For the Love of Books Podcast

Caroline Topperman's own move to Poland is a central part of Your Roots Cast a Shadow memoir as she grapples with her "Polish roots" while being a "Canadian by nature". Sponsored by author Caroline Topperman, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.   She experiences cultural differences, language barriers, and a growing awareness of the political climate in modern-day Poland, particularly the rise of nationalism and racism. Her journey to understand her family's past is intertwined with her present-day observations of Polish society, including its attitudes towards history, religion, and social acceptance. The book ultimately questions how personal history intersects with global events to shape identity and the challenges of balancing one's origins with new surroundings. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Your Roots Cast a Shadow. Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Britta, an eleven-year-old girl, has lived in soul-deep sorrow since her mother left their family. When Britta's father forgets her birthday, he decides to give her a dog as a late birthday gift. (Britta wants a cell phone.) They adopt Crash, an Australian shepherd from the local animal shelter in Sault Ste. Marie, a small city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and their adventures begin. "A powerful tale of finding friendship in the most unexpected places. " Nikki Mitchell, author of the Magic Shoebox Adventures Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog is a story about broken hearts--not only Britta's and her father's hearts but also a dog's broken heart--and it is a story about the bonds between daughters and fathers and good dogs and also not-always-so-good cats. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog. Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

WATCH THE RIVER. STAY OUT OF THE WOODS. AND WHATEVER YOU DO—DON'T FOLLOW THE LIGHTS. Listen in for a chance to win a signed book by Ryder Jones. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.     Westville was never the kind of town where people went missing— until the night thirteen-year-old Millie Thompson vanished without a trace. Hometown cop Casey Benson is no stranger to regret. When Millie disappears, his quiet routine shatters. What begins as a missing persons case quickly spirals into something far more disturbing— corporate cover-ups, shadowy government agents, and a secret buried deep beneath Westville's streets. Meanwhile, Millie's best friend, Olivia Fischer, refuses to stay sidelined. She was the last to see Millie—and she knows something else is out there. Copyright (c) 2025 Emma Paova. All rights reserved.

Hello everyone, Welcome to the special For the Love of Books Podcast episode featuring indie and small press authors with host author Emma Palova.   I would like to thank our sponsors Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.   Today, we will be chatting about AI and its impact on authors and vice versa as we navigate this evolving landscape with rising anxiety and opportunity.   Leading our discussion is Dr. C. Daniel Miller, known as The Copyright Detective—a copyright consultant and co-owner of Integrated Writer Services, LLC. He's also the author of the award-winning Copyright Clearance for Creatives, now being updated to include a vital new section on AI in its second edition. Dr. Miller speaks and conducts workshops on copyright-related topics. His presentations include “Copyright Basics” and “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” for authors, independent publishers, and other creative professionals.     Joining us on the author panel are authors:

 Happy Easterl   Emily's newest book, Parents—The Prophets of the Home, invites mothers and fathers to step into their God-given roles as culture-shapers and spiritual leaders in the home. Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent   She aims to help families trade fear-based control for heart connection and raise children who know God's voice and walk confidently in their Kingdom assignment. Emily lives with her family in the mountains of Mammoth Lakes, California, where she's building a legacy of peace, presence, and purpose. Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

"You can't say the last evil person in this world was Hitler." Those were the words of Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny when he spoke of Ronald Lloyd Bailey, a Michigan serial killer serving a life sentence without parole.   During a sunny Labor Day weekend in 1985, thirteen-year-old Shawn Moore was kidnapped while riding his bike near his home in Brighton, Michigan. Still on edge from a series of unsolved murders dubbed the Oakland County Child Killings in the mid-seventies, a task force of up to seventy-five investigators worked day and night to find Shawn. In an almost unheard-of series of events, local, state, and federal law enforcement combined their resources and efforts to track down the killer. They knew the kidnapper could be anywhere, and there was an urgency to find Shawn Moore alive.  Depraved Obsession: The Gripping True Story of Law Enforcement's Hunt for a Sadistic Serial Killer launches on May 6. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, and author Carla Stockton. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Depraved Obsession. Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

