, if not billions, of stories throughout the world and the decades, someone may have come up with text, sentences similar to my own.

Nevertheless, with that said, I also feel each good book has its own style, unique to the author. Without creativity and imagination, new forms of writing would not exist.

Personally, I strive to bring to the world something a bit different, something that may rock the traditional accepted rules of authoring a book. In addition, if an author is using what has already been done, then I do not believe it is consciously written in this way. It is like saying; someone wrote the sky was a deep blue. I will use this example again, the sky is blue at times so the verse may be utilized time and again through different adjectives and verbs. You cannot change a constant from what its reality may be, thus we will continue to hear about blue skies in writings until eternity.

Joseph Conrad in ‘Heart Of Darkness’ suggests that civilization is a lie. Do you think that we are ruled by the irrational?

Richard, there are so many forms of civilization that it is more of an illusion than a lie.

We come into this world, taught what our own society’s values, rules and expectations should be. In part, it is irrational, for many of the instructions given us are indeed senseless and with little worth. Yet, if we all ran amok, centered solely on our own wants, aspirations and passion; never caring for our fellow man or what is good for our particular society, state, town, we would surely turn into savages.

I’m sure the governing forces would love all of us to follow as sheep, never questioning their rule but if we did this, it would be the ruin of civilization. Nothing new would come into the world. Therefore, in that sense, civilization is a half-truth but not an out and out lie.

“Never fear being the fool” is one of my favourite sayings. I have found that in order to live a fulfilling life, you must first be true to yourself, yet so many people fail to live their life instead settling on mere existence.

Civilization, of course, is a set of rules we agree should be in place and handed down from generation to generation. Not complete illusion, but hope for our future especially when irrationality is part of the mindset. Thus, I tend to agree with Mr. Conrad’s statement for the most part.

Do you think some readers are addicted to word patterns?

What an insightful question, Richard.

After much thought, I had to conclude that I believe most readers are addicted to word patterns.

How could they not be? What we have heard from the day we were born etches familiar groups of verbs, adjectives and nouns together that are stored in that memory bank called our brain.

Take for instance the fairy tales from our childhood. Would they have meant so much and made such a deep impression if not starting out with ‘Once Upon A Time’?

Would we be able to recognize a tale of horror if not for such delightful sentences that speak of ‘ghastly, ghoulish figures looming in the dank, darkness of the night’?

Word patterns allow a reader to comprehend the essence of a story and relate its meaning. So, in ending, I feel not only readers are addicted to word patterns, but every person who listens to someone speak, watches a movie or listens to a song’s words.

Most authors write because it is their passion and they must write. Assuming this to be a given, is there any other reason you chose to become an author?

Certainly not for fame or fortune, though that would be a wonderful gift.

Richard, the main reason I write, other than the fulfilment of telling a story that I hope will bring pleasure to others, is one of great importance to me. You see, I donate a portion of each book sale to EBMRF, a foundation that uses 97% of donations on actual research. You can view their web site at www.ebkids.org

Several years ago, I became aware of an incurable, genetic, disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa or E.B., for short. Like most of the world, I did not know of its existence. When I viewed a young girl who was born with E.B., my first thought was she had been in a terrible fire as her arms, hands, legs and feet were covered with gauze bandages. After learning about the disease, being a fire survivor would have been a much easier choice, if given.

These brave, beautiful children were born without the first layer of skin, inside and outside of their bodies. What that means is doing something as normal as hugging, swallowing food, or being lifted, to name a few, cause painful blisters on their skin. These blisters must be torn and kept clean and the child will get them anywhere she has skin. It could be the face, the neck, fingers, inside her mouth, throat, feet, legs; you name it. I won’t go further into the details. Let’s just say each child lives in constant and continual pain and as they age, the disease gets worse until their little fingers and toes become clubs, their legs and arms distorted and they will ultimately pass away.

Therefore, in answer to your question, more than anything, I write and continue to write so I can open readers’ eyes and minds of the need to generate funds to EBMRF and one day find a cure for these children. In fact, my latest release, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel, has a character whose little girl was born with this disease. It is yet another way to get the word out to the world of E.B.’s existence.

