Back Porch Writer

Raised in a deeply religious family, Mercy rebels against all rules during his teenage years. He stops attending church and drops out of high school. To avoid a destined path of self-destruction, Mercy enlists in the Army. After two combat tours, Mercy returns home battling PTSD. Trying to forget about the lives that he has taken and resume a "normal" life, Mercy returns to church. He enrolls in college and reconnects with a childhood crush. Mercy saved some of his men. Can he save himself? WM Bunche is a cold war veteran and Commendation Medal recipient. His military roots trace back to the Civil War. A wannabe athlete, he has completed the Marine Corps Marathon. He is a veteran advocate who helps raise awareness for PTSD in combat veterans. He is a church leader and mentor.  He lives in New York City with his family. He can be contacted at wmbunche.com, Facebook or Twitter.

Tom Nix sold his check cashing business for an enormous amount of money, and now he's sharing his "lessons learned" through speaking engagements and writing. LIFE’S KEY CONCEPTS 1. We live in a cause-and-effect world in which we have immense personal power. The degree of personal power we can exercise in our life depends on how much we know about the cause and effect relationship in a given area. Commit to learning about life and the natural laws of the universe. I like to stress how you can change your life by changing your mind through the use of affirmations, visualization, positive self talks and pictures. 2. Take total responsibility for everything that happens in your life. This includes those things you have control over and those things you do NOT have control over. You always have control over how you react! Pouting, hiding out, making excuses, rationalizing, blaming others, feeling sorry for yourself, avoiding the difficult task and procrastination are all indications that you are not taking responsibility. 3. Never play the victim role or the blame game. There is absolutely no payoff to this attitude. Never look at what you’ve lost, avoid running your misfortune over and over in your mind, stay calm and accept setbacks gracefully. Realize that problems, bad people, tough times and mistakes are your teachers. Problems are guidelines not stop signs. The question is: What do I need to do to capitalize on these events? For more, check out Tom's book, "Nixland My Wild Ride in the Inner City Check Cashing Industry" and his website: http://nixland.net/

Andy Peloquin is a storyteller and an artist--words are his palette. Fantasy is his genre of choice, and he loves to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. Thief of the Night Guild is the sequel to Child of the Night Guild. It showcases how the woman Ilanna has to adapt and become more ruthless and cruel to survive in a male-dominated society of thieves, assassins, and thugs.

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife and two daughters. A believer that "good living produces good writing," Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible. A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity's inherent need for redemption. If you'd like to be a guest on Back Porch Writer, visit the website for more information. I'd love to chat with you!

William Kenower is the author of Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write With Confidence, and Write Within Yourself: An Author’s Companion, the Editor-in-Chief of Author magazine, and a sought-after speaker and teacher. In addition to his books he’s been published in The New York Times and Edible Seattle, and has been a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. His video interviews with hundreds of writers from Nora Ephron, to Amy Tan, to William Gibson are widely considered the best of their kind on the Internet. He also hosts the online radio program Author2Authorwhere every week he and a different guest discuss the books we write and the lives we lead. 

J.M. Robison is a fantasy historian who chronicles the events which force heroes to reveal their  mistakes, lead rebellions to dethrone tyranny, and unearth ancient secrets to free the oppressed. She's quested over lands with the U.S. Army and now works for the king under the honorable title of Deputy Sheriff. She makes her own shampoo, lotions, laundry soap, face wash, and toothpaste. Some day she'll pack the wagon and roam the mountains in search of dragons. Check out her book, "The War Queen."   

Tonight's show welcomes back Tony Wilkins. He's the host of the ever-popular weekly Small Business Forum Radio show right here on Blog Talk. His book-turned-workshop series, The Career Whisperer, is available to anyone who wants to step up their selling game, transition and transform their speaking business, and others. We'll also talk about building your platform. Who should? Is it really necessary? How time-consuming is it? And, if there's time, I'll recap the discussion about coaching from the previous week Connect with Tony! He rocks! awol267487@aol.com  

Norma Hollis teaches self-awareness by helping you know yourself on a deep authentic level.  She takes you on a journey inside of yourself to find, live and share your authentic voice, the essence of who you are. After studying human nature from personal, professional and spiritual perspectives for over 30 years, Norma has created a system that introduces you to the nine dimensions of authenticity and helps you uncover minor tweaks you can make to massively impact your future.  She works with individuals and organizations as a consultant, coach, trainer and speaker. Norma is the former owner of a speaker bureau and author of several books including “Ten Steps to Authenticity”, “The Process to Become a Professional Speaker” and “Authentic Healthcare Leadership: A Practical Handbook” which will be released in 2018.