"Healing and being healed are some of the most human of all activities, and Brown encourages us to dive deeply into their rivers."                                   Scott's Book Review In her new book Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, author Teri M. Brown dives deeply into the healing rivers of the main characters Granny Maggie, her daughter Carrie Ann, and granddaughter Josie May. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, and author Carla Stockton.   Maggie McCoury, a generational healer woman, relies on family traditions, folklore, and beliefs gleaned from a local Cherokee tribe. Her daughter, Carrie Ann, believes her university training holds the answers. As they clash over the use of roots, herbs, and a dash of mountain magic versus the medicine available in the town's apothecary, Josie Mae doesn't know whom to follow. But what happens when neither family traditions nor science can save the ones you love most? Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Daughters of Green Mountain Gap. Copyright (c)Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.  

"Loaded with rare period photos and engravings of the infamous pirates who wreaked havoc in Great Lakes waters and shore communities, Classen's inviting narrative is fast-paced and filled with legends of treasures and daring exploits." -Sue Harrison, international best-selling historical novelist   Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent and author Carla Stockton Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Piracy on the Great Lakes. Copyright (c) 2025 Emma Palova.

In Too Much of Nothing, Carla Stockton, a first-generation American baby boomer, shares her life story through a series of vignettes. The memoir begins with her mother's escape from Europe before World War II and culminates in Stockton's own journey to break free from a stifling marriage.   With a blend of humor and heart, Stockton reflects on the challenges and triumphs of living in the shadow of history. Her story is a meditation on the resilience required to navigate the complexities of identity and womanhood in a changing world. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Too Much of Nothing. Sponsored by author Carla Stockton, Doc Chavent, and Moravian Sons Distillery. Copyright (c) 2025. Author Emma Palova, All rights reserved.  

In her poetry anthology "Roots in Water", Kathy Johnson captured the simple moments in life that matter the most: the love and passion for what we do. "The only thing you take with you at the end of your life is your love, not your bank notes, not your honors, not your book," she said in the For the Love of Books Podcast episode hosted by author Emma Palova.   As a Chaplain for the local hospice in the Copper Country of the Upper Peninsula, Johnson has met her final inspiration. "The saddest people are those who have given up on various things in life. I've come away from death more alive to human beings, the world, and self-worth." A stanza from Kathy Johnson's poem "Ceremony" shows the poet's passion for life.  As the seasons turn One to the next, so we travel From East to West. We rise and flow with the years.   Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Listen to the podcast episode for a chance to win a signed copy of "Roots in Water." Copyright (c) 2025 Emma Palova. All rights reserved.    

Happy Holidays Heywood Banks performs at The Old Theater on Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14. Get your tickets now. Go to www.theoldtheater.com Listen in to win a free ticket to Dixon's Violin on Dec. 29 at TOT. The fundraiser to replace the marquee runs through Jan. 11. Stop at TOT to get your ornament. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, Lowell authors Glad Fletcher and Kathryn DenHouter. Built in 1928, The Old Theater in downtown Lowell is a magical place where all wishes and dreams come true thanks to its owners Lisa and David Reed. Lisa's wish to have a white Christmas came true on Wednesday. Young artists' dreams of performing on stage in front of a live audience come true here at TOT, and dancers can dance the night away on Fridays. Listen to this enchanting episode to win a free ticket to Dixon's Violin on Dec. 29. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova, All rights reserved.          

