Living The Next Chapter: Authors Share Their Journey

EPISODE 633 - Chris Kruger - Walking Away from the Ledge - A Soldier's Memoir, the raw truth of war, survival, and self-destructionWalking Away from the Ledge: A Soldier's MemoirWalking Away from the Ledge is a hard-hitting, no-BS military memoir that goes beyond the battlefield to expose the raw truth of war, survival, and self-destruction. With an unapologetic voice and brutal honesty, Chris takes readers deep inside the challenging world of an Army Ranger, the brotherhood that holds soldiers together, and the personal demons that threaten to tear them apart.More than a war story, this book is about what happens when the fight doesn't end—the toll of combat, the grip of addiction, and the struggle to hold onto love when everything else is falling apart. This memoir hits hard, digs deep, and refuses to look away.https://paradedeck.com/news/author/christopher-krugerhttps://a.co/d/b4CukhOSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

E632 - Shelley Grandy - Devious Web - A bingeworthy mystery thriller through business and politicsShelley Grandy, Canadian author of the tech‑thriller Devious Web, joins the show to talk about her path from journalism and corporate communications into fiction, and how her real‑world experience in high‑tech and politics shaped the novel. Born in Timmins and now living in Trenton, Ontario, Shelley spent years as a reporter and then as a writer in the telecom and fibre‑optics world, eventually running her own PR firm. That background in data, networks, and media handling feeds directly into Devious Web, which follows Tom Oliver, a Toronto tech CEO whose data‑analytics company becomes the center of a dangerous conspiracy just as he's about to sell to a Silicon Valley buyer. The story weaves together business intrigue, family tensions, politics, and a homicide investigation led by Tom's detective friend, with Shelley using interviews and media moments in the book to naturally explain complex technology and U.S. issues like gerrymandering for general readers.Shelley also opens up about the reality of being a debut novelist later in life: finishing the manuscript isn't the finish line, it's the starting gun. She describes the emotional and practical challenges of claiming the title “author,” battling imposter syndrome, and then having to learn social media, build a website, start a newsletter, and get comfortable showing up in public to market the book. For someone used to writing behind the scenes, events like speaking at the National Women's Show in Toronto, experimenting with Instagram, and nurturing an email list are all part of what she calls “The Journey”—the ongoing process she chronicles on her blog. Her training as a journalist still shapes her fiction: she writes in tight, scene‑based chapters that she can easily imagine on screen, focuses on strong openings, and then has to consciously slow down to add colour, atmosphere, and richer description.A big part of the conversation dives into how Devious Web blends entertainment with timely themes. Shelley talks about drawing on her long‑standing interest in U.S. politics—especially the Trump era and debates over democracy—to bring gerrymandering, data analytics, and the misuse of personal information into the plot without turning the book into a lecture. She explains gerrymandering in plain language, connects it to modern data‑driven targeting, and hints at how the wrong hands using the right software could tip the balance of power, all while keeping the focus on mystery, character, and suspense. The book also reflects her personal passions: there's a romantic subplot, horses and equestrian life, Canadian settings she knows intimately (from Toronto restaurants and banks to Honey Harbour and Caledon stables), and vivid secondary characters like Patrick, the charming Irish “bad boy” whose Las Vegas misadventures were especially fun for her to write. Shelley even shares how she fact‑checked locations after the pandemic by revisiting them in person, turning research into a kind of mini‑adventure.https://www.shelleygrandy.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 631 - Tia Lashay - Question of Affection, A heartfelt journey of vulnerability, courage and love Book: Question of Affection - Ian is a self-reliant pharmacist in her late 30s, navigating the labyrinth of love and loss. With a past marred by heartbreak, Ian has been searching for the missing piece to complete her life. Her journey turns unexpectedly when she meets Wyatt at a speed-dating event, sparking a glimmer of hope that true love might be within reach. However, life throws her a curveball when she finds herself drawn to her enigmatic female neighbor, challenging her perceptions and stirring up emotions she's never faced before.As Ian delicately balances these newfound relationships, she embarks on a path of self-discovery, exploring the multifaceted nature of her heart. Delve into Ian's world, where love knows no bounds, and learn how embracing one's true self can lead to the most profound connections. Will Ian find the courage to embrace her desires and redefine her understanding of love? Join her on this heartfelt journey of vulnerability, courage, and the beautiful complexities of sexuality and growth.https://www.winsbookspublishing.com/store/p/question-of-affection?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae38prEvOv1c6-Xn9t39qOMh2g0CSzt7ICOnBjVlVXduA_jgQod0fXd2biHhQ_aem_N3xCZCVH6H2oToQ45MnFqQSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 630 - Sheral DeVaughn -  The “Word Whisperer.” She is a 3-time #1-rated radio morning show host, podcast host, keynote speaker and professional emceSheral DeVaughn is a 3-time, #1-rated radio morning show host and podcast host. She is a sought after speaker impacting global audiences and is the voice on commercials and marketing promotions nationwide. She is the founder of Speaking with Sher, a Communication Strategy Consultation service connecting your voice and your message to your ideal audience.The Frog BookSheral DeVaughn takes you on an adventure where there are no fairy godmothers nor white knights in shining armor, but there still are steps you can take to get to your “happily ever after.”Using anecdotes of her own personal struggles, and professional obstacles in both the radio and wine and spirit industries, she masterfully tells stories and gives you steps on how to overcome your own hurdles and find your voice once again.Part autobiography, part motivational book, part self-help primer, you'll find a piece of your own story within the pages, and discover where you might be holding yourself back, how to come to terms with life's scars and baggage, and how to get yourself to the finish line of a life that is fulfilling and joyful.If you've ever felt like you have an “invisible voice” and struggle to be heard, then The Frog in Your Throat is the unconventional primer you need to leap over life's hurdles and open the door to a more satisfying life experience.https://thefroginyourthroat.