“I set my goals high and work every day to achieve them.”

– D.R. Berlin

In this conversation, we look into the life of D.R. Berlin, award-winning author of The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor. Berlin shares her unique journey from the intricate worlds of surgery and military service to the fascinating world of writing. This interview explores the personal stories, challenges, and inspirations that drive her work, and what she hopes to achieve by creating stories that resonate beyond the page.

D.R., thank you for joining us today. Let’s start with your personal journey—how did your military and medical background shape your approach to writing? Can you walk us through some of the key moments in your life that led you to become an author?

Born in Fall River, Massachusetts (home to Lizzy Borden, Emeril Lagasse, and the USS Massachusetts), I attended BMC Durfee High School where I was the Salutatorian. I attended MIT, majoring in biology with a minor in writing, and played varsity volleyball. Fast forward to graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, joining the Army, being stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center (Intern of the year), three years as a General Medical Officer at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC, completing my residency in General Surgery at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, (not related to the medical school) and moving to Orange Park, FL, where I’ve lived for 20 years. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I’ve been affectionally dubbed the “Mamarazzi.” I minored in Writing in college and The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor has been swimming in my head for years. Now that Mom’s Taxi is officially closed and my presence is no longer needed in the stands on the soccer or football fields, I have the time to devote to realizing my dream. Since the first day I started to outline the story, the words have flooded the pages like a tsunami, and haven’t stopped. This book is the first in a series. I chased a dream and now am a self-published author. I set my goals high and work every day to achieve them.

How did you decide to channel your experiences into writing, and how did you approach this transition?

I work hard and play hard. I write in every spare minute because I find it enjoyable and relaxing to create interesting characters that get themselves into a lot of trouble.

Writing, especially in genres like thrillers and suspense, often requires deep emotional insight and precision. How do you draw from your own life when creating characters or plotting dramatic scenes in The Third Estate: Secrets of the Manor?

I received a mug from my family for Christmas: “Be Careful or you’ll end up in my book.” I laughed. That’s not how I do it. I pay attention to current events, interesting people I observe in my travels, and past experiences to craft interesting scenes and characters that jump off the page.

What would you say is the most surprising thing about your journey as an author? Looking back, was there an unexpected moment or turning point that changed the direction of your writing?

Great question. It took me about a year to finish my first draft. When I first started, I had placed clues and descriptions early in the novel in anticipation for the great reveal at the end. I researched several topics and left specific details, like the color of the smoke and the smell of the fire. Later in the novel, at the time of the reveal, I was baffled with why I wrote it the way I did. I had to go back and re-research my clues to find the answers. Lesson learned. Document the answers of the clues when I write them. During one of my many revisions, I realized that I needed an addition character, not currently in the book, to notice a specific detail and comment on it. I had to go back to the beginning and add in this character in the appropriate chapters in order for the character to notice the important detail at the end. The most important change from earlier drafts was that, in the end, in a believable situation, Sophie has to find a way to save herself. You will just have to read the novel to find out how!

You have a reputation for balancing high-stakes professions with creative pursuits. How do these two worlds interact for you? Does your experience in your professional field inform your writing of action and suspense, or is it the other way around?

I’ve been a General Surgeon for over 20 years. Every procedure is done the same way every time. I aim to be boring at work, no excitement, no complications, excellent results, with satisfied patients. Writing is completely the oppositive. I want excitement, intrigue, nail biting, edge of your seat moments, that make the reader want to keep turning the pages.

Could you share with us how your role as the “Mamarazzi” influenced your approach to observing and documenting life, and does this affect how you view the world you write about?

Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I’ve been affectionately dubbed the “Mamarazzi.” I would take action photos of the all the players on my kids sports team and post them on our team Facebook page for all to enjoy. At the end of the season, I would make a small “brag book” for the moms and make a slideshow of all the pictures for the end of the year parties. I also made posters for the kids. When going through the pictures, I could tell when a kid was having a good day, a bad day, was distracted, angry, frustrated, or excited, thrilled, and having a great time. I try to capture those emotions in my writing by describing how the character is acting, instead of telling how they are feeling.

Your work is known for blending authenticity with intensity. What elements of your real-world experiences do you find hardest to translate into fiction, and how do you work through those challenges?

I’m a highly focused and motivated person. When I start a project, it’s all in from the beginning. I started researching my ancestry and in certain lines, found relatives all the way back to my 9th great grandparents. I’m also a very private person. I found sharing Sophie’s inner thoughts and feelings to be challenging. In the first draft, I don’t think I did it once. But, over the course of revisions and editing, I found the layering of her inner thoughts and feelings added much to the character’s authenticity.

The narrative in The Third Estate carries an intricate web of themes and suspense. What personal challenges did you face while writing, and how did you push through them to bring your ideas to life?

It took my one year to write the first draft, and a few years to edit it. When the story grew, improved, and took its final shape, my motivation exploded to pull it across the finish line and get it published. I tried querying agents, with no luck. One took the time to suggest improvements. They were very helpful and I’m grateful. I researched other avenues, and decided to self publish with the help of Outskirts Press to format and distribute for me. Now, I’m a self-published author with control over my own destiny.

You’ve received multiple literary accolades for your work. Beyond recognition, how do you believe awards affect the conversation around books and authors, and how do they influence your ongoing work?

An early draft of my novel was named a Chanticleer International Book Awards 2023 – Finalist Clue Division – Thriller & Suspense Fiction. I entered 12 contests that year and won one. Many of the contests offered judges feedback for an extra fee, worth every penny. I learned more from what the judges didn’t like, then what they did, and applied that insight into my future edits. Fast forward to 2024, when my manuscript underwent several more edits, with developmental, copy, and proof reading. I entered 24 contests: Placed in 13 from Winning to Honorable Mention and everything in between, plus a bunch of book awards and seals. I continue to enter contests. Don’t get me wrong, winning is exciting, but in each contest, when available, I check the box for feedback. The feedback and insights are worth every penny. I continue to learn, take writing courses, and gather feedback. Everyday I strive to be a better writer.

Looking ahead, what are the key messages or lessons you hope readers take away from The Third Estate?

A friend of mine at work recently stopped me in the hallway and said, “Thank you.” I said for what? She said she was following me on Facebook and watching my journey from afar. She thought, “I can do that too.” She also wrote a book and told me I gave her the motivation to not only finish it, but self publish. If I could do it, she could too. If you think you can or you think you can’t, your right. Think you can, and anything is possible. My advice? The only person you have control over is you. Set a goal, reach for the stars, and enjoy the journey along the way.

“Think you can, and anything is possible.”

– D.R. Berlin

Links

• Goodreads book profile
• Amazon book page
• The Chrysalis BREW Project profile

Share Your Insights

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments below:

• Have you ever faced a challenge that motivated you to take control of your own journey?
• What inspires you to pursue your creative passions or goals?
• How do you balance your professional and personal pursuits?

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