Lowell authors Glad Fletcher and Katherine Den Houter joined forces for a special holiday book signing event at the Coffee House at Cascade Christian Church on Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Holiday episode sponsored by authors Kathryn Den Houter, Glad Fletcher, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.  Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Fletcher's or Den Houter's books. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving. Make words happen because books make great gifts. Some policy changes in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) non-profit organization caused a mass exodus of writers and authors into different stratospheres. TrackBear tracks your writing progress and multiple goals. For 19-year NaNoWriMo veteran author Jean Davis switching tracks from NaNoWriMo to TNT was simple. She uses TrackBear to organize multiple writing projects. In case you're wondering what TNT stands for, it is That November Thing. "I am not as behind the organization as I used to be," she said. "November is still my writing month." The new variations of NaNoWriMo carry on the same basic principle of getting people together to write. TrackBear allows you to work on separate goals together. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving. Books make great gifts.   Author Larry Jorgensen tells the true-life adventure of the 1926 City of Bangor shipwreck rescue off the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan.   A fierce November storm tossed the ship with a crew of 23 and 240 new Chrysler automobiles onto a Lake Superior reef. For the first time, Shipwrecked and Cars and Crew tell the near-tragic story of lost and desperate shipmates floundering for two days in the deep snow and near-zero temperatures. Jorgensen's detailed research and collection of historical photos chronicles what happened, introduces the key players, and finally reveals the fate of those collectors' prizes in the century since. Listen in to win a signed copy of Shipwrecked and Rescued. Contact Emma via the website emmapalova.com with the name of the city that deceived Captain Mackin's logistics in this story. Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024 Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving. Books make great gifts. A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders is a collection of poems that explores the mysteries of the human condition--from pain and loss to joy and friendship--all the big, hairy things that fill our lives with wonder and, sometimes, heartbreak.  The poems in the book chase the mythical figure of Bigfoot through mountain and forest, trying to capture the greatest mystery of all--love. Listen for a chance to win a signed copy of A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders. Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.    

The first 100 pages of How to Hike the North Country Trail: not quite a Guide explain why the North Country Trail is unique among National Scenic Trails and why its political history causes the checkerboard of allowed uses found along its length.   One cannot just camp anywhere along the trail. This requires much more planning for a long hike than some hikers expect. The rest of the book is the first-ever attempt to list all the legal places to camp or find lodging along the 4800 miles of the NCT. As the title says, it's "not quite a guide." This trail is still too long and too fluid to publish the level of detail that a true guide would contain. However, the book in conjunction with the free interactive map at northcountrytrail.org, is a great aid in creating a plan for a long hike. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of How to Hike the North Country Trail. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Copyright (c)2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Happy Halloween! It is windy outside, and we lost power but got it back just in time for the podcast. So enjoy.   Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.   Craig A. Brockman, author of the award-winning Dead of November, has published the third book Dead Silence in his trilogy.   Ron Jarvin's quiet, solitary life is about to be turned upside down. A young woman claims to be his daughter and the former priest is torn by trepidation as he prepares for their reunion. But as he makes his way to meet her, he is suddenly thrust into a dark and deadly world beyond his wildest nightmares. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Dead Silence. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Allison Spooner is the author of the Amazon Bestseller and #1 New Release, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story. She's also published two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark: A Collection of Flash Fiction and The Problem with Humans: And Other Stories, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies. Her newest novel is the fictionalized true story, "The Things We Cannot Change: A Story about the Ghosts Created by Addiction." Her stories have been called, "unique works of art," and "brilliant, disturbing, and thought-provoking," and The Lost Girl was the winner of the 2024 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Winter Competition.   Listen to win a signed copy.   Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC.

Mikel B. Classen and Jon C. Stott, award-winning authors of travel books, provide expert guidance for beer aficionados and tourists to visit the 29 unique craft breweries and brewpubs of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in Yooper Ale Trails. The tours to breweries are organized geographically from the east UP to the west side into eight picturesque ale trails. Each brewery or brewpub has its own story. Classen and Stott have captured the essence of the beer scene in the UP since the mid-1990s. Classen suggests planning six months for an ale trail trip. "The book itself is a little bit of a roadbook too, you get a good breakdown of beers we found there," Classen said. Listen to the episode to win a signed hardcover copy of Yooper Ale Trails. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC.  