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 629 - Allison Cundiff - Hey, Pickpocket - Is it possible to leave behind one life and find a new oneAllison Cundiff's publications include the novel Hey Pickpocket (2025, JackLeg Press), two books of poetry: Otherings (2016, Golden Antelope Press), and In Short, A Memory of the Other on a Good Day, co-authored with Steven Schreiner, (2014, Golden Antelope Press), and two chapbooks: Snapshot (2023, Bottlecap Press), and Just to See How It Feels (2018, Word Press). Her second novel, The Mysterious Women of J Road is forthcoming in March of 2026 (April Gloaming). She is a graduate of the University of Missouri (MA English Literature, MEd Secondary Education) and Truman State University (BA English Literature). She teaches at Lindenwood University and at Parkway North High School. Book: Hey Pickpocket“Is it possible to leave behind one life and find a new one? This is the provocative question ‘Hey, Pickpocket' poses, and the result is a deeply felt exploration of grief, redemption, and the human heart. Spanning cultures and continents, foggy mornings on the Arans and hazy memories of the States, Allison Cundiff's debut novel probes the eternal riddle of home, the enduring allure of hope.”-Jeffrey Zuckermanhttps://www.allisoncundiff.net/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 628 - Nicholas Casbarro - Vitalerium, A novel was written at 36,000 feet - the narrative of Roman MatthewsWelcome to the Vitalerium UniverseA Sci-Fi Series By Nicholas Keating CasbarroA dark, thrilling odyssey that will challenge everything you think you know about humanity's future. Seven centuries from now, the stars are both a refuge and a battlefield, where ambition, deception, and survival collide.Hailed as a critically acclaimed sci-fi epic, Vitalerium – Descent into the Void delivers a relentless adventure filled with political intrigue, forbidden power, and cosmic mystery. Will you uncover the secrets that lie beyond the void—or be consumed by them?Nicholas CasbarroBorn in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1990. He attended Northeastern University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in Boston, class of 2013. Though he never practiced, he maintained his curiosity and love for the sciences. After college, he worked in the medical device field with a specialty in wound-healing and burn treatment. In 2021, he joined a regenerative medicine company where he would spend five days a week on a plane, traveling the country to work with burn surgeons and victims. While flying, he experienced a spark of inspiration, and decided to follow the thread. Since childhood, he had a deep love for science fiction, growing to appreciate the greats in sci-fi like Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and many others. Nicholas used his time on countless flights to create the Vitalerium Series and its universe. The majority of the Vitalerium novel was written at 36,000 feet. He has seven books planned in the Vitalerium Series and continues to craft the narrative of Roman Matthews.https://vitaleriumseries.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 627 - Cameron Reuben Hudson - Actor, Writer and Author - the novel series, Preter-Human ChroniclesCameron Reuben Hudsonthe founder of Hudson Media Collective™, is a uniquely multifaceted artist who is always creating new works and telling stories for future generations to remember.Whether he's writing a new book for his upcoming novel series"Preter-Human Chronicles"™ or exploring a new character on film, (Watch his acting debut in J&M Productions' Reacher)There is always something bright shining on Hudson's horizon. You'll often find him mingling and collaborating with new artists to create meaningful stories people can relate with and look up to.Hudson Media Collective redefines storytelling by seamlessly blending film production and book publishing under one creative house.We are committed to crafting innovative, immersive narratives that captivate audiences across multiple mediums, pushing the boundaries of how stories are told, experienced, and remembered.https://www.hudsonmediacollective.com/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12364897/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 626 - Suzanne Parry - The Soviet Experience Through Historical Fiction, Pentagon Tour, Iron Maiden of StockholmRaised in a quiet rural corner of western New York State, I didn't always want to be a writer. I was, however, always surrounded by books. Bookcases in every room. Entire walls of them. My mother was an avid reader and regular trips to the library were part of my childhood. My stepfather was a creative writing professor and words floated through the rooms and into the nooks and crannies of that pre-Civil War era farmhouse. Books weren't my escape so much as they were part of my daily diet. At twenty I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish and “write a book” was on it. That list included both measurable things like “learn five foreign languages” and “complete a significant athletic achievement” and less quantifiable items like “make the world a better place.” During the Cold War of my high school and college years, I very much wanted to help reduce the possibility of conflict between the US and the USSR.I earned a bachelor's degree at Purdue University, and then continued my Russian studies at the Pushkin Russian Language Institute in Moscow. I studied Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, received a Master's in 1982 and started a career in public service with the US Department of Defense. My work in the Office of the Secretary of Defense focused on European security issues between NATO, Warsaw Pact, and neutral nations. While at the Pentagon I helped negotiate the Conference on Disarmament in Europe, the first security agreement of the Gorbachev era. At the Stockholm talks as we often called the CDE, a number of my European colleagues jokingly called me the “Iron Maiden of Stockholm” in a not altogether flattering reference to British PM Margaret Thatcher, the original tough-as-nails female negotiator. The many months I spent crafting an agreement with diplomats from thirty-five nations, sitting at a table alongside NATO colleagues and opposite Soviet and Warsaw Pact counterparts, was my great honor.After this heady time, I put most of my energy into raising a large family (requiring its own negotiating skills). Funny enough, having a family was not on that list and yet today I would say without hesitation that the most impactful (and most difficult) thing I've ever done is raise four children. I lived in several countries, including the former Soviet Union, Belgium, Sweden, Singapore, and Germany. Throughout adulthood I've been a committed runner. I've completed dozens of marathons in more than twenty countries, including the fifty-six-mile Comrades Marathon in South Africa. I eventually landed in the wonderful and welcoming city of Portland, Oregon as a single parent. There, I coached high school cross country and track at a large public high school before deciding it wasn't too late to dust off that forty-year-old list and write a book.I now divide my time between Portland and Washington, DC, but also travel for fun, for research, and best of all, to visit my children and grandchildren.https://suzanneparrywrites.