Stay, Breathe with Me: The Gift of Compassionate Medicine  Not just another book about death and dying, Stay, Breathe with Me shows how to bring heart and compassion back into medicine to revive the art of care.  From a pioneer in palliative care comes the gift of wisdom that when we remove false barriers and fully embrace the human side of illness, we dispel fear and ease suffering. This thought-provoking, compassionate book views serious illness as a drama of body, mind, and soul where symptoms and suffering cannot be separated from the person who is ill.   Heartfelt, and with “little pearls of sound clinical wisdom on just about every page,” this collection of stories from patients, their families and caregivers, not only shows how medicine can ease the suffering of the ill, but also how medicine can reclaim its heart.  Irene once thrived for many years as a technical communicator, author, and teacher in France, Italy, the UK, and Canada. But today, she writes stories about healing from the heart. After a stint of living off-grid on the remote edge of nowhere (in the northern Canadian bush), Irene is happy to have returned from the wilderness to settle with her mountain-man-husband on a lovely (and mostly civilized) island without any predators!  … But that is a whole other story …           

Sandie Will is a young adult novelist who lives in Tampa Bay, Florida and works as a manager and geologist by day. She has written two novels and is currently working on her third. Her debut novel, The Caging at Deadwater Manor, is a heart-pounding young adult psychological thriller. Her second is a historical time travel that will be released in late 2017. Sandie is currently writing her third novel -- another edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller.  Inspired by true events, The Caging at Deadwater Manor will take you on a heart-wrenching journey, where a young woman is locked away in a psychiatric hospital by her father who wants nothing more than to keep her there forever. Find out first hand what it was like for her to be trapped against her will, and watch as she grows through her circumstances and choices. On a cold, January evening, fourteen-year-old Jeannie Kynde is told that her beloved mother drowned in the murky waters along Florida's Gulf Coast. Her distraught father turns on Jeannie, no longer the caring father she once knew. Four years later, Jeannie is finally old enough to escape her father's clutches, but he has different plans. He imprisons her at Deadwater Manor, a psychiatric hospital with an unscrupulous past. Between endless psychiatric treatments and a hospital staff up to no good, Jeannie faces insurmountable odds as each day ticks away. Will she be locked away forever? Or can she fight against the nightmare that has now become her world? The inspiration for the story came from Sandie's beloved father who worked in various psychiatric hospitals during short periods of his career. In the attic of one such hospital, he made a disturbing discovery that will make your skin crawl. Note: This book is intended for mature young adult, new adult, and older audiences due to profanity and mature content.

Brian Paul Bach is a writer, artist, filmmaker and photographer; he has worked across the entertainment business, in theatre, music and as an academic. He now lives in central Washington State with his wife, Sandra. His previous works include, The Grand Trunk Road From the Front Seat, Calcutta’s Edifice: The Buildings of a Great City, and Busted Boom: The Bummer of Being a Boomer.  For more information, visit https://forwardtogloryquartet.wordpress.com/. Forward to Glory I: Tempering Butterbugs is a nobody, a nothing. But that’s not why he’s compelled to drive to Hollywood and hurl himself upon the mercy of the cinematic capital. His only dream is to act. Without any plans, resources or friends, he throws caution to the wind and embarks on a journey to the City of Angels. The trials that result pose only one question: will Butterbugs remain a non-entity, or will his big dream come true? Abundant with movie lore and invention, Forward to Glory I: Tempering is an ode to the cinema and the bewitching power of entertainment. 

Joshua Robertson is a bestselling author in dark fantasy. Robertson is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who received his degree from Wichita State University. He has worked with children and families for the past fifteen years in a variety of unique venues: a residential behavior school, a psychiatric treatment facility, and the child welfare system. He has functioned as a supervisor, an educator, a behavior specialist, and a therapist during his career. Mr. Robertson has presented trainings for hundreds of professionals and military personnel on topics that include child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, strengthening the parent and child relationships, and the neurobiological impact of trauma.   You may recognize him as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin's and Christopher Paolini's dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. His first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and he has been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers.  He currently lives in North Carolina with his better half and his horde of goblins. www.robertsonwrites.com/ www.crimsonedgepress.com www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson @robertsonwrites

Suzanna J. Linton grew up in the swamps of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she was fed a steady diet of books, tall tales, and catfish. She started writing poetry from an early age before transitioning to fiction. While in high school, she was introduced to the Dragonriders of Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Animorphs. From those Suzanna gained a deep desire to write about tough women heroes. In 2002, she attended the summer program at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts of Humanities and graduated from Francis Marion University in 2007. She has three books published and her latest novel is Clara’s Return. Suzanna continues to live in South Carolina with her husband, their two dogs, and a cat. They don’t own the cat; the cat owns them.  

Angela B. Chrysler is a writer, logician, philosopher, and die-hard nerd who studies theology, historical linguistics, music composition, and medieval European history in New York, with a dry sense of humor and an unusual sense of sarcasm. She lives in a garden with her family and cats. Every now and then Ms. Chrysler puts down the PS4 remote to garden, fuzzy her cat, drink coffee, watch Doctor Who, argue anime, quote Star Trek, and write. Sometimes, she's even good at it. Her writing is often compared to Tad Williams. Influences include Edgar Allan Poe, Tolkien, The Phantom of the Opera, and Frankenstein. Read More → Subscribe to The Book Cave for monthly new releases, pre-orders, and free bookmarks!