Author Peg Herring Peg Herring is a former educator who lives in northern Lower Michigan. Her Tudor mysteries starring Princess/Queen Elizabeth garnered nice reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, New York Journal of Books, and Library Journal. The first book of her paranormal series, The Dead Detective Agency, received a Best Mystery of the Year Award from EPIC. In 2014 Peg stole her grandmother's name and started writing cozy mysteries. Since then, Peg has written women's fiction and suspense while Maggie Pill writes cozies.     Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.   Kip Morgan is a fake with worries...and they're multiplying. Kip Morgan is a con artist who urgently needs to elude the authorities. He sees an ad from a firm seeking a private investigator in a new town with a new name. Kip applies, figuring he knows as much about crime as most detectives, though from a different vantage point. Kip gets the job at Waite Investigations because his new bosses, Jocelyn and Maureen Waite, have figured out that clients look for youngish male P.I.s, not two sixty-plus women too easily dismissed as "little old ladies." Though he has plans to acquire a chunk of their fortune, Kip finds there's a lot more to the Waites than he'd imagined. As he tries to adjust to fussy Mo and quiet Jo, a houseful of secrets soon gets out of hand, and Kip the Conman has a lot more to worry about than being exposed as a FAKE. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of FAKE.

Nancy Besonen's "Off The Hook," published in 2023, is a collection of humor columns she successfully slipped by her editor over a 30-year reporting career for L'Anse Sentinel.   However, there were still a few very silly things left unsaid.  Shamelessly borrowing from her original recipe, she unleashed her second and final installment, "Off The Hook Too!," in 2024, rounding out what she likes to call "The Compleat Works of Nancy Besonen."  (take that, William Shakespeare!)  Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

 Life as a dragon should be amazing. You can soar across the sky and breathe fire. However, when you are a young, clumsy dragon who sneezes fire at all the worst moments, it makes life a little challenging. Desperate to make friends and finally feel accepted, Henry takes off across the savanna, but trouble seems to follow him at every turn.   Summary for To the Moon: A Jacob and Trevor Adventure Jacob and Trevor are brothers and the best of friends. They have avid imaginations and love to play make-believe. Their favorite thing is playing on their saucer swing and pretending to fly to the moon. One day when Jacob loses a tooth, the tooth fairy comes - but she has run out of money and decides to leave fairy dust instead. The boys use the fairy dust to go on an adventure of a lifetime!   Bio: Sarah Geddes is a 6th grade Language Arts teacher. She has taught middle school in a virtual setting since 2007 and loves to help students explore the world and their imagination through books. She has two boys (ages 5 and 7) who love to cuddle up and read. Watching their eyes light up when turning the page of a book has inspired her to put her own stories down on paper.    Listen in to win a signed copy of Henry the Sneezing Dragon.     Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.   Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024.

The first listener who emails Phyllis Ewing with subject line book podcast giveaway will get a signed copy of Being Restored. The correct email address is phylje12@gmail.com

Author Phyllis Ewing pens novella Being Restored about her passion for restoring AG and MAC dolls. The correct email address for the podcast giveaway of Being Restored by Phyllis Ewing is phylje12@gmail.com

This delightful "Squeak-quel" to A Mouse Tail on Mackinac Island illustrated by Maggie Chambers takes the mouse family on a vacation to the one and only historic Grand Hotel. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of the book. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Being a part of the Michigan Authors group on Facebook, we take pride in attending the Michigan Arts and Crafts shows around the state. Meet authors Emma and Ingar at the 49th Lake Odessa Art in the Park on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emma will be in booth #122, and Ingar will be in the children's area. Listen to what to expect at these shows, which are unique to each community. No two shows are the same. Marketing guru Ingar advises newbie and Indie authors with tips from shows and friends. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Aimee Chipman opened The Bluestocking Bookshop located in Holland in September of 2019 after being a known avid reader all her life. "I've always been a nerd for books and authors," Aimee said. She is passionate about education through reading and keeping books accessible to all, regardless of age, income, or education level. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

