David Salkin, a certified gemologist and co-owner of Salkin’s Jewel Case in Freehold, N.J., recently published his fourth novel, Forever Hunger.

Salkin’s writing career began in collaboration with his occupation when he wrote his first novel, Hard Carbon. The book, influenced by the jewelry industry, reflects the idea of “diamonds as the next generation of superconductors,” he explains.

From there, Salkin went on to write 11 other novels, including his published works, Crescent Fire, Necessary Extremes, and The Mop.

Although Hard Carbon has yet to be published, Salkin credits his experience as a jeweler to his success as an author. “One of the keys to being able to write good dialogue is interacting with people, which I have experienced a lot of by working in the retail jewelry industry,” says Salkin. “When writing, you combine elements of different people you meet to create characters.”

Hunger reads as a NYPD crime thriller with a vampire twist. The story follows a police sergeant and detective who track down a criminal who has unknowingly been dead for more than 200 years.

“In the future I would enjoy writing full-time,” says Salkin. “I write because I love it.“

JCK