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 625 - Urmi Hossain - Discovering Your Identity, A Rebirth From Interracial StruggleAbout the authorIntroducing Urmi Hossain, a published author of "Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth From Interracial Struggle". With an extensive finance background, she works full-time in the financial services industry and firmly believes in the adage "higher the risk, higher the return". Urmi is an avid opportunity seeker and is dedicated to continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning. During her leisure time, she enjoys reading and refining her public speaking skills, as well as advocating for women's empowerment. Urmi is not solely an author, but also an accomplished blogger, YouTuber, speaker, and mentor for young women. Her life philosophy revolves around the notion that anything is attainable if it is genuinely desired. Let's #beagogetter Book: Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth From Interracial StruggleDo you ever feel like the challenges you face as a brown girl are unique to you or experienced universally? Are you living in a culture where others control your life to maintain their reputation in the community? Do you feel like you're living in a bubble, unable to share your point of view? This book tells the story of a brown girl who grew up in Italy with Bengali parents who wanted her to be the perfect and obedient Bengali girl. Through reflections and confessions, she shares her experiences growing up as a third-culture kid and the struggles many South Asian girls face.https://www.iambrownstyle.com/author/urmi-hossain/https://www.instagram.com/urmamio/https://amzn.to/4fBlPkWSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 624 - Beverly Burch - What You Don't Know - One contrary ghost, two women, three trianglesAbout the authorMy newest book is the novel, What You Don't Know. I also have four collections of poetry and two nonfiction books. My work has won a Lambda Literary Award, a John Ciardi Prize, a Gival Poetry Prize and was a finalist for Audre Lorde Award. I live in the Bay Area with my wife and two Maine coon cats, Mac & Zadie.Praise For What You Don't Know“A dazzling story, containing so much more than the width of its spine. Love is all over the place in this novel, and you don't know which way it will turn next, and you stay glued to the page to find out. Burch reminds us that life is complex and dynamic and we really don't know what might happen next.”—Nina Schuyler, award-winning author of In This Ravishing World“Dreamy and poetic, What You Don't Know chronicles the awakening of two young women to the intertwined forces of grief and desire. Set in soul-freeing San Francisco and music-rich Nashville, this immersive novel deeply explores the hearts of its characters.”—Lucy Jane Bledsoe, award winning author of Tell the RestOne contrary ghost, two women, three triangles, four children: What You Don't Know is a bisexual love story from the Music City, the Blueridge Mountains and the Bay Area.Chloe, beautiful, whip-smart, flees a difficult childhood and sexual betrayal to the Bay Area where she falls in love with a woman. Afraid of this love, she devotes herself to making money instead. At 29 she moves to Nashville and meets Peter, a producer whose wife Angie recently died. Angie still seems to be around though, quietly coaching Chloe about Peter and helping her twin sister Rosie through grief. Rosie is devastated by the loss of Angie and dislikes Chloe immediately, that is, until she becomes intrigued by her. After Chloe marries Peter, their relationship grows close, displeasing Angie. Chloe realizes she's in love with Rosie, creating yet another triangle. A terrible accident ensues that upends everyone's lives again, but bringing Chloe home to her true desires.https://www.beverlyburch.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 623 - Bonnie Moore - Buried Bones - A Maggie Anderson Mystery - When a vacation turns deadly, justice is servedAbout the authorBonnie Moore is a semi-retired attorney, accountant, management consultant, and Golden Girls Network's founder. A former senior consultant at a CPA firm in Washington, D.C., she developed financial processes and investigated improprieties in governmental organizations. Her self-help book "How to Start a Golden Girls Home," earned widespread media coverage in 2015. An avid traveler, Bonnie has explored remote corners of the world, from archaeological digs in France to a safari in South Africa.In 2017, she retired to Utah to be near family and pursue her dream of writing, resulting in her debut novel, "Buried Bones."Book: Buried BonesA murder in small-town Utah, a town full of secrets, and a retired prosecutor's determination to expose the truth-can the killer's identity be revealed before a family with hidden secrets and everything to lose stop the prosecutor?While vacationing in the mountains east of Ogden, Utah, retired prosecutor Maggie Anderson learns about the discovery of Audrey Stillman's body buried near the home she once shared with her former husband, Ben. Maggie witnesses Ben threatened by a gang of local cowboys and the town quickly blames him. Haunted by her past failure to save another innocent man, Maggie offers Ben help and begins investigating.As she delves into the case, Maggie uncovers ties between Audrey's murder and the influential Stevenson family, who control much of the town's political and economic life. It's discovered Audrey was pregnant when she died, and Maggie suspects the father may be the killer. But the deeper Maggie digs, the more secrets she uncovers-secrets that certain powerful people will go to great lengths to protect.With help from the district attorney and her growing connection to her friend Robert, Maggie secretly collects DNA sampleshttps://www.bonniemoorebooks.