Let the games begin... This novella will draw you into the magic of the Narvan series. The enemy of her enemy might be just the tool Anastassia Kazan needs to remove the Jalvian invaders from the Verian space station she calls home. Working out a treaty between the Jalvians and the Verian people was the highlight of Anastassia Kazan's military career. Just when station life seems to be settling into a tolerable accord, a spy from the Jalvian's enemy shows up to take advantage of her hard work and threatens the precarious peace with his very presence. It's only fair, as a spy for the Verian army, that she uses him in return. Listen in for a chance to win The Shot at the Sphinx. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.

It's going to get GROWLY in author Stefanie Gilmour's first book in the Alex Steward series. From the moment she shifted into a werewolf, Alex was terrified. First, of the man who attacked her—then of the creature within her.   Alex wants to build a life in Hopewell, but she struggles to keep her savage passenger caged. If her inner wolf breaks free again, people could die, and she'll be the one hunted.   For help, she relies on her best friend Emma, a wizard and the only person she trusts with her secret. But Emma has her own secret: Mitch. He's twisting her into someone unrecognizable…and he may be harming other vulnerable supernatural citizens.   To save Emma, Alex must make alliances with wizards and werewolves alike, face the Committee, unravel deadly conspiracies, and confront her own worst fear—herself.   Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Fear the Wolf. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent   Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Author Wade Walker's first book is a mix of horror and espionage inspired by James Bond, and secret agents. The main character secret agent Val West finds himself bitten by a werewolf, and he must unravel the deadly secrets of the werewolf that bit him. Will he stop this mysterious monster's diabolical plans in time and find a cure? Will the building romance between agent Val West and archaeologist Tanya Nimble live or die?   “It's kind of like WikiLeaks when the files were decrypted,” Walker said in a recent podcast interview on For the Love of Books Podcast show with host author Emma Palova. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery. Listen for a chance to win a signed copy of Bite of the Wolf. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova, All rights reserved.

In part one of The Sisters Three saga, Esme Halle thought she had finally found peace. Creating a life in Avalon on the continent of Mar, she had worked hard to distance herself from her sordid past in the neighboring Kingdom of Orion. So hard in fact that she could barely recall any memories of her previous life, and she preferred it this way. Now all of the secrets she had kept hidden so deeply even from herself, may be the only key to saving everything she holds dear. The sisters three, Esme's name for her mother and aunts, have brought the kingdom of Orion to its knees, information has grown scarce, and her dreams show her the past is the key to all. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Kingdom of Orion. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova, All Rights Reserved

“It's the perfect gift for Father's Day. Don't give your father, The World's Greatest Dad mug, or a barbecue apron. He doesn't care. He needs something else to feed his brain,” Victor Volkman, senior editor at Modern History Press said in the newest episode of For the Love of Books Podcast on Thursday. Give him U.P Reader Volume #8 instead. The hefty publication with a beautiful cover photo of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore between Munising and Grand Marais is filled with fiction and non-fiction stories, essays, poetry, memoirs, humor, and history. It's 181 pages long with historical archive photos and includes six stories from the winners of the annual Dandelion Cottage contest from all of the UP's participating schools. “It feels very solid and very significant,” said Volkman. “This is the biggest it's going to get, ever. We've expanded it with the first, second, and third-place winners of the contest. Kids like to write long.” Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of U.P. Reader Volume #8 Sponsored by Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Blogs, LLC

