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Alexandria Gazette Packet features Elaine’s: “Higgins — The Spy Who Came In From Chasing Terrorists” and InkandescentKids.com

August 5, 2026 — Reporter Shirley Ruhe interviews bestselling thriller novelist and co-owner of Elaine’s restaurant at 208 Queen Street in Old Town, Alexandria! And, she reports on the Aug. 8 Children’s Book Fair hosted by Elaine’s PR director Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, InkandescentKids.com Scroll down to read all about it!

“Higgins — The Spy Who Came In From Chasing Terrorists” and InkandescentKids.com

By Shirley Ruhe, Gazette Packet

After 25 years of chasing terrorists around world, Jeffrey Higgins decided to retire in 2017 and to write a book. “I’ve been writing stories since I was time to concentrate on it full time.” In 2021 Higgins produced “Fu-rous, Sailing into Terror” his first trapped on a damaged yacht who must face her worst fears and fight “Unseen” quickly followed in 2021 followed by “The Forever Game” in 2024.

Higgins says he works on one book at a time with each book taking abour three months to write and another three months to edit. He has nine books in various stages on his desk right now. Higgins says he can write one book while editing but if he tried to write two books at the same time. the characters would bleed into each other. “You have the story in your head and it’s in your subconscious. You are in the shower or walking to work; you let your mind wander while it’s deepening and layering the story.”

Since Higgins is also teaching. consulting, running writer workshops and organizing a newly established Elaine’s Literary Salon, he has scheduled his time carefully. Higgins writes in the morning.

He says, At twilight and when you first wake up in the morning before you are fully awake or asleep. your mind is really fertile.”

Higgins can find an idea for plots anywhere. “I will find new things that stimulate me. I was reading about Neanderthal DNA on earth, and it started me thinking about a plot.” He says, “Writing is art. You can’t paint by numbers. The brain is a muscle; you have to use it. “You have to follow your curiosity. It’s a way of training your mind to ask ‘what if’? What else could be the cause of that? Things you see are not what they are.” He continues, “There are strange new things now, new scientific discoveries.”

Since Higgins spent his career in law enforcement where he dealt with real threats like wrestling a suicide bomber, fighting the Taliban in combat and chasing terrorists, his plots bring a layer of authenticity because the reader knows he’s lived it. The reader knows that Higgins invented the story, but is captivated by wondering how many of the details Higgins has experienced himself.

“My new four-part Nathan Burke international espionage series features a book on the Havana Syndrome,” Higgins says. “Although the plot is fictional, everything I write about it is true.”

Higgins is currently working on a dark fantasy, which is a new genre for him. He says romance fantasy books are so infectious that it took him in this new direction. But, he says, every book is not for everybody. “You have to know your audience. A military thriller is completely different than a dark fantasy.”

Because Higgins knows how difficult it can be for an author to get recognition for his efforts, he shares his experience through writers’ clinics and events and is now the inspiration behind Elaine’s Literary Salon located in Elaine’s Mediterranean restaurant, which he co-owns with his wife.

“When I saw the space upstairs, I knew the cosmopolitan but comfortable setting was perfect for the Literary Salon. I knew how incredibly hard it is for an author to break out so I wanted to create a space where an author can have fun with friends in a nice setting and have a chance to showcase his work. People work 10 years on a book and then can’t get it out there.”

The way the Salon works is that an author schedules a time with PR Director Hope Katz Gibbs to hold an event at the Salon. Higgins says, “It involves some social networking followed by about a 45-minute interview and then questions and answers from the audience.”

Higgins explains it is a free community event open to the public as well as the literary world and the friends and family of the presenter.

The full menu of the restaurant is available, so many of the attendees take the option to order while they listen. “Some just drink water and watch, but the ones who decide to order aren’t sorry,” he says. “The food is excellent.”

Higgins says when he started the Salon a few years ago, it took a little while to get the word out. They held a literary event every month or so. “We used to solicit authors but now they come to us, and we have several events a week. We are scheduled through the end of the year although we usually can find time to work in an author.”

Higgins says they have featured everyone from best-selling authors to first-time unknowns. “We just featured a theologian, two historical novelists, one sci-fi and a children’s book author. I’m happy to do it, bring in people from different backgrounds. Everyone has a story to tell.”

In addition to his writing and managing the Literary Salon, teaching, consulting and holding writer’s events, Higgins also hosts a podcast that is number 1 for literary guilds on Spotify and Apple.

For more information and the full schedule of upcoming Literary Salon events: ElainesLiterarySalon.com

To discuss an author event, contact PR Director Hope Katz Gibbs at hope@hopegibbs.com

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Book Fair Celebrates Writers of All Ages

By Shirley Ruhe, Gazette Packet

Inkandescent Kids Magazine” is celebrating its one year birthday at a Book Fair on Aug. 8 at Elaine’s Restaurant.

Hope Katz Gibbs, the founder of the magazine and organizer of the event says they have more than 30 authors and sponsors signed up so far to participate. Each author or illustrator will have access to a table with chairs, an electrical outlet, social media promotion and time slot for a reading plus an opportunity to sign and sell their books.

“But we’re really hoping they bring along their families. We’re after the kids, hoping to engage them in the thought process behind writing at an early age. There will be a lot of arts activities for kids, a photo booth, student musicians and a lot of fun things to do.”

A kid can be anywhere from kindergarten to college age and for $3 can obtain a slot in the currently online magazine edited by Ellen Smith.

She explains, “We really want to hear what kids have to say; they are so smart and it can be amazing.”

Gibbs says, “We want kids to express themselves. Anyone who wants kids to get off of social media and think for themselves in an A-I free zone will want to see what we have to offer.

“I have no control over what’s going on in this chaotic world,” Gibbs explains. “This is my solution instead of going crazy every day. If I can train kids to think for themselves, I have made my worthwhile contribution to the world.”

Click here to read more articles in the ConnectionNewspapers.com.