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 622 - Diana Harmon Asher - Author of Sidetracked, Upstaged, and Trouble Finds Evie LefkowitzI'm Diana Harmon Asher, the author of Sidetracked, Upstaged, and the upcoming Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz.It took me a long time to get a book published. A really long time.There were a lot of “no's” before I got to “yes.” But I kept writing and I kept learning. Finally, I wrote Sidetracked, and the answer was “yes!”One of my teachers used to say that every character you create contains a piece of yourself. I definitely share a lot of worries with Joseph, and I'd like to think I'm a good friend like Heather. I'm an opera fan like Grandpa and I love Inishbofin sheep and Dickens, like Mrs. Fishbein. I hope I have some of Cassie's goofiness in me, and like Paul, I'll never fit in with the cool kids. I share Shira's shyness, some of her stage experience (see photo) and a lot of her stage fright.Like my newest character, Evie, my father was a cantor at our synagogue (something you'll find out more about in the book), and he passed away when I was young.  But also like Evie, I was surrounded by love and good friends. I never really did get into a lot of trouble…but maybe I should have! I hope I share Evie's resilience, her optimism, and most of all, her sense of humor.Writing itself makes me happy. But knowing that readers are enjoying my books is even better. I love when kids identify with Heather, or when a student proudly announces that they have ADD just like Joseph. I love the thought that some of you might be encouraged to strive for your own personal record, audition for a show, try out for a team, stick up for an old friend, and be open to new ones.And I hope all of my stories give you a few chuckles along the way.I look forward to meeting and hearing from more of you in the months and years to come!https://dianaharmonasher.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 621 - Deborah Lee Luskin - Hunting for Your Next Great Read - Reviving Artemis - The Making of a HuntressDeborah Lee Luskin earned a PhD in English Literature from Columbia University and expected to become an academic, not a deer hunter. She moved from New York City to Vermont for the summer in 1984, fell in love with the landscape, the community, and the new doctor in town. Forty years later, she's still in Vermont, where she's raised daughters, taught, and—always—wrote.Luskin's novel, Into the Wilderness (White River Press, 2010) a love story set against the backdrop of Vermont's political sea-change in 1964, won the Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Regional Fiction and praise from the Vermont Library Association for its “sense of place.”Luskin started her career in print, penning her first professional column from France while in high school. Her work has since appeared in newspapers and magazines; been broadcast on public radio; and sent into cyberspace in blogs.Luskin spent more than thirty-five years driving all over Vermont, delivering literature-based humanities programs for the Vermont Humanities Council to parenting teens, new adult readers, educators, life-long learners, healthcare workers, and prison inmates. She has lectured widely and taught countless writing workshops. Since 2016, Luskin has been facilitating the on-going Rosefire Writing Circle, a place to write in community and with support.Engaged in civic life, Luskin practiced restorative justice as a volunteer at the Brattleboro Community Justice Center and served as the elected Town Moderator in Newfane, Vermont.All along, Luskin grew vegetables, kept bees, and stuck to well-marked trails through the woods. She knew how to read a text closely, slaughter chickens, and can tomatoes, but she didn't know how to read the untracked forest that dominates the Green Mountain State. Until she was sixty, she was scared of getting lost in the woods. Then she heard a call from the universe that the deer could teach her how to read the untracked landscape. Reviving Artemis: Becoming a Huntress tells the story of how she learned to navigate through the forest of her fears and find her place in the natural world.Finding a Place in the Natural WorldReviving Artemis is the unlikely story of a woman raised in mid-twentieth-century suburbia, then lived in New York City as a young adult, and moved to Vermont in 1984. For more than thirty years, she raised domestic livestock, kept bees, and cultivated fruits and vegetables while teaching literature and telling stories. But when she turned sixty, something shifted. Luskin was overtaken by a primal urge to step out of the garden, off the blazed trails, and into untracked forest by learning to hunt deer.Deeply personal, lyrically told, and funny, Reviving Artemis reveals Luskin's ambivalence about guns and her fear of entering the forest alone in the dark. She persisted, using her literary acumen to read the forest and, as thoughtfully as she hunts for words, to hunt for deer. With the stories of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, childbirth, and wild nature to inspire her, Luskin became a huntress determined to age fiercely and compelled to tell this story of finding her place in the natural world.https://www.deborahleeluskin.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 620 - Jill MacLean - Canadian Author of a Poetry Collection, Non-fiction Historical biography, Young Reader and Young Adult NovelsJill MacLean is the Canadian author of a poetry collection, a non-fiction historical biography, three novels for young readers, two young adult novels, and The Arrows of Mercy, historical fiction for adults set in medieval England, released in 2023. The Arrows of Fealty, a stand alone sequel to The Arrows of Mercy, will release in September 2024.Jill MacLean's somewhat truncated biography:Although I was born in England in Berkshire (the county where my medieval novel, The Arrows of Mercy, is set), I left there many years ago, and happily took out Canadian citizenship in 1970.I began writing poetry in the nineties, along with completing a Masters degree in theology, and my poetry collection was published in Manitoba in 2003. My young grandson then asked me to write him a book – and changed the direction of my life. Three middle-grade novels and two Young Adult novels followed in fairly quick succession (you can check them out under Publications).All five novels were contemporary, four were set in Newfoundland (where my family lived for seventeen years), and four overtly dealt with bullying.Was I in danger of falling into a literary rut?If so, what to write next?The hiatus was frightening; but gradually there surfaced my abiding fascination with the medieval period, and even more gradually characters began to emerge, chief among them Edmund – I know from the beginning he would be