In his debut novel The Last Huck, author J. D. Austin tells the stories of cousins Jakob, Niklas, and Peter Kinnunen who have inherited a family farm in Michigan's U.P. The cousins spent their childhood playing together on the berry farm on Keweenaw Peninsula, and now they're older facing major challenges in their lives. Jakob goes to prison, while Niklas goes bankrupt in the recession of 2008. When Uncle Jussi dies young, the crux of the story evolves around the major issue they face; Are they going to sell the land out of necessity?   Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Last Huck. Sponsored by Doc Chavent. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova

In Odin's Eye: A Marquette Time Travel Novel “John” has a problem. He doesn't know his real name. He doesn't know where he's from. He's not even sure if he's in the right time. "He wants to wear a t-shirt and shorts," Tichelaar said in a recent podcast interview. "But they didn't wear that in the 1900s."     When John is found unconscious at the Huron Mountain Club and brought back to Marquette, Michigan to recuperate, everyone assures him it's the year 1900, but somehow John's memories of automobiles, televisions, and other modern devices seem to suggest he doesn't belong in this time. Soon several people are trying to help John regain his memory from his teenage friend Hugh Allen to Marquette's most prominent businessman, Peter White. But despite how many times John walks around Marquette, and no matter how many people he talks to, he can't seem to remember anything and no one recognizes him. Then Hugh suggests John accompany him and his friend Howard Longyear on a canoe trip to the Huron Mountain Club. That way John can visit the place where he was found unconscious and see if it triggers his memory. Desperate for answers, John agrees to return there, but he is hardly prepared for what will happen next. Listen in to win a signed copy of Odin's Eye. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines

In her children's book Church Da Surfin' Staffy, author Melinda Falgoust tells the story of a real-life therapy dog Chuch, whom she met while visiting her favorite island Maui. "I saw a dog surfing on a surfboard with a young child," she said in the podcast interview. "I followed the owner and asked if I could tell Church's story."   Once there was a tiny pup who needed a good home-born on Maui island where the ocean waters foam. When a lonely puppy named Church finds his "fur-ever" home on a surfboard with a man named James, life is pretty maika'i. But when the local surf pup earns his official service animal rating and works to help other people overcome their fears-it gets even better. Listen in to win a signed copy of Church Da Surfin' Staffy, along with an adorable plush. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines

Happy Easter from For the Love of Books Podcast with host author Emma Palova.   In The Wind That Did Not Blow, author Tim Doppel transports readers to a time and place of great turmoil and faith and will be captivated by the lives of three characters as they face unexpected revelations and come together in the name of love. Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines sponsor the new Apple Podcast subscriber episode. Listen in to win a signed copy of The Wind That Did Not Blow. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at the For the Love of Books Podcast show hosted by author Emma Palova, and sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines. On this great holiday dedicated to women around the globe, the show is proud to present two great romance authors Jennifer Raines and Karin Beery. In Masquerade, the main character Kate uses a disguise to prevent an old boyfriend from finding her. Liam was conned by his ex-lover who was working for the opposition. A masquerade, a road trip, a steamy attraction, and Liam and Kate discover the steps they took to protect their hearts might break them. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Jennifer Raines

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at the For the Love of Books Podcast show hosted by author Emma Palova, and sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines. On this great holiday dedicated to women around the globe, the show is proud to present two great romance authors Karin Beery and Jennifer Raines. Beery penned her fifth book Finally Forever about how winning the dance competition could land Caroline her dream job but at the cost of her heart. So, relax and listen in for a chance to win signed copies of books from these romance authors. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Jennifer Raines