If anyone would like to know more about EB, they may look at my web site, Meaningful Writings, www.monicabrinkmanbooks.webs.com, as I have several videos of the children.

Thank you for engaging with these questions with such gusto Monica.

Links

Monica’s website

Her radio show  Two Unsychronized Souls

‘The Turn of the Karmic Wheel’ can be found at Amazon.com here

Sheila Quigley is a bestselling crime author, who became a national news story when Random House acquired her first novel, Run For Home, with major coverage throughout the press and television. Many of her novels are set in the fictional estate of Seahills, in Houghton-le-Spring in the city of Sunderland. Her latest novel Thorn In My Side is a tight and brilliant thriller which is impossible to put down. In it DI Mike Yorke returns to the north east and is immersed in his most bizarre case, which involves a flogged corpse and children disappearing the length of the A1. The novel takes the reader to Holy Island and an explosive secret going back to the dawn of time. If you haven’t got Thorn In My Side on your bookshelf you don’t know what you’re missing out on.

Sheila met me at The Slaughterhouse where we talked about pathology and revenge.

Is there a particular experience that has had an influence on you as a writer?

The short answer…Life!

When I was around seven years old I could not read a word, too busy daydreaming in the class room, and being really good about avoiding the issue when it was my time to stand up and read.

Eventually, of course it was always going to happen, I was caught and made to stand up and read out of this book that held nothing but squiggly lines in it. I ran home crying that day and determined to learn how to read I picked up the local newspaper, and pointed at a word to my mother. I learned five new words every night by staring at each one and repeating it over and over. Within three weeks I was top of the class for reading and already way in advance of my years. I raced through all the Enid Blyton books and anything I could get my hands on and pretty soon I was into sci fi, and horror. That was when I discovered Steven King. I guess you could say he has been my biggest influence, he doesnt waste words and gets right down into it, thats the way I love to read and the way I love to write.

Tell us about Thorn In My Side.

Thorn In My Side is slightly different from the Seahills series, more thriller than crime although in my mind the two genres can only be seperated by a whisker.

DI Mike Yorke is coming home. After three months in London, he’s looking forward to being back in the north east, but he’s barely off the train before he’s deep into the most bizarre case of his career.

A viciously flogged corpse. Teenagers disappearing the length of the A1. Horrific new street drugs, and buried somewhere is a deadly secret that will lead him down paths so dangerous, he will question the very fabric of society.

I throughly enjoyed writing Thorn In My Side. I think when you have done 5 in a series a change is refreshing. Nowhere Man no. 2 starts within hours of Thorn finishing, a third is planned but then it’s back to the Seahills.

To what extent do you think the class system in England informs crime and influences crime fiction in the UK?

There is a class system in the UK, no doubt about it, even though people, mostly the middle, upper classes will try to deny it.

Greed, mostly of the high classes, plenty of cash but feel the need for more. Difference being they can afford an expensive lawyer and within hours be free.

Love, when a mother steals new shoes for her children, she cant afford an expensive lawyer and ends up banged up for a year or sometimes more.

Jealousy, a human trait which stretch’s across all classes and brings out the worst in us all.

Rich pickings for a crime writer, and stories people love to read about. I think crime writing defines us all, people like to think, there but for the grace of God go I.

Who are your literary influences?

I fell in love with Enid Blytons books, and also loved the Bobsy twins, my first taste of american writing. Quickly moved to Fantasy, loved Anne Mcafferys Dragons of pern series. Then found Steven King. The Stand is my all time favorite book.

Do you think that there is a difference between crime and pathological crime. If so what is the difference and how does it present itself in fiction?

Ordinary crime, shall we say a break in, a stolen bag snatched off some ones shoulder, are mostly spur of the moment, as is a man or a woman on a night out spot their ex with a new boy or girl friend and totally lose it, and someone ends up in hospital and the other behind bars. In fiction, these sort of crimes can provide nice little fillers, but rarely the main plot.

Pathological crime on the other hand is mostly planned, and the bad guy, evil to the core mostly can make for entertaining reading. There is such a guy in Thorn In My Side.