Walk between the worlds of angels and devils, explore the deeper meaning of demons, and face the beauty of the monster in all of us with author Jay Norry.  Stumbling Backasswards Into The Light is an uplifting autobiography, the tale of Jay's decision to question the answers he had been given and discover his own deeper meaning. Walking Between Worlds is an exciting and action-packed philosophical adventure, a darkly humorous romp through heaven and hell and the deeper meaning of all of the worlds we walk between. The Secret Society of Deeper Meaning spent 2016 exploring the softer side of zombies, and the deeper meaning of the archetype: could Mother Nature be saving us from ourselves? Sign up for free Zombie Zero short stories; and find out the deeper meaning of it all in Zombie Zero: The First Zombie and Zombie Zero: The Last Zombie  2017 will bring explorations of sleep, space, and supernatural thrills. Stay tuned for the The Ringer series; the first book, Ringing in a New Year, is out now, and the second, Ringing in a Summer, will be released in July 2017. Dreaming the Perpetual Dream is a sci-fi story that Jay is releasing exclusively to the SSDM, one chapter at a time. The rest of the world will get their hands on this intriguing space tale in Fall 2017. Jay lives in Northern California with three of his favorite angels, an unending to-do list and a mind full of thoughts about the deeper meaning. Join Jay and a whole host of other authors for Brain to Books Cyber Convention Ap. 7-9, 2017.    

Charlene Jones’ publications include: Medicine Buddha/Medicine Mind an easy to read exploration of the seam between Visualization Meditation and Neuroscience The Stain, a novel about Reincarnation, Karma and the Release from Suffering Bliss Pig A Book of Poetry Co-Authored with Linda Stitt Ms. Jones’ interview by Charmaine Carraway on her program http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thevisionaryhotspot/2017/03/16/i-was-raped-tortured-im-a-survivor-now-i-am-a-changed-woman is due out on March 16th  2017 or listen in to  Kathryn Kemp Guylay’s program The Mountain Mantras at http://www.makewellnessfun.com/radio/ from Sunvalley Ketchum Idaho Ms. Jones teaches Meditation at Stouffville Yoga Life; and helps clients through her Spiritual Guidance practice. With Isidora Romantini she co-leads retreats for small groups. Charlene currently puts time into her memoir, called My Impossible Life, due out in 2018. She is available by Skype or phone for help unraveling life questions or for meditation guidance.

Connie Cockrell grew up in upstate NY, just outside of Gloversville, NY. She now lives in Payson, AZ with her husband: hiking, gardening, and playing bunko. Connie began writing in response to a challenge from her daughter in October 2011 and has been hooked ever since. She writes about whatever comes into her head so her books could be in any genre. She's published fourteen books so far, has been included in five different anthologies and been published on EveryDayStories.com. Connie's always on the lookout for a good story idea. Beware, you may be the next one. She can be found at www.conniesrandomthoughts.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ConniesRandomThoughts or on Twitter at: @ConnieCockrell

Logan Miehl loves writing from anywhere with a plugin for her laptop—ideally among her native Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys hiking and camping with her husband.  Miehl's debut fantasy novella, An Unlikely Bride, is the tale of a fiery princess named Kalinda and the journey she takes to unearth her Kingdom's dark past. Follow Kalinda as she discovers the magical powers that were kept secret from her. Will she use this newfound strength to save herself, or become the heroine her Kingdom needs, no matter how unlikely?

Timothy is originally from England, but now lives in Alaska with his wife, Sandi. The two of them met online, and are the writing team behind the Shadows Over Seattle series of short stories, and upcoming novels. "Under A Hunter's Moon" is the first in the "Shadows Over Seattle: Prequels" short story series. Richard Parsons is a lupine, one of the many breeds of shape-shifters living in Seattle. Mortal legends of his kind call them werewolves. When a traveling exhibition returns to Seattle, Richard takes a night time visit, with plans that go beyond seeing a particular display. However, he is unprepared for the memories and emotions that come flooding back.  

A computer geek by day, Donald Firesmith works as a system and software engineer helping the US Government acquire large, complex software-intensive systems. In this guise, he has authored seven technical books, written numerous software- and system-related articles and papers, and spoken at more conferences than he can possibly remember. He is also proud to have been named a Distinguished Engineer by the Association of Computing Machinery, although his pride is tempered somewhat worrying whether the term “distinguished” makes him sound more like a graybeard academic rather than an active engineer whose beard is still more red than gray. By night and on weekends, his alter ego writes modern paranormal fantasy, apocalyptic science fiction, action and adventure novels and relaxes by handcrafting magic wands from various magical woods and mystical gemstones. His first foray into fiction is the book Magical Wands: A Cornucopia of Wand Lore written under the pen name Wolfrick Ignatius Feuerschmied. He lives in Crafton, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs, cats, and birds.

From story dabbler in the 1980's, to published author as of July 2013, Angel M. is a multi-genre fictional author. To date, she has published The Keeper Book 1 and Underwater City Book 2 of an adventure/fantasy series and Pawper to Pedigree, a dog comedy.  In between her day job, family, and writing, Angel M. uses her humor to help those wanting to pursue a writing career on the Lessons Learned page of her website where she posts the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of what comes after you've written your manuscript.  With an almost non-existent attention span and selective memory, you can usually find her scribbling down yet another book idea, line of dialogue, scene, or even something as small as a name for use in future novels.

