Ep18 of Elaine's Literary Salon show: Explore the mind of a spy in James Stejskal’s new book, “Berlin"
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Welcome to Elaine’s Literary Salon: The go-to spot in Alexandria, VA, to meet some of the top authors and learn about their newest books and their journey to becoming published writers. Having interviewed hundreds of authors since he and his wife Cynthia opened Elaine’s Restaurant in 2022, Salon host Jeffrey James Higgins brings insights and experience to each conversation. Find the produced interviews on our Authors page.
About our host: By day, Jeff manages Elaine’s, the award-winning Alexandria, VA restaurant he opened with his wife Cynthia, who is also an author. A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor.
He has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. He’s a #1 Amazon bestselling author with 21 literary awards, including the Claymore Award, PenCraft’s Best Fiction Book, and a Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal. He has been a panelist at ThrillerFest, Killer Nashville, Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity, and other conferences.
Black Rose Writing published his first three novels, FURIOUS, UNSEEN, and THE FOREVER GAME. Severn River Publishing has acquired Jeffrey’s forthcoming Nathan Burke espionage series. Jeffrey is an active member of the Authors Guild, the Virginia Writers Club, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Royal Writers Secret Society. Learn more: JeffreyJamesHiggins.com
Book your interview with Jeff today! Click here to learn more about scheduling your free Salon event at Elaine’s, and other services offered by Jeff and his team.
Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, InkandescentPR.com
Collaborations are key: In 2024, Jeff joined forces with InkandescentPR.com founder Hope Katz Gibbs to produce and promote his author interviews on the Elaine’s Literary Salon podcast and video show. It blasts out to thousands of listeners on InkandescentRadio.com, Spotify, Apple, iHeart Radio, Inkandescent.tv, and of course, on this website.
“Our goal is to shine a light on as many authors as possible — of course, so that many readers can learn about their books — and also to inspire more writers to bring that book inside them to life,” says Hope, author of PR Rules: The Playbook, Why Divorce: 5 Reasons to Leave, and her upcoming anthology, Walking on the Beach with Natalie.
In addition to PR, marketing, and website development, Hope’s company publishes books, including these recent titles: The Secret Sauce by longtime Superintendent Dr. Peter Noonan, Wealth Management Rules by award-winning financial planner Marguerita Cheng, and its sequel, Diary of CFP Pro. Find more Inkandescent® Books here: InkandescentPublishing.com.
About Elaine’s: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt — a combination of Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo.
“I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins.
The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.