One of the most exciting things about the small press market is the ability to publish books that cross broad genre boundaries. Joan M. Sargent's TURKOISE, billed as Visionary Fiction, is one such book. It was released by Parendi Press in June, 2010. Combining elements of historical and multicultural fiction, a touch of magical realism, and a strong romantic element, Turkoise is a multiple award winning debut novel. The story of the book's genesis--a concussion followed by vivid dreams and uncanny coincidences--is almost as fascinating as the story itself. We invited Joan Sargent to share more about the book and her creative process here.

In a journey that could heal her heart, or end her life, a young journalist grieving the sudden death of her fiancé is called on to investigate a psychiatric patient's claims of reincarnation with a soul mate across time.

TED: Tell us a little bit about the genesis of the book idea and/or how you came to decide to write it.

JMS: I'd been suffering writer's block for eight years when my rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy pulled the wrong direction on her leash, smacking me into a door jamb. I saw stars - constellations, actually - and was diagnosed the next day with a moderate concussion and told to rest. In the days that followed, I experienced a set of remarkable dreams which indicated that my creative blockage had been demolished and that my psyche had "reset" (my doctor's term) itself. Not long after came visions of two young lovers on Minoan Santorini, so I jotted notes about the two in a little grocery-list notebook, as I recall. Then the two lovers appeared again the next week, this time in Spanish California. It was like a "Where's Waldo" cartoon: Where would they show up next?

At that point, I realized these two people were lost in time and needed a place to live their love. That's when I began mapping out a plot. So in a way, the story decided to give me the job of writing it, rather than the other way around. Might I add the puppy, Empress Theodora, grew into a quiet and dearly loved companion, who stayed by my side all during the writing of Turkoise. She died suddenly just two weeks after it received its awards. My husband believes she came here to be my inspiration and guide, and journeyed back to the Rainbow Bridge when her work was finished.

TED: Are there any books or authors who factored into your inspiration to write the book?

JMS: I'd always dreamed of writing as well as John Fowles and, as it happened, ended up with a story setting so near to his imagined "Phraxos" in The Magus. Then there is the great Daphne duMaurier, whose fiction blends the romantic with the supernatural so elegantly. I'm also a big Jules Verne fan, and just recently remembered being quite taken, as a child, with "Around the World in Eighty Days". In cinema, I never got over Peter Weir's apocalyptic drama "The Last Wave". And, as I was trained in the arts of poetry, I would be remiss not to include in my cache of inspirations the fabulous stylings of Keats, Shelley, and Donne.

TED: Were there any unexpected developments in bringing the book to fruition? Any major surprises along the way?

JMS: Yes, working outside the traditional narrative plot structure, I kept expecting to tumble into some humongous plot hole - a real, story-killing disconnect. It never happened. (Though I'm still, halfway, expecting someone to text me with, "Didn't you notice ...")

TED: What did you enjoy most in the process of writing the book or find most satisfying about the experience of publishing it?

JMS: About writing? The fact that I could write at all! After suffering a mild form of PTSD with its attendant writer's block for so many years, just being able to ink out an idea in a journal was a big deal. Then came the keyboard. A line, a page, a chapter. Every move was a baby step. Finally the day arrived when I printed the manuscript out. I held the warm pages in my hands and said to myself, "I wrote a book!" It was a huge personal triumph.

TED: What did you enjoy least about the process, or find vexing or frustrating along the way?

JMS: The frustration - and I think all writers experience this - of occasionally not being able to translate concept into words. But my biggest problem was actually corporeal. Because of the nature of the story and its background blending theoretical physics with eastern thought, I really had to extend the reach of my own mind. Some days, I swear, I could feel my brain cells popping like cooked cranberries. There were nights my cerebral cortex felt so overheated I'd actually plunge my head into a sink of ice, like that character in "The International". It works.

TED: Has the process of writing the book changed your perspective on writing, publishing, or the creative process in general?

JMS: As a little background, I was on the founding staff (of three!) at Ten Speed Press in Berkeley, so my ideas about publishing jelled pretty early in my career. Phil Wood hired me and just said, "Put these books together and sell them!" So, working on the front lines of a fledgling publishing house, I got to experience the whole process, from contracting with the writer to the arrival of the bound book to selling the book. It was so crazy and fun, and when things got tough, we went to a new little restaurant called Chez Panisse to drown our sorrows in chardonnay and Coquilles St. Jacques. So I would say my personal experience with my own book mirrored that of my work with the authors at Ten Speed. I can't tell you the number of times Phil's oft-repeated joke, "The birth of a book is a terrible thing to behold!" ran through my mind - and comforted me - as I put Turkoise together.

Yes, I did discover something amazing about creativity; namely, that it is a gift from The Divine - whatever you perceive that force to be. When not writing, I play rock guitar and find quite an analogy between white-hot writing and white-hot guitar playing. Take Angus Young, for instance. When he plays, you can practically see the energy of the cosmos flowing through him, as if he's the conduit of something beyond himself. That's how I felt, many days, writing Turkoise. I couldn't - nor did I want to - stop the "lyrics" flowing through my hands.

TED: What are you happiest with about the book now that's it's finished?

At a book group last summer, one woman stood up, holding Turkoise in her hands and said, "This isn't just fiction; it's literature!" With that one comment, I felt I'd achieved my goal: to write something which might, possibly, endure. As it happens, one bookstore tells me it has turned into a steady seller.

The other thing is that it won awards. You can imagine, writer who's stumped for years, writes a book out of the blue (with help from a 4-star editing team), submits it to contests to get some buzz for it, and ends up with medals! When I got the message from the IPPY's, I was so freaked out I had to have my husband go to their site to see what it had won, and for days after I fully expected the judges to call and tell me they'd made a terrible mistake!

TED: Please share some insights into TED's role in the editing and development of your book.

JMS: By the time I started Turkoise, I'd spent much of my working life as an editor of one kind or another, so I knew I wanted the best people I could find. I consulted Preditors & Editors, saw the green "Highly Recommended" review for TED, and called. I worked with Rebecca Johns, who's not only a great developmental editor, but a fine teacher. Her suggestions re the framework of the story were pivotal. Beyond that, Ross was always there to answer any questions I had about the business end of the project. After all those years working solo, it was so nice for me to have such a supportive team to help me iron the wrinkles out.

TED: Any advice for other writers who are making their way toward publication?

JMS: It is essential that you feel great passion about your story; first, because that passion will sustain you in those moments you wonder "How on earth will I get this done!"; second, because it will translate itself to the page and draw your reader in. Last but not least,(am I allowed to shout?) GET YOURSELF AN EDITOR! Not your Significant Other, nor your best friend, nor your sister. A professional - like the ones at TED. Better yet, just call TED. Their editors give it to you straight, and smart, with a big dose of understanding.

TED: What's next for you as a writer? Any other projects planned or underway?

JMS: I'm working on an historical novel about Juba II, the Berber king of Roman Morocco under Emperor Augustus, and his wife, Kleopatra Selene, the daughter of Marcus Antonius and Kleopatra VII. They were the ultimate power couple, whose court was the most learned and cultured in Roman North Africa. Next up after that, an historical mystery based on my experiences exploring the previously unseen reaches of far North Queensland, Australia. In both these works I'll be considering the power of the past to influence the present, just as I did with Turkoise.

For more information about the book, and to read the author's blog, visit http://turkoiseonline.com/. Joan M. Sargent is also on Facebook and is @fictonic on Twitter.