November-December 2025: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, BeInkandescent magazine — Welcome to the new issue of our health and wellness business magazine, where since November 2024 we have embraced the theme: Power to the People. We can’t think of a better topic to discuss this fall than the importance of Freedom of Speech.
In this issue: We spotlight one of Inkandescent’s new projects, Elaine’s Literary Salon, where we have partnered with bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins. Several times a week, Jeff brings authors into the library of his Old Town restaurant Elaine’s (208 Queen Street, Alexandria, VA) to talk about their latest book, their journey to becoming an author, and among other insightful questions he asks, “Where does story come from?”
Here’s the thing: Without freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Jeff and I would have a hard time hosting the Salon.
First Amendment, Wikimedia, Creative Commons
Jeff says: “The First Amendment comes before all others in the Bill of Rights because the right to exercise religion, speak your mind, and have free press that serves as the watchdog of government are critical components to a free societ. We all know about cancel culture and shadow banning, but we now have proof the government pressured social media to suppress ideas they didn’t want disseminated. Whatever your political views, speak out and defend the rights of everyone to express themselves without governmental interference. Let Europe be a cautionary tale on the slippery slope from censorship and dictatorship.”
According to the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment protects individual rights and freedoms:
- Freedom of Religion — You can practice any religion or you can practice no religion.
- Freedom of Speech — You can say what you want about public problems.
- Freedom of Assembly — You can meet peacefully to talk about problems and ideas.
- Freedom of the Press — The government cannot control what people write in newspapers and the media.
- Freedom to Petition the Government — You can ask the government to change laws.
In honor of these freedoms: In this issue you’ll meet some of the authors who have come through Elaine’s Literary Salon this year who embrace these rights. We are grateful that have become Inkandescent clients, including IP attorney Timothy Trainer, bestselling noir author Christopher Chambers, philanthropist Andrea Walton, professor Rev. Dr. Robert Flanagan, and our favorite realtor turned mystery writer Judy Murray. It’s an honor to create and manage their websites, produce their podcast/video shows, and promote the magic they bring to the world.
Here’s to Freedom of Speech! We can’t imagine living happily in a world without it. This is what democracy looks like!
If you are a bibliophile, author, or have always dreamed of penning a book, you will love to meet Jeffrey James Higgins, host of Elaine’s Literary Salon.
This show — live from the popular bistro Elaine’s in Old Town, Alexandria VA. Our host is the restaurant’s owner, Jeffrey James Higgins, a #1 Amazon bestselling author on a mission to help fellow writers share their stories.
The author of The Forever Game, Furious and Unseen, Jeff has a reputation for high-stakes, no-frills drama with his taut thrillers that reviewers say do not contain an ounce of fat. Fans know every line of dialogue is a gut punch, and yet he can make a landscape come alive with a single high-impact sentence. Consider this one: “The pier was a mishmash of pulleys and taught metal lines, and it smelled of diesel fumes and saltwater.”
Jeff’s 2024 novel, Forever Technology, gives us characters that are so likable, and so on the ropes, that their day-to-day fight for survival is what makes this a page-turner. There’s no indication yet that Higgins is planning a series, but we would love to see one centered around this book’s main character, DEA Special Agent Adam Locke. As it stands, what separates Locke from the Jack Reachers of the literary landscape is his hearty, seemingly natural exploration of deeper themes. In this case, it’s nothing less than the future of immortality.
Jeff is a retired supervisory special agent who has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received both the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor.
Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fox News, Investigation Discovery, Declassified, and USA Today,and has won numerous literary awards, including the PenCraft Book Awards Fiction Book of the Year and a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal.
Today, Inkandescent Radio + TV producer and founder Hope Katz Gibbs, turns the mike to Jeff. We learn about his background, inspiration, and why he and his wife Cynthia (pictured above) opened a restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Don’t miss it!
Check out the live Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.
Elaine’s Literary Salon
About Elaine’s: Elaine’s modern Mediterranean cuisine is based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt. The unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is located at 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The 1880 building, the previous home of Bilbo Baggins for 38 years, has been completely renovated with a new look and feel. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River. Founders Park, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront are only blocks away. Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. When the owner was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that one day she would own a restaurant and name it after her. The owner is proud to share her family’s recipes with the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.