Entering into the realm of novel writer late in life, Tom Fallwell, at an age of more than sixty years, jumped into that world with both feet. Having always had a fascination with fantasy world-building, even from early in his life, Tom wanted to create his own world filled with rich history and lore. His Rangers of Laerean series does just that, painting a panoramic landscape that is both magical and deadly, in which to set the stories of his Rangers.  Tom lives in the greater Oklahoma City area, in America's homeland, and spends much of his time with online gaming and watching movies, when not writing his latest work. You can find out more about Tom Fallwell, and his books, by visiting his website at http://tomfallwell.com.

Author Andy Peloquin explores the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between.  He's also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people.  About Child of the Night Guild Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.  The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.   

Back Porch Writer is a proud supporter of the annual Brain to Books Cyber Convention. From now until April 7, 2017, you'll meet exciting voices representing a variety of genres. Joy Nwosu was born in Enugu, Anambra State of south-eastern Nigeria. Her parents were Charles Belonwu and Deborah Nwosu. She is the fifth in rank of the seven children of her parents. Joy was born into a music family. Joy, now retired, was a music teacher, trained in Santa Cecilia, Rome, and obtained her Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Michigan, USA. She has written and published extensively on national and international scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. Her short story I Come from Utopia was published in African Voices, Spring/Summer, 2007, pg. 18, and her first English novel; Mirror of Our Lives: Voices of Four Igbo Women was published in 2011, and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Contest in 2012. She has also two books published in the Italian language. Joy is a trained musician, and taught music for 35 years.  She writes, performs, and record folk songs. Her book: The Legend of the Walking Dead: Igbo Mythologies is a journey into the mysteries of life and death of the Igbos of Nigeria.  She loves reading romances and mystery stories. Joy's most recent book, Pregnant Future: No One Knows What Tomorrow Will Bring is available on Amazon as a pre-order. This is the story of Justina. Although the future was not clear to her, she dreamt for herself, a future she wanted to live. Then, she jumped into her dream life with both legs, and without fear, she swam the troubled waters of life, scaling and dodging all obstacles, and in the end, she came out scarred but alive.  

Monika Jephcott Thomas grew up in Dortmund Mengede, north-west Germany. She moved to the UK in 1966, enjoying a thirty year career in education before retraining as a therapist. Two young doctors form a profound and loving bond in Nazi Germany; a bond that will stretch them to the very limits of human endurance. Catholic Max - whose religious and moral beliefs are in conflict, has been been conscripted to  join the war effort as a medic, despite his hatred of Hitler’s regime. His beloved Erika, a privileged young woman, is herself a product of the Hitler Youth. In spite of their stark differences, Max and Erika defy convention and marry. But when Max is stationed at the fortress city of Breslau, their worst nightmares are realised; his hospital is bombed, he is captured by the Soviet Army and taken to a POW camp in Siberia. Max experiences untold horrors, his one comfort the letters he is allowed to send home: messages that can only contain Fifteen Words. Back in Germany, Erika is struggling to survive and protect their young daughter, finding comfort in the arms of a local carpenter. Worlds apart and with only sparse words for comfort, will they ever find their way back to one another, and will Germany ever find peace? ?Fifteen Words is a vivid and intimate portrayal of human love and perseverance, one which illuminates the German experience of the war, which has often been overshadowed by history.

I'm declaring today "take a break from the rubbish" day. It's been years since I felt a need to take a mental health day, but after a disappointing, frustrating, and hatefilled election cycle, I know that I need one. How about you? Not one to wallow, I'm sharing what got me to this decision, and more importantly, what I'm doing about it! 

Born in London, Tony Halker studied geology at Leeds University after which he worked as a geologist, travelling extensively overseas. Following an MBA at Cranfield School of Management, he became a manager in hi-tec business. The introduction of new technology threatens to upend the way of life in a Celtic Druid society as conflicting loyalties pit tribes against one another in this lyrical historical fiction from debut author. The Learn is heavily inspired by nature. www.tonyhalker.com Things to remember: Set up your Amazon author page at Author Central. You can do this for several countries. This also is where you can ensure that all of your books are available, add editorial reviews, your bio, and more.  Write an intriguing book blurb. There are tons of resources available so that you can learn to do this. Don't pay someone to do it for you; you need to learn this skill in order to sell your books. The time to begin writing your next book is yesterday. A single book rarely gets you noticed. 

Author Ali Parker writes under five pen names, including this one, and has published 88 books in roughly 2 years. How? That's what we're all here to find out. She primarily writes romance, but does so in a few subgenres: western, scifi, and borderline erotic (from what I could figure out from covers and a little sample reading, but I could be wrong.) She also writes MG, YA, and paranormal. 