an archer. I also knew I wanted to write about war and its aftereffects, as well as plague (this was well before Covid) – and that I did not want to write about aristocrats. Edmund and his cohorts are peasants, serfs, villeins, the lowest of the low.I read widely about rural life in mid-14th century England, my son drove me around the back lanes of Berkshire in search of the exact setting, and I started to write in 2015. The novel was initially intended for a young adult audience, but morphed into fiction for adults – I wanted no constrictions.Because I was in love with the research, and assumed you would be too, I wrote a sprawling, unmanageable mess of a novel, and then spent years (literally) cutting it back until it was the length it needed to be.The Arrows of Mercy was launched.Although set in 1348, the novel's themes of plague, PTSD and scorched-earth warfare (think Syria and Ukraine) are all-too relevant to today's world.https://jillmaclean.mywriting.network/about-me/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 619 - Alex R. Johnson - Brooklyn Motto A coming-of-age,  New York-centric, detective noir debutALEX R. JOHNSONJohnson's feature film TWO STEP premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW and went on to become a New York Times Critic's Pick, as well as remaining 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. His screenplay NORTHEAST KINGDOM was selected for the Black List. It was acquired by Paramount Pictures for Platinum Dunes to produce, with Johnson attached to direct. His screenplay ANY ROUGH TIMES ARE NOW BEHIND YOU was selected by the Austin Film Society's Artist Intensive lab. There, he spent three days working one-on-one with late director Jonathan Demme, an experience that was as inspiring as it was creatively life changing. He also wrote the screenplay adaptation of Ernest Tidyman's novel, BIG BUCKS, for Pascal Pictures.His debut novel, BROOKLYN MOTTO, will be released in March of 2025.Prior to writing and directing, Johnson was a seasoned NYC based commercial and documentary producer. He started his career at the legendary Maysles Films and then branched off to work with other directors, including producing the feature documentary I AM SECRETLY AN IMPORTANT MAN for filmmaker Pete Sillen. Johnson's family hails from the Andes of Ecuador. A government brat, he moved frequently but was raised mostly between New York City and the suburbs of DC. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY..BROOKLYN MOTTO by Alex R. JohnsonFans of Richard Price, Charlie Huston, and Jonathan Lethem will love this coming-of-age New York-centric detective noir debut from esteemed filmmaker and screenwriter Alex R. Johnson. New York City, 1998. New York is changing around Nico Kelly, and he can feel more coming. A private investigator and self-proclaimed photographer, Nico is stuck in a loop of city contracts and self loathing. What little middle class there was is disappearing—long-standing factories are moving out and taking their reliable neighborhood jobs with them, and Mayor Rudy Giuliani's police force has the streets in a stranglehold. Nico spends his days looking for fraudsters while taking photos of municipal employees on disability claims. He spends his nights trying to get rid of the nagging feeling that his day job makes him a professional snitch—traversing dive bars, playing pinball, and fighting through the haze of hungover mornings and blurry evenings.Pushing thirty years old and feeling split between his American and Latin heritage, between youth and adulthood, Nico finds himself at a precipice—who is he and what should he become? When Nico witnesses and records a murder during one of his insurance fraud investigations, bodies start to turn up all around him and he's forced into solving a mystery he didn't ask to solve. Humorous, gritty, and real, Nico's search for what it means to be human takes him through the deepest and darkest parts of New York City.https://www.brooklynmotto.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 618 - Heidi Bacon - Ratliner - Fictional Stories with Roots in History, Archaeology, Genealogy Heidi Bacon is an American novelist who uses her experience as a former Realtor, artist, filmmaker, and researcher and draws on her family history to weave historical fiction stories. When not writing, Heidi likes to paint, teach art classes and oversee The Artist Sanctuary, an arts nonprofit organization that she founded and is Executive Director. Heidi was born and raised in the Midwest and spent a decade in Savannah, GA, where she married and started a family. Three children later, after raising alpacas & other animals in Colorado, having art galleries, and a divorce in Kansas, Heidi and her children relocated to Minnesota, where previous generations of her family had settled. Heidi and her sisters created plays and stories as children, and expressed their creativity through Children's Theater, Children's Orchestra, ballet, violin, and piano lessons. As an adult, Heidi has been a Master Naturalist volunteer, worked in the Department of Commerce, Department of Health, and Department of Agriculture, and created murals for Minnesota's State Parks. Her interest in history, archaeology, genealogy, caving, and cryptozoology inspired her stories.Book: RatlinerWhen Karl Conrad uncovers his grandfather's shocking past after inheriting his estate, he finds himself pulled into a high-stakes quest for justice - and a race to stop sinister forces from unleashing unspeakable evil. Karl teams up with the alluring real estate agent Jessica to return long-lost artifacts to their rightful owners. But neo-Nazi zealots are determined to keep Karl from exposing dark secrets that could upend the world order. Ratliner is a gripping novel of suspense, passion, and redemption. As Karl and Jessica crisscross the country to unravel a mystery, desire ignites even as danger closes in. Can stolen treasures from the past find their way home? Who can Karl trust when his own flesh and blood betrayed humanity? H. Bacon masterfully blends edge-of-your seat thrills with vivid history in this powerful redemption story. Ratliner will keep you guessing until the final page. For readers of adventure, mystery, and second chances, this top-rated book is one you won't want to miss!https://www.instagram.com/heidibacon1/https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/writers/h-bacon?srsltid=AfmBOor7uG-UvvH9E61dlSUSLtqeYsWXuRZKkr9mVzfSAFHXX4wHr1_2Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 617 - Elizabeth Johnstone - Loss Within Waves, a heartfelt and poignant exploration of perinatal loss, stillbirthElizabeth Johnstone is a certified mindfulness instructor and has spent more than 15 years serving as a counselor and advocate for students struggling