Do you think revenge is a popular theme because it shows ordinary men and women stepping outside the law?

Revenge now then, haven’t we all wanted to get our own back. right down to nursery school. when the first boy you met pulled your hair or the first girl kicked your shin.

In the adult world Im counting teenagers in this, some seek revenge in cruel gossip and spreading lies. Some with a darker mind find only actual bodily harm can ease there need. The latter makes for great fiction.

Do you think that for a man or woman to slip over into killing they need to dissociate from their perceived selves into someone else and what does that someone else throw away in terms of gender conditioning and all it is intended to socialise?

Depends what sort of killing. Does a soldier have to leave himself behind when he goes on the battlefield. I don’t think so he does what he’s trained to do.

A spur of the moment killing, doubt if there’s time to step outside of yourself nine times out of ten its just reaction, kill or be killed.

Even a planned killing which is totally different from the above, now that has to be already in you, I think ninety percent of us do not have they ability to plan a murder.

Graham Greene said that writers have a piece of ice in their hearts. What do you make of his observation?

Ice melts very quickly.

Personally I think a thick skin is what’s needed most, to bounce back all of the rejections a writer meets at the begining of his/her career. And in the middle.

Sometimes it takes years and years to get published, then the ice is gone at the first smile from a publisher. But never shed the thick skin, you’ll never know when you will need it.

What are you working on now?

Now I am working on the second book in the Thorn In My Side series, Nowhere Man.

It starts within a few hours of Thorn In My Side ends.

DI Mike Yorke goes to london to search for the man he grew up with who he is convinced is in with a hidden group of people called the familes who have ruled the world for the last thirty centuries. And who now plan a cull of the human race.

Meanwhile Smiler a used and abused street kid is left behind on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne with Brother David a monk, to protect Aunt May who is in a coma.

Smiler insists he has the same abilty as was given to St Cuthbert the gift of second sight. Mike Yorke however does not beleive this and finds a reason for what ever Smiler comes up with. In an uncertain world they all come together to end the yoke the world has been under without even knowing it.

Do you think crime fiction seeks to deliver justice when there is none in the real world?

Possibly yes!

I think people love it when the bad guy gets caught and justice is served, it gives them that feel good feeling. Because we all know in real life that it doesn’t always happen.

Sheila I am sure this compelling and perceptive interview will bring you new readers.

Find all things Sheila Quigley at her website here.

Ahmad Ali is a jazz and R&B guitarist. He is also the host of WUSB’s radio show Cafe Ali, in which he discusses topical and artistic issues with a wide range of guests.

He is a man who is interested in many issues to do with higher consciousness and creativity.

He met me at The Slaughterhouse where we talked about music and the Long Island murders.

You’re an accomplished musician in whose guitar playing I hear the tones of George Benson. Who are your influences and what do you make of Carlos Santana’s observation that music can alter our molecular structure?

I originally wanted to be a Bass player inspired by Bootsy Collins. My father insisted that I play Guitar, and that I would be able to play bass also, which was accurate in his era and from a rudimentary view. The Bass has become a very different instrument in the last 40 years. My father really dug Wes Montgomery and by the time I started playing he had passed away well over a decade. George Benson however was conquering the Pop and Jazz charts. His appeal is inescapable. He is a very slick polished, virtuoso of guitar. A singer who is poised to be historically recognized for his Pop success. So Yes I dig Mr. Benson a lot. When I met him the first time I called him the “Holy Prophet of Jazz Guitar. I do tire of being compared to him, I am not really at that level. Maybe if this was my livelihood and I woke up every day to work at Music, I could get there. Johnny Guitar Watson was a favorite also. He combined Blues and Funk with Jazz overtones. George Clinton, Michael W. Hampton are great influences on me. Jimi Hendrix (I often wondered why George Benson never covered Hendrix, Wow).