Adam Dreece kicked off his indie author career with his best-selling steampunk meets fairy tale series, The Yellow Hoods, which struck a chord with kids 9-15 and adults. After four books in the series, the former software architect put out two more young adult books, the post-apocalyptic fantasy book The Wizard Killer – Season One, and then his science fiction novel, The Man of Cloud 9. The first two novels in The Yellow Hoods series, as well as The Wizard Killer, have been finalists for Book of the Year awards from the Independent Author’s Network. When he’s not working on his next book, Adam can be found giving talks at schools, libraries, associations, as well as comic-con type events like CalgaryExpo and FanExpoCanada on subjects from how to get one’s ideas out and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone, to how to give a successful book signing. Along the way, Adam has faced many challenges, including working around his Dyslexia (reading and writing disorder), and needing to be ruthless with his time and energy in face of his severe asthma and chronic abdominal scar pain. He’s become an inspiration to some, and a symbol of tenacious hard work to others. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his wife and children. He is an active online mentor at adamdreece.com, and is a busy public speaker, panelist, and author in Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

According to Adam Grant's book, Originals, procrastinating can lead to increased creativity. What? Yeah, you read that right. My guest today is Glen Perkins. He's a fellow author and appeared on the show a few times during my first year. A few weeks ago, he mentioned that he'd stopped writing for a bit. That led to a discussion about why writers set things aside, but nothing too deep. Then I started listening to Originals. My "ah ha" moment had arrived. After years trying to justify my procrastination tendencies, science was finally backing me up! When we stop working on a project, it leaves our working memory, but when we stop in the middle of a project, our mind ruminates, i.e., mulls it over in the background. The next time you're feeling guilty about playing Minecraft or Candy Crush, relax! Chances are, your mind still is working out the next scene in your book. And when it does, that scene will propel you forward like a rocket!

Paulette loves books, wilderness and making ancient spiritual truths applicable to all ages in daily life, bringing all these together in her Datatraya series. Paulette had an unusual childhood, growing up in Cumbria and in Scotland. Born of rock climbing and mountaineering parents her every spare moment was spent outdoors. Dirty, often barefoot and left to run free, and later on horseback, her activities and formative years of learning were dictated by the seasons, by raw nature and through the animals around her home, both domesticated and wild. Traya’s Quest reveals 24 teachers in nature who share with our young adventurer Traya, the most ancient life lessons. We gain the answers to the big questions we all face: What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose?  Free from ego Traya sees the world as it should be experienced: pure, uncluttered, light filled and alive. Join Traya as he learns from the animals, elements and even the celestial beings as they guide him along his dharma or spiritual path.  Captivating, illuminating, fulfilling, Trayas Quest gives us the keys to our happiness, connection to Source and a life of profound personal power. Never before has a book been more timely and appropriate for all generations. Every page has hidden meanings, secrets, wisdom and childlike clarity. Somehow the author has managed to condense and simplify complex universal truths and deliver them in a beautiful and easily digestible manner. Paulette Agnew's writing style touches the heart and soul of the reader with its joyful and highly imaginative prose and glorious illustrations.  Prepare to be enthralled, delighted, and transformed. Deep down we all know there is more to life and something better, more nourishing that feeds our inner most self.  Get your copy at: www.trayasquest.com

Trace Conger is an award-winning author in the crime, thriller and suspense genres. His Mr. Finn series follows disgraced private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between investigator and criminal. Conger is known for his tight writing style, dark themes and subtle humor. He lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family. Find out more about him and the Mr. Finn series on his official website,www.traceconger.com.  THE SHADOW BROKER - Winner of the 2015 Shamus Award for Best Indie P.I. Novel When finding criminals is your business, it's easy to make a killing. Finn Harding (Mr. Finn to his clients) specializes in finding people who don't want to be found. Stripped of his PI license, Finn begins working for the type of clientele who operate in the shadows, pay in cash, and don't care if he's licensed or not. As Finn becomes ensnared in a plot to take over a black market information brokerage, he finds himself and his family straddling the thin line between life and death. With his own clients gunning for him, Finn must evade a psychopathic killer, special agents from the FBI's cybercrime unit, and a Detroit mob boss. Finn is about to find out that working with criminals has its advantages. Staying alive isn't one of them. In The Shadow Broker, Trace Conger delivers a sharp-edged and gritty tale of crime, murder, and family. It's a fast-paced crime thriller that holds nothing back.

Christina Hoag is the author of Skin of Tattoos, a literary thriller set in L.A.’s gang underworld (Martin Brown Publishers, August 2016) and Girl on the Brink, a romantic thriller for young adults (Fire and Ice YA/Melange Books, August 2016). She is a former reporter for the Associated Press and Miami Herald and worked as a correspondent in Latin America writing for major media outlets including Time, Business Week, Financial Times, the Houston Chronicle and The New York Times. She is the co-author of Peace in the Hood: Working with Gang Members to End the Violence, a groundbreaking book on gang intervention (Turner Publishing, 2014). She lives in Los Angeles. For more information, see www.christinahoag.com.  