with mental health issues. Elizabeth's unique blend of expertise and empathy is not only evident in her career, but also through her art and writing. If life has taught her anything, it is to find happiness in the journey, cherish the beauty that surrounds us, exercise self-compassion and believe that challenges can be overcome — all themes she frequently weaves into her work. Her artist practice includes drawing, ceramics and oil painting.She is in training to become an art teacher. She lives in Montreal, Canada, by the banks of a river, with her family.Loss Within WavesIn Loss Within Waves, a heartfelt and poignant exploration of perinatal loss, Elizabeth takes us on an intimate journey through the deeply personal and often misunderstood realm of pregnancy loss and stillbirth.With authenticity and sensitivity, her collection of journal entries and blog posts delve into the profound grief, guilt, and resilience that emerge from perinatal loss, shedding light on the societal silence surrounding it and its impact on mental health, relationships, and the healing process.https://www.elizabeth-johnstone.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 616 - Michael Conte - Route 80 is an honest journey through family, identity, and the cost of loyaltyMichael was raised in Queens, caught between the disciplined life his mother offered and the legacy of his father—a man whose world revolved around loyalty, respect, and danger. From lavish weddings that erupt into brawls to road trips that end behind prison walls, Michael's story unfolds in sharp, cinematic flashes—equal parts grit, glamour, humor, and heartbreak.When his father is found dead in a prison cell, a final road trip to claim the body becomes more than a farewell—it's a reckoning. Memories flood in, forcing Michael to confront the pull of the past and the choices that shaped him.​Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by.And that has made all the differenceRaw, fast-paced, and laced with dark humor, Route 80 is an honest journey through family, identity, and the cost of loyalty. It's a story about breaking cycles, choosing your own path and realizing that some roads, once taken, change you forever.Buckle up. This ride doesn't come with brakes.Book: Route 80 by Michael Conte is an action-packed ride that takes readers on a journey through the high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled world of a young man torn between two destinies—one of honor and stability, the other of power and peril.Raised in Queens, Michael straddles two vastly different paths: his mother's unwavering moral compass and his father's intoxicating life, where loyalty is everything and danger lurks behind every handshake. From a picture-perfect Italian wedding that spirals into a parking lot brawl to familiar road trips to prison, the story unravels in a series of cinematic moments—glamour, violence, humor, and heartbreak.The real turning point comes when a single phone call shatters his world. His father, imprisoned for years, is found dead in his cell. As Michael embarks on one final journey to claim his body, memories of a life spent teetering between two worlds come rushing back. Through razor-sharp storytelling, raw emotion, and true Italian flair, Route 80 explores the cost of loyalty, the weight of legacy, and the road not taken.This is a story of survival, of choosing one's own fate, and of breaking free from the gravitational pull of the past. But in the end, can you ever truly escape where you came from?https://www.michaelconteauthor.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 615 - Trevor Jones - The Fantasy World of Kinthur - Created for my Dungeons and Dragons Games Welcome, TravelerTo the Official Home of the World of KinthurI'm glad you've found your way here—whether by chance, curiosity, or the call of adventure. I'm Trevor Jones, fantasy author and world builder, and this is the heart of Kinthur: a realm of ancient magic, fallen kingdoms, and stories forged in fire and blood.Inspired by the storytelling depths of tabletop role-playing games, Kinthur is a sprawling fantasy world where legends walk, magic is alive, and every soul carries a choice between light and shadow.Author: Trevor JonesStarting with a typewriter at 10 and inspired by the fantasy books and movies, Trevor thought writing was just a way to entertain himself. Little did he know it would lead to becoming a DM in his local Dungeons & Dragons group.Since the 90s, Trevor has expanded his fantasy world with hundreds of hours of game time, that led to a plethora of stories and tales. When his wife got him an editor for his birthday, publishing became a real possibility and since 2019, Kinthur has been shared with the world.https://kinthur.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 614 - Jonathan Stanley - Restoring Humanity to the Workplace, A Viral Tik Tok Clip, and Selling 12 BooksI'm deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, kindness, and encouragement from every corner of the world.You inspire me every single day.To my readers, thank you. Without you, my words would have stayed quiet on the page. Your support gave this book a voice, and that voice is now reaching farther than I ever imagined.If you know the TikTok story, then you see the spark. One small act of empathy. A video shared by Taylor Mae and her daughter, Ella, touched hearts around the world. That moment helped lift Purposeful Performance onto the bestseller list. I still struggle to find the words to express what that means.This journey is not mine alone. It belongs to them. And it belongs to you.When I wrote this book, my only goal was to make a difference in one person's life.I never imagined what would come next. And every part of it is because of this extraordinary community.Many of you have asked what's next. The vision is clearer, the mission is stronger, and the work ahead matters more. I've signed with a world-class literary agency, and booking speaking engagements and purpose-driven projects are already underway. Big announcements are coming soon. Thank you for being part of the journey.From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your support has been one of the most beautiful gifts on this journey.Kindness matters. Humanity matters. And yes! Your voice matters. Let's keep bringing heart back into the workforce. Together.https://www.simplestrategicplans.com/Watch Jonathan's story here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djdux3zZ4t8Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 613 - Dennis A. Blackledge - Working professional in the American Theatre, Writer and Short Story CreatorDennis A. Blackledge has spent a lifetime immersed in storytelling as a working professional in the American Theatre. As a writer, he