Carlos Santana emerged as a favorite of mine early, because his music is easier to play. I am amazed at the second Question. I am an Advanced Reiki Practitioner and so many things I have studied in life are coming together. Chanting has been used to open the Chakras since ancient times. Amplifying the chant and adding a little reverb, creates a resonance. Using instruments like a guitar amplified and over driven to the extent of creating harmonic feedback, utilized by someone who knows the correlation of notes to chakras, can from a new age perspective, enhance and elevate the vibrations of the people before them. In some cases the more finely attuned audiences begin to move, unable to stop themselves from Joyous Gyrations and Frolicking about. Every thing in creation is vibration, from solids to liquid to gas, sound, light and the ether that the Angels communicate through. Exposure to all of these effect our molecular structure. That is why, it is of the highest importance to let love guide your actions. Our actions send out waves just as a pebble dropped in a pond creates a wave. Its vibration affects the water even as the eye no longer sees the ripple.

Fabien Maman developed Tama Do and claims he uses sound frequencies to heal people. Do you think the distant healing as used by Reiki practitioners is using sound that falls beneath our conscious level of hearing and how does Western medicine fail when compared to the Eastern model?

As I was saying earlier everything in creation is a vibration. Sound is vibration that our ears sense and other parts may feel when it’s amplified. Energy that is unseen or inaudible is of a higher vibration. We often do not acknowledge higher vibrations as a conditioning of a materialistic society. The Still Small Voice in your conscience the voice of the “Higher Self” or the “Holy Breath”. The ability to read the Acacia. To heal from a distance is more a reality that the tangible point “A” to point “B” of western ideology.

Western medicine will save your life when catastrophe is upon you. Living in balance can avoid catastrophe. Eastern wisdom is that of self sufficiency and balance. A life style that can not be capitalized upon there for a threat to western medicine. These are the modern day money changers that would be run out of the Temple by Jesus (Yahashua Ben David). He was the Master of Masters of Healing on all levels. In Heaven and Earth our Father’s Will, (a Vibration) be done. Thoughts are vibrations. The spirit of creation is described in Torah as Elohim, Koran describes, the Creator as saying “Kum Fia Kum” (Be and it is). Torah also says God said “Let there Be Light!”. All sounds and vibrations. Not only healing but creating.

The Laws of the Universe are that which we need to be as close to unison as possible or at least harmonizing with. Then the “Force” is with You.

William Blake wrote ‘God appears and God is light to those poor souls who dwell in night and does a human form display to those who dwell in realms of day’. Do you think if we get closer to the divinity of our own beings we are more apt to see god in others?

The Creator speaks to us through each other. We all have moments of Higher consciousness. When our intentions are built on Love, Mercy and the Harmonies in life. We hear as well as speak for God. He is closer to us than our own heartbeat. His voice is ever present around us, and in us and all of creation, when we tune in. Love is the principal. We all need to learn to love instead of hate. Love is the divinity. Love is the vibration, the sound, the Force that heals and creates. The one thing the human form is capable of is Misery. Misery is the darkness and self fulfilling prophecy. We have the ability to shine a light on that darkness by controlling our thoughts. Accentuating the positive. There are many tools in the workshop of the mind that we can use to build up our character and keep our thoughts within the boundaries of positive navigation in life. This navigation and the fellowship with like minds draws us ever near to the Divine Architect.

Tell us about your band and how important playing live is to you.

I have to say I am recuperating right now from last night’s performance at a little club on the water in Amityville (hometown of the Amityville Horror). The thing I told the crowd at one point is they needed to get up and dance because we don’t get paid a lot and we need them to entertain us also. Make us feel appreciated and loved, which they had been doing all night but were just taking a break. The dance floor immediately filled back up! This band is called Snap and we play high energy party music. Funk and R+B. Live performance is as much of a mood enhancement for me as it is the audience. The vision of music is a dancer. Seeing and interacting with the crowd is fun especially when they are a happy bunch. My other projects the Ahmad Ali Trio and Duo are less of a thrill but usually more rewarding financially. As I get older I enjoy the zone of entertaining more.

What do you think is motivating the Long Island murderer?

Actually from the rumors that have gone around, that area has always been a dumping ground. The area is very desolate. At the same time it is accessible feeding into many highways and a large waterfront without a great deal of police visibility. The residents usually have a lot of privacy and space between communities. This makes it easy to slip between the cracks.