Dual diagnosed* from an early age, Matthew Peters dropped out of high school at sixteen. He went on to obtain an A.A., a B.A. from Vassar College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University. He has taught various courses in a variety of disciplines throughout North Carolina. He is committed to increasing the awareness and understanding of the dual diagnosed. Conversations Among Ruins (All Things That Matter Press, 2014) is his first novel. His second novel, The Brothers’ Keepers: A Nicholas Branson Novel–Book 1 (Melange Books, 2016), is a political-religious thriller that capitalizes on his love for history and research. Currently, he is working on the next book in the Nicholas Branson series. *The term dual diagnosed refers to someone suffering from a mood disorder (e.g., depression) and chemical dependency. Contemporary Jesuit and renowned religious historian Nicholas Branson is about to find out...and the answer will shake the foundations of the Judeo-Christian world.  It all starts with the murder of a United States Senator in a confessional, and the discovery of a strange religious document among his possessions. At the urging of his FBI friend, Branson joins the investigation. His effort to uncover the truth behind the murder draws him into the search for an eight-hundred-year-old treasure and into a web of ecclesiastical and political intrigue.  Accompanied by a beautiful, sharp-tongued research librarian, Jessica Jones, Branson follows a trail of clues, from the peaks of the awe inspiring French Pyrenees to the caves of war-torn Afghanistan. Along the way, shadowy powerful forces trail the pair, determined to keep safe a secret buried for centuries. 

Frank O'Neal returns to the show to catch us up on his latest success story! If you're a poet trying to make it in the non-fiction writing world, you'll love this. Frank S. O'Neal is a lifelong learner, writer, musician and world traveler. Through three major career changes and his constant pursuit of understanding, he has gained a unique voice for his writing. While in high school, an alert teacher recognized O'Neal's gift and encouraged him to use it as a tool to search for his passion and follow his dreams. He used the pen to help him stay grounded and connected to himself as he traveled through his careers in the US Coast Guard, then as an industrial paramedic and through taxing days working as an emergency room nursing assistant. More recently, O'Neal's career path diverted him to all corners of the globe working in the telecommunications and cellular industry. As his teacher suggested, O'Neal has used poetry and writing to reconnect and reemerge continuously, while discovering where his life will lead him next.

Can fantasy and romance come together to create a compelling story? Of course! The list of successes is pages long. How easy is it to do? What elements must be present to draw the reader into the story? Author Jin Okubo is attempting to do exactly that. Has he succeeded? Check out his book and decide.  About Jin Okubo: Writing is something that I feel a deep passion for. Being a hopeless romantic is also something that I wear on my shirt like a badge. There is just something so wonderful about trying to work out the depth of Love and how we all view it in our own ways. There is something fun about writing romance novels. I think the biggest challenge is actually writing something original as I did in the case of my novel Love. So much of my life and soul went into that novel that most of it can be said to be excerpts from real relationships.   

Krista Wagner is a 70's product who lives in Southern California with her supportive and amazing chef of a husband, three entertaining and very bright children, and a suitcase of stories begging to be finished. She received her BA in English from UMBC in 1999, her MA in English Comp. with a Literature Concentration from CSUSB in 2008, and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University in 2013. Since 2008, Krista has been an English adjunct instructor. In 2012, Krista started work on her first novel and completed it during a summer road trip in 2013. SInce then, she's published two additional books. About Rian Field: Rian Field is living her dream as a Marine Biologist, but when she is attacked by a shark, it triggers memories from the past and changes her understanding of her present world. After surviving the shark attack, Rian Field continues her work at the Institute, determined to live her routine life. But as she attempts to cope with her growing post-traumatic stress outbreaks, she is plagued both by memories of an earlier trauma and a sudden onslaught of mysterious and ominous events. She soon finds herself immersed in an inescapable danger as she suspects that her former assailant is still threatening her life--and may be someone close to her; more disconcerting, though, is the growing certainty that the trauma is somehow connected to the shark attack, compelling Rian to uncover the truth of her past and discover who is after her.

William Michael Davidson is the author of the children's book, The Dragon Who Pulled Her Scales (Winner of the 2013 OCD Book Festival Award), The Dragon Who Tamed Her Temper, Missing Person, and Living Sacrifice. He lives in Long Beach, California, with his wife and two daughters. He is working on additions to his children's book series as well as his adult fiction novels.  About Missing Person: Brett Cole is one of the nearly three thousand Americans who go missing every day; however, in Brett’s case, he disappears willingly. Thirty years old and disillusioned, he packs his bags (including his Smith & Wesson) and vows to reach Mexico.  Halfway there, Brett stumbles upon a kidnapping and FBI Special Agent Hayden makes it clear that Brett has stumbled upon something far greater: Operation Ethereal (OE), an ultra-secret branch of the FBI in operation since the Hoover Administration, “took” Brett as a young boy because of his ability to pick up timeprints, impressions of the past.  After erasing memories of the first eight years of his life, OE reinserted him into society for observation. Now that he has gone off the map, they want him back in their custody.  As Brett flees from the FBI, he must come to terms with his newly awakened gift and what it means. Can his past be redeemed and his future rewritten?    