Classen's first novel started with a one-word prompt: Crystal. Find out how a short story writer takes a one-word prompt to a 256-page action-adventure fantasy novel Indiana Jones style. The main character Isabella Carter is an archaeologist who is on the brink of discovery about how some ancient artifacts could change the future destiny of mankind. Unfortunately, there are evil forces led by the mysterious billionaire Lazarus Fane who are hellbent on suppressing and destroying the knowledge of the ancients. Can Dr. Carter, her grad students, and reluctant adventurer Aiden McKenzie recover and decipher the Alexandria Code before the massive manhunt closes in? Join her on a trek that leads from Sault Ste. Marie to South America. Listen in for a chance to win a signed hard copy of The Alexandria Code. Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Cynthia Beach is a longtime professor of Creative Writing and author of Creative Juices for Writers and the novel The Surface of Water. Her articles, short stories, and contributions appear in newspapers, journals, and books like Hope in the Mourning, which is Zondervan's grief bible. Her novel tackles the complex theme of the celebrity status of megachurch pastor Matthew Goodman who is challenged by a 25-year-old new hire Trish Card in ways that awaken him. Sponsored by Doc Chavent Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Surface of Water.

When an introvert winds up at a summer leadership camp, it's a comedy of errors and a romance she'll never forget. Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends.   When her over-involved mother dares to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she's thrust into an introvert's nightmare. Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there's no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming. Then she meets Lucas—hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she's swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she'll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Andy and the Extroverts Sponsored by Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova

In Marie LaPres' young adult fiction Beyond the Fort, the main character Christine Belanger has always loved learning about the past. Still, she may get more history than she bargained for when she finds herself at Colonial Michilimackinac in the year 1775. In the past, Christine meets fellow time travelers, Henri and Jacques, French fur traders, and British soldiers. She quickly learns that the tensions are high between the French and British, and Henri and Christine uncover the plot of a British Leftenant who plans to eradicate all French settlers in the Mackinac Straits area. It's up to Christine and Henri to save the settlers, and possibly change the course of history. Can Christine and Henri outwit Lewis and save the fort? Will Christine be able to survive Colonial America without all of the amenities she is used to…especially her cell phone? Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Beyond the Fort. Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

In an age where magic and the wizards that wielded that power, have faded into disputed myth. The Darkness and the evil it shrouds is an all too real presence. Young Gareth has spent his life training, dreaming of following in his father's footsteps as the greatest warrior to have served the Crescent Lands. Knowing the true horror of battle, his father has other plans for his son. He has used the last vestige of his political favor, to secure an apprenticeship for his son in the venerable Guild of Scribes. The Order of Scribes has recorded every event since the dawn of history. They are present at every political or academic gathering. They walk the battlefields for every conflict. They are held in awe and feared at length: for no man truly wants history to speak ill of them. And in that way, their presence has altered the exact events they were sent to chronicle. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Scribe: The Apprentice Sponsored by Doc Chavent

DiVita's debut novel tells the story of two opposite characters Julia and Colette who age from 10 to 100. “It's a coming-of-age story told through vignettes,” DiVita said. “As women, we don't have to play by the standards of an ageist society. Cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry.” Listen in to win a signed copy of Not Your Shoe Size. Sponsored by Doc Chavent Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Pam Withrow was an Indiana farm girl transplanted to Michigan. After a teen marriage and a stint on welfare, she graduated from college and began work with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Within seven years she was named the first woman to head a prison for men in Michigan. She then worked at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia for 15 years.   Madam Warden takes the reader with Pam as she moves through progressively responsible positions in the Michigan Department of Corrections, introducing you to the people who lived and worked in the institutions she managed. Evidence-based programs and the story of one prisoner who benefitted from cognitive restructuring are featured. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Madam Warden. Sponsored by Doc Chavent