The idea I have in my head is that some of the murders were done by organizations that needed to silence or dispose of uncooperative sex workers. People disappear all the time. Cases go cold and there must be this great limbo. Unidentified remains and missing persons. Someone with a boat, could carry a body from the Gulf or Caribbean and pull up to shore on our Island and dispose of it.

A few years ago a ship with immigrants in it, was caught near the Rockaways. What they were slated to do when they arrived we won’t know. We may have sex trafficking activity on many levels. This is all my speculation and overactive imagination.

Do you think that the West is imposing its own concepts on other cultures?

Absolutely (Do you think of Vodka when you see that word?). The hypocrisy of using war in some countries to establish democracy and not others is an example. Imposing sanctions on others who don’t submit to us. Taking resources from countries and selling them back to them. Our lack of knowledge on word history makes us prime vics for corrupt, greedy law makers and the corporations who support them. The “New World Order” looks more like the Leviathan. The faceless, soulless and evil entity that governs us now, the Market Economy. It is traveling to and fro the earth seeking whom it may devour. When the fleecing has hit a high mark a donation will be made in the name of corporation x to remember the great culture they destroyed.

Has any one event changed your life?

That is difficult to narrow down. The Birth of my children and the passing of my Parents. The world my children will have to deal with, and me having to deal with the world with out the counsel and friend ship of my parents. It is however great to grow friendships with my children as they are becoming themselves. I will describe that as one event, my life.

The Murders of Yusef Hawkins, Amadou Diallo, and Jesus, also prompted me to be active in the community.

The war.

Do you think that humanity is at war with itself and religion has stoked the flames?

From the time of Constantine adopting the appearance of following the teachings of the Messiah. Creating a state religion and making him self the representative of God on earth (or does Vicrius File De, mean in place of the Lord). After all Ceasars are the only God allowed to be worshiped under Roman law. Alexander burning the libraries to control the media of that time. The conquest of Mohammed The First Over Byzantine. The Crusades, the wars between the Hindus and Muslims. The Protestants and the Catholics in Ireland. The new fundamentalism of Al Qaeda and the K.K.K The word it self is descriptive Re-Legionizing people instead of uniting. “The Peace of Society Dependeth on Justice”. If a religion promotes political, material gain and control of people as opposed to Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice for all Nations, then it is stoking the Flames.

Who do you like reading and why?

I am intrigued by crime mysteries and the process of reconstructing the crime and getting into the head of the Detective and the killer. I was trying to read Keith Richards’ book and it didn’t hold my attention. C. E. Lawrence has a way of telling the story. Introducing characters living around real land marks. For instance she has a scene that takes place in the morgue. The description is stomach churning in its effect. Being from the region where the story takes place is an added perk. The way events weave in and out of each other also keeps you on the edge. There is an intangible quality in the story that GRIPS you.

What are the most extraordinary experiences you have had on air as DJ?

So many wonderful interactions have occurred it would be easier to mention the less extraordinary. To pick one is almost criminal. C.E. Lawrence is one of the most intriguing and well versed personalities I have spoken with. Dr Veronica Andersen was an excellent guest. I wish I had more time with her. Mike (Kidd Funkadelic Hampton) my guitar hero, is not talkative. He is more expressive with his guitar. Roy Ayers struck me though. He made me feel like I had known him for Years. Seventy years Young, he is youthful in his approach and view towards life. Yet he has an abundance of knowledge and experiences to share. A true gentleman. Our conversation extended from the studio into the street, and onto the subway and he had to tell me my stop was next. I almost rode all the way uptown with him. The conversation was that good. I felt the connection of friendship. He is a people person, as we walked down the street he greeted people and had small conversations with them. All this while still engaged in our conversation. We spoke (in studio) for an hour I edited down to half an hour for WBAI. I used the entire interview at WUSB.

Thank you Ahmad for giving an insightful and memorable interview.

Find all things Ahmad Ali—music, videos, radio show info, press articles and more—on his website here.