has authored articles for Blue Suede News Magazine, written the script for the annual yearend radio broadcast of Rock & Roll Heaven (2005-2009), plus the book for the musical Smokestack Lightning. He is currently creating a series of short fiction stories about coming of age in small town New England in the mid-twentieth century.https://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/every-night-at-ten-a-short-story-by-dennis-a-blackledge/https://fabulaargentea.com/index.php/article/good-sam-i-am-by-dennis-a-blackledge/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 612 - Chris Kauzlarich - Short Story Collection, Menagerie in the Dark, And The Suspense Horror Novella, LAZARUSChris is the author of the short story collection, Menagerie in the Dark, and the suspense horror novella, LAZARUS. He is also a member of The Authors Guild, AWP, and the Chicago Writers Association. In addition to writing and reading extensively, he enjoys hiking, playing video games, binge-watching a good show with his husband and daughter, and simply being a dad. He graduated from Purdue University and lives between Chicago, IL, and Naples, FL, or on the open road in their RV.To stay updated with Chris and discover new books, connect with him on social media or sign up for his newsletter in the box below to receive a FREE ebook of one of his stories!Book: LAZARUSThey promised a world free of disease and suffering, but at what cost?Kami was strong, stronger than the others, but she couldn't outrun them. Taken and bled for one purpose, she holds on, following the spark and whispers of hope...Ruth's life is no longer her own, memories becoming as intangible as smoke, her fingers never able to grasp what had been. That is, until the elixir. The clock has turned back, but a flashing specter remains...Jarum was determined to succeed, founding Lazarus to find the key to immortality no matter the consequences. With ruthless determination, he was on the cusp of infamy until the lights. Until the dark...In a showdown between predators and prey, their stories will become interwoven in a near-future landscape where science at its zenith can't escape its bloody origins, their desires reflecting back at them in the glow of fireflies.Book: Menagerie in the DarkLife often appears darkest just before the dawn of a new day.In Menagerie in the Dark, Chris Kauzlarich immerses us in a speculative journey that explores the darker aspects of the human condition before bringing us back to the surface with the light of a new day. Through fourteen stories, this menagerie of characters faces trials of sorrow, death, loneliness, regret, deception, murder, delight, wonderment, and bliss, revealing what will either strengthen them enough to survive or plunge them to their demise. A boy's home burns down, forcing him to confront a terrifying new world. A man enters a door where he witnesses his wife's death, leaving him devastated; yet, he cannot stop returning to the scene, convinced he can save her. A nurse's patients continue to perish under her care, but she harbors a dark secret—an administered cocktail for nefarious purposes.These and other stories will stretch the limits of your emotions, from heartbreak to horror, leaving you yearning for more.https://www.chriskauzlarich.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 611 - Nick Peck - Award-Winning Journalist, Only Way Out, A Son and Brother That Finds His WayNick Peck, a California native, is an award-winning journalist who has primarily covered the world of finance and law and has garnered significant recognition for his work in the industry.Before starting his journalism career, Nick earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Upper Iowa University, where he was a standout football player.The book "Only Way Out" covers Jaylen Pierre, a high school senior growing up in an impoverished area of California who deals with many traumas daily, including brutal physical abuse from his alcoholic father and emotional abandonment from his mother, who battles a paralyzing depression. Since both of his parents are seemingly incapable of doing the job, Jaylen takes it upon himself to be the sole caregiver for his little brother, Elijah, and himself.Fueled by these hardships, Jaylen eagerly looks to find a way out of his situation and eventually finds one when he watches a television special late one night that ignites a fire in him to embark on a journey that he believes will lead to a better life for him and his little brother, but little does Jaylen know that he may find the love of his life along the way.https://www.nickpeckauthor.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 610 - Marianne Leone - Actor in The Sopranos, Three Stooges, Author of Five Dog Epiphany, Ma Speaks Up And a First-Generation Daughter Talks Back and Jesse A Mother's StoryMarianne Leone grew up seven miles outside of Boston, in the village of Nonantum that everybody called “the Lake,” a small blue-collar enclave of a larger city, Newton. Lake dwellers were pretty evenly divided between Italian and Irish-Americans, with a soupcon of French-Canadians. There was no actual Lake in the Lake. The original had dried up and all that remained during my childhood was a green-slicked puddle on the site of a factory my mother and aunt worked in during World War II. All the Italians in the Lake had migrated from the same southern mountain village, San Donato Val di Comino. My mother and father were both Italian immigrants, but my mom was an outsider, from Sulmona, Abruzzo. My dad owned a small workingman's bar, Leone's Café. I went to Catholic school for twelve years. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a saint, a reporter and a cowboy. I didn't become a saint, but I married a cowboy and sometimes I write for the Boston Globe. I've written a bunch of screenplays, and sold some of them, but I'm unproduced, except for a scene in With/In, a compilation film about the covid lockdown I shot with my husband and write about in FIVE DOG EPIPHANY. I was also lucky enough to play Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher's mother, on HBO's The Sopranos for four seasons. I live in a small town on the south shore of Massachusetts with my husband, Chris Cooper, and two rescue dogs, Titi and Sugar. KNOWING JESSE is about my son, whose luminous presence expanded and transformed everything else in my universe. I wrote the book to celebrate his life, to deal with his death, and to share him with others. MA SPEAKS UP is about my mother, who came to America to escape fascism and an arranged marriage to an old man. FIVE DOG EPIPHANY is about grief/mutual healing/rescue dogs.https://marianneleonecooper.