When bombardier Micah Lund dies on a mission over Hiroshima, his spirit remains trapped in the land of his enemies. Dazed, he follows Kiyomi Oshiro, a war widow struggling to care for her young daughter, Ai.   Food is scarce, work at the factory is brutal, and her in-laws treat her like a servant. Watching Kiyomi and Ai together, Micah reconsiders his intolerance for the people he'd called the enemy. As his concern for the mother and daughter grows, so does his guilt for his part in their suffering. Micah finds a new reality when Kiyomi and Ai dream—one which allows him to interact with them. While his feelings for Kiyomi deepen, imminent destruction looms. Hiroshima is about to be bombed, and Micah must warn Kiyomi and her daughter. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of In the Realm of Ash & Sorrow. Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Get into the holiday spirit this Saturday at The Book Nook & Java Shop in cozy Montague with four authors and four spirits. The special holiday event organized by Written in the Mitten starts with author founder Ingar Rudholm talking about book descriptions, followed by Rudholm on memoirs and short stories, authors H. William Ruback and Marie Lapres. Moravian Sons Distillery based in Lowell will offer free samples of 100 percent Michigan-made liquors and cocktails, available for purchase at the bar of The Book Nook. Come and enjoy the spirit of the season on Dec. 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 8744 Ferry Street in downtown Montague. Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Making reading time a bit more musical with Bingo Books.     Author librarian Cassie Veselovsky makes reading time a bit more musical in her sing-along books for the five-year-olds and under crowd, and their grown-ups. "I've taken my old rhymes and converted them into books," she said in the podcast interview. A librarian of 40 years, Veselovsky also loves pairing books with readers to see the joy in kids' eyes when they say, "I loved the book." In her sing-along books, Veselovsky matches up the rhymes with online purchased illustrations. "Rhyming books are not easy," she said, "so they don't sound silly." She would like to disperse a common misconception about her Bingo Books that they are like a bingo game. "They're not a game," she said. "They're sing-along books with five-letter words." Veselovsky will be at Winter Whimsy in Hartford on Dec. 8. She has attended Reading Rocks in Rockford, hosted by the Rockford branch of the KDL system. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of 'Tis the Season." Happy Holidays. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Ed Bentley.    

Are you up to the 50k-word marathon challenge that starts on Nov.1 aka NaNoWriMo? The NaNoWriMo special panelists suggest just keep on writing without any interruptions even if you hit the proverbial wall. Make November your writing month. "This is my writing month," author Jean Davis said. Davis will be participating in the 18th year of the challenge. That sentence resonated with all the panelists because as Jane Smiley said,  "Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist. It's perfect in its existence. The only way it could be imperfect would be to NOT exist."  Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't punish yourself, and have fun. Enjoy the camaraderie. "I try to keep the momentum going," author John Winkelman said. The panelists are authors- Vera West, Emma Palova, Jean Davis, John Winkelman, Andrew Smith, and Ed Bentley. Listen in for a chance to win some free E books, and mainly to win the challenge. Sound editing and effects by Douglas Kelly of Evolve Solutions, LLC. Sponsored by Doc Chavent, Emma Palova, Ed Bentley, John Winkelman, and Andrew Smith.

Author Ed Bentley's hobby as a researcher in genealogy led him to research early American artists and journalism in the 1880's. The writing enabled him to literally visualize the incredible loss of life as if it were happening in front of Ed at that moment. "My intention in assembling these life-ending stories is to share the fascination with, and the appreciation for, journalism in the 1880s. Such a relief it is that our own future is hidden from us."                                                     -Ed Bentley-       Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Ed's book What a Way to Go! Death in the 1880s.  Sponsored by Doc Chavent and authors Ed Bentley and Hilton Everett Moore.

In his second book of short stories North of Nelson Vol. II, UP author Hilton Everett Moore explores themes that most authors will not touch; Moore exposes stories of incest, lust, love, and hate all set in the rugged terrain of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The five stories include "The Cell Tower," "The Ditch Dog," "Ode to a Lone Wolf," "A Beast Called Fate," and "Lust and Lightning." Author Sue Harrison has written the following review: North of Nelson should be read slowly, savoring the quirky characters, the poetry of the words, and the odd fierce stories. Hilton Everett Moore is far more than a regional writer. His words and stories place him in high literary circles indeed. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of North of Nelson Vol. II. Sponsored by Doc Chavent and authors Hilton Everett Moore and Ed Bentley.