Best selling Kindle author L. A. Kelley lives in Florida where the heat and humidity have driven everyone slightly mad. She's the author of five novels, three more due out this year. In her spare time she calls in Bigfoot sightings to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are heartily sick of hearing from her. About Spirit Ridge: San Francisco in 1885 was a dangerous place for those who crossed Colin Doyle. To Nob Hill elite he was a successful businessman. To the underbelly of San Francisco he was The Mick, a criminal mastermind ruling from the shadows. If a buyer's tastes ran to opium, a whore, or a politician, The Mick could name a price. No one who betrayed him ever escaped the city alive. Until now.

Unfortunately, my guest, Denis Ledoux, wasn't able to join me today. You can learn more about his work at The Memoir Network. Here are the two articles I referenced: The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir and How to Write Your Memoir. Check out Gerald Schnitzer's book, My Floating Grandmother for a great example of memoir. For a non-traditional look at memoir, check out Frank S. O'Neal's poetry. You might have heard a phone ringing in the background. Oops! I forgot to unplug it before the show. And then there was my dog who decided she needed to come back in right during the program. Sorry for the disruption, folks! It rarely happens, so I appreciate your understanding.  

There's no doubt that writing for the YA crowd can be lucrative, but if it's not a genre that you read - ever - then it's probably not the best choice for your writing. That said, here's some great info via Ebookfriendly detailing and linking to several awesome charts and infographics all about YA. That first comment might be reason #1 for you to write YA, but what are some others? It's still selling well. There was a dip in the YA market in 2015, according to a report in The Bookseller, but now it's diversifying and opening up to more debut authors. Check out Author Earnings for more info about what indie authors are earning.It's becoming more inclusive. What do I mean? The "We Need More Diverse Books" organization is having a positive impact. Agents are seeing and reading more books by authors of color. So, if going the agent route is your plan, you might have an "in" is you're a POC or your characters are, AND you're story is compelling.YA is all about exploration. Remember when you were a teen? A writer can have a lot of fun dreaming upYA situations that hook readers.You can sell the movie rights. You could turn your book into a stage production. My guest is debut author Kyle Hiller and he has much to say about indie publishig and writing YA!

Summer is the perfect time to get engrossed in a crime novel! AW Rock's debut novel, set in the SoHo district of London, is described as gritty and fast-paced. The author spent years in the entertainment industry before transitioning to novelist. Chances are, some of his experiences found their way into his new series. Mr. Rock also is an accomplished film maker and professional photographer. You can learn more about him at Soho Honey. About Soho Honey: This contemporary crime story takes place over three weeks in November and unfolds against the multi-cultural backdrop of Soho, London. Branen had to leave the UK six years before to escape his complex clandestine history and the consequences of a crime that achieved worldwide notoriety. When his daughter is brutally murdered in Soho he believes that he could be the reason. He returns to his old hunting grounds to find the killer. His search brings him into conflict with the British Secret Service and Soho's underworld. He is forced to flee Soho again after a tragic meeting with his ex-wife. His past has caught up with him and the hunter becomes the hunted. Now forty years old Branen wants to stop running and to remove forever the continuing threat to his life. In an effort to get rid of his pursuers he is faced with the prospect that his only chance of survival could lead to his death.

Most of us know that authors tend to lead a life of isolation, especially while writing a manuscript, but there comes a time when every author, introverted or extroverted, shy or not, must engage readers. Extroverts tend to have it easy in this department with their need to chat people up. Introverts aren't so inclined. Talking with groups of people is exhausting! Today's show is all about real-world, non-terrifying strategies introverts can use to make stronger, lasting connections with potential readers. Honorée Corder is a bestselling author and executive business coach. She combines her business acumen and 12 years of self-publishing experience to provide structure, strategy, and accountability to individuals who want to elevate their platform and create multiple streams of income from publishing their own books. Her best-selling books include Prosperity for Writers, and Vision to Reality: How Short Term Massive Action Equals Long Term Maximum Results, as well as The Divorced Phoenix, If Divorce is a Game, These are the Rules, The Successful Single Mombook series, The Successful Single Dad, Play2Pay, Paying4College, and Tall Order! Her mission is to inspire and motivate people to turn their vision and dreams into their real-life reality, sharing a leading-edge process she created for her executive coaching clients. Honorée’s coaching and books provide real-world, time-tested strategies.

Today's show is all about men who write romance. Is it different than how a female writes romance? If so, why and how? If not, then why is it so rare to find male romance authors? Is there a stigma attached to men who write romance?  Author Jin Okubo has something to say about all of this! He's been writing romance for a few years, and shares his insights into this female-dominated genre. You can fnd his first two novels, "Love," and "Kaoru: In Loves Shadow" on Amazon. A word about reviews: Indie authors need your review love. And I do mean, love. If you read an author's book, be sure to let other readers know how much you enjoyed it! I know, I know, if it sucked you might be tempted to write a brutally honest review thinking that you're doing the author, and everyone else a service (favor?), and you certainly can, but I've found that what I put out into the universe has a habit of coming back to me. Good and bad. Just a little food for thought.

Author, Poet, and On-Air Radio Personality, Tracie Christian is from Detroit, MI. Her books are The Black College Sabbatical trilogy fiction series and the newly released "Toast to the Fool" reflective fiction novel. "Toast to the Fool" follows five friends all playing the fool as they battle through the biggest missteps of their lives. On the surface, they each seem happy, but secretly some have heavy regrets. Redemption is the goal, but getting it is another story. Words of Wisdom: Patience is most important. Rushing through your artistry leaves you open to harsh mistakes. Attention to detail pays off.Creating eclectic, entertaining events/engagements to release, promote & sell your books can be as beneficial, if not more beneficial than, attending traditiona book fairs and trade shows.

Tony Wilkins is the host of the Internet sensation Small Business Forum Radio www.blogtalkradio.com/tonywilkins with nearly 200,000 listeners worldwide and broadcasting live every Friday at 3:30 PM Pacific from the historic Payne Mansion in San Francisco. The Career Whisperer: Behind the podium - A step by step guide to booking speaking engagements. This book is designed to help both new and seasoned speakers find more speaking engagements, book more media appearances and generate more revenue than ever before. TOP TIPS: 1. Partner with others to help get the word out about your product,service,event. 2. Make sure any marketing materials are clear. In other words,what will others get by attending your workshop?

We're diving into what it takes for a debut author to market her first book. Claire Everward and her sister, Kate, are doing exactly that. A month ago, I spoke with them via a Blab.im interview when they'd just released Claire's novel, THE FIRST. Now, we're assessing what they've done, what's worked, what hasn't, and what they've learned. A. Claire Everward takes the world far too seriously. She is passionate and sensitive to her surroundings, and tends to fight for what she believes in. She is direct, although she tries not to be, at least not always. She leads a quiet life and prefers to spend time with her characters, and for her escaping into writing is always the best refuge. She would say it maintains her sanity but her sister Kate says that sanity tends to be overrated.

If there's one aspect of being an author that many authors moan and groan about, it's marketing. Some hate doing it because they feel like they're forcing their work on people. They feel "spammy."  Today, we're getting some tips from Gail Olmsted. Who's she? Glad you asked! Gail happens to be an author AND a marketing professor. If anyone can offer marketing words of wisdom, it's her Gail has authored two contemporary romances: Jeep Tour & Guessing at Normal, published by Booktrope. Her third novel, set to release this summer, is Driving on the Left. Guessing at Normal is the rock and roll love story of a dreamy poet and a hard partying rockstar. Jeep Tour follows the rocky romance trail of a recently divorced college professor in search of her happy ever after. Both books are available on Amazon.  

Have you ever thought, "I should write my memoir?" What's stopping you? It can be a daunting task. What do you include? Do you focus on a specific period in your life? Do you choose a few meaningful areas that led to who you are now? What parts of your story will captivate readers? Are you sharing a broad lesson or moral through your experiences? This is our focus for today's show. Charlene Jones has led an impossible life. I know this because I've already had several conversations with her, and her story captivated me. I was drawn to her energetic, honest, and approachable personality, and I'm betting you will be, too! Charlene Diane Jones M.Ed/M.A is a Psychotherapist in private practice. She teaches meditation based on her 45 years experience and practice with Tibetan Buddhism and her long explorations in Western mysteries. Charlene has authored three books: The Stain; Medicine Buddha, Medicine Mind; and her forthcoming memoir, My Impossible Life.  Visit Charlene's website www.soulsciences.net where you can find her books and podcast information.    

Larry Luikart is an Ohio native who holds bachelors and masters degrees in History and Political Science from Concordia University. He previously worked for over twenty-five years as a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Luikart lives in the Westcliffe, Colorado, area with his wife and their two dogs, where he also writes for the weekly newspaper, The Sentinel. This is his first book.  Throw Salt on the Water is a heartfelt tale of lasting friendship explores the lives of ordinary soldiers through the eyes of two best friends who must decide their ultimate loyalties when they find themselves on opposing sides of the Civil War

Fifteen Ways to Improve Your Odds of Author Success: (In order of importance) Read Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck Read The Willpower Instinct by Dr. Kelly McGonigal Read Dangerous Personalities by Joe Navarro Read The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allan and Barbara Pease Contemplate what you've read. Allow it to weave its way into your mind, interactions with others, and your writing. Create your author mantra. Post it where you'll see it.(Ex. Publishing isn't a race.) Create a loose or detailed outline for your fiction project including completion expectations, goals, and objectives. Think about cover art. Hire a graphic designer. Carve out writing time. Try a Pomodoro Timer. Sneak it in wherever you're able or schedule it into your day. Create an author website. Nothing fancy. A simple landing page will work in the beginning.  Complete the first draft. Edit and revise it. Send it to an editor. Begin writing your next book. After you receive edits for the first book, temporarily stop working on the second book. Finish book one, including formatting, cover art, and publishing BEFORE continuing your work on book two. (Unless you have no other obligations. In that case, you'll be able to juggle both activities.) Complete first draft of book two and repeat this step. Don't obsess about sales rank or numbers, but if you can't help yourself, then check out KDPulse.  Learn the importance of meta data: categories and keyword phrases. Play with these. Be consistent as you create your author brand. Create and use the same (or basically the same bio everywhere. Also use the same image.) List your book as a pre-order. Why? It motivates you to finish the book. Create a print version.