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 609 - Kristin Aurelia - SHE Wise Publications, illuminate, guide, and empower souls on their journeyMeet Kristin AureliaKristin Aurelia grew up in a small town in New England and currently resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She is a Soul-Led Author, Podcaster, Public Speaker, Coach and Teacher. Additionally, she is a Certified Health Coach (CHC), NASM Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC), Certified Wellness Coach (CWC), Certified Biofield Tuner and Reiki Master. Kristin obtained her MBA, M.A. in Human Resources Management and Instructional Design and B.A. in Psychology from Marymount University in Arlington, VA. She has spent much of her life studying and observing human behavior. She has made it her life's mission to share experiences and bring wisdom and knowledge to the forefront of her works with the desire to help others along their journey.Kristin is a messenger sent to spread light and love while creating unity. As she puts it, "We are ALL CHILDREN OF GOD…one collective consciousness…Surviving the Human Experience!"https://www.shewisepublications.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 608 - Paul J.C. Edge - Mercurial Novels to Unleash Your Imagination, and a Local BakeshopPaul J.C. Edge is a leading independent author , his works include the gritty Summer Haven and Book of Xaal Sci-Fi horror trilogies, fusing his love of space sagas, fantasy and Lovecraftian gothic horror stories.Paul studied IT at university, which included modules in Astro Physics, which built real knowledge around his love of tales of space travel and alien contact. Finally forsaking a successful career in pharmaceutical IT system design and scientific informatics, he became a full time author in 2020.Paul lives in Cheshire and loves spending time walking in nature, whilst dreaming up new ideas and stories. He also has a passion for rock and jazz, cooking and reading (ranging from sci-fi and thrillers to Dostoyevsky). His offbeat sense of humour will often solicit a groan from his wife and full time editor, Elaine. "A novel begins with the seed of an idea. However, by putting myself in the role of the protagonist I follow a trail led by the decisions made. The story writes itself to some extent.As an indie author, I do not have access to expensive resources, the marketing and graphics are brought to life by myself. I collage ideas from real world photographs from numerous sources, bringing together an image to meet the needs of the novel in question".Paul JC Edgehttps://www.pauljcedge.co.uk/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 607 - M C Paas - Debut novel Broken Rules of The Hunt and of the Fight- Dark romantic suspenseM.C.Paas writes dark romantic suspense where happily ever after is earned through shadows, secrets, and a heartbeat of danger. Her obsession with storytelling began at fourteen with a single poem and has grown into six completed manuscripts that blend pulse pounding stakes with sinful chemistry. Her debut novel Broken Rules of The Hunt strands two broken souls on opposite sides of a crime that could destroy them or bind them forever.When she's not plotting twisted fates, M.C. haunts Estonian coffeehouses, sketches gothic‑tinged art, and spoils her horses to no end. A certified bookworm, she lives for late night page turners and reader DMs.Book: BROKEN RULES OF THE HUNTWildcat is an elite criminal, thriving in a world built on danger and deception. But when an unknown syndicate places a massive bounty on her head, she becomes the hunted. Betrayed by the very criminal society she once ruled, Wildcat is thrust into a high stakes game of survival where every move could be her last.Enter Fox, a seductive and cunning rival. Torn between claiming the bounty or helping her uncover the dark secrets of her past, he becomes both Wildcat's greatest threat and her only chance at survival. With powerful enemies closing in and her heart on the line, Wildcat must decide: can she trust the man who has the power to destroy her? Or will falling for him be her most dangerous gamble yet?In a world where loyalty is deadly and betrayal is currency, the ultimate prize is her life and the cost of love could be her death.This is a pulse pounding tale of passion, betrayal, and high stakes danger, where the price of trust is survival, and the ultimate heist is her heart.Book: BROKEN RULES OF THE FIGHTIn the brutal world of the Undercrowd, Serpent has built his own empire. An underground fighting ring where only men step into the cage. It keeps things simple. Controlled. But when his search for his abducted sister leads him to the Russian Bratva's human trafficking network, his path collides with the last person he ever expected to see alive – Phoenix.Once a rising star in the ring, Phoenix was supposed to be dead. Now, she's an Undercrowder, a ghost in the criminal underworld, fighting for survival. And she might be the key to unraveling the Bratva's secrets. Serpent swore he'd never deal with female fighters again, but Phoenix isn't just any fighter. She's a force of nature.To take down the Bratva and uncover the truth, they'll have to break every rule, fight against their pasts, and trust each other in a world where trust is a death sentence.Because in the Undercrowd, the only thing deadlier than the fight itself… is coming back from the grave.https://mcpaaswrites.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 606 - Claire Isenthal - Balancing Family and Writing, An Adventurous Duology Made to OrderClaire Isenthal grew up traveling all over the world with her family. She graduated from Purdue University and went on to live in Chicago where she worked in Digital Marketing and Ad Sales for over ten years. She has since relocated her family back to her Indiana hometown, but is still an avid traveler and loves nothing more than to lose herself in a good book. She still attributes her knack for structure and pacing to reading some of the Harry Potter books over 10 times. Claire is an International Thriller Writers (ITW) member and has a Substack for new authors — Rising Talent, Earning Your Space in the Publishing Industry. When Claire is not attending writer's conferences or classes, her evenings are spent with her husband, two children, computer or writers group. The Rising Order is her first novel.The Rising Order kicks off a series reflecting the rise of extremism and threats society faces in the digital age.Losing everything changed Wolf. Orphaned at a young age, he had no family, no home, and no future. Until a domestic terrorist organization seduced him into their ranks when he was eighteen. Over the next ten years, he's transformed into a merciless killer and discovers his life's purpose in the organization's mission of societal breakdown. Building a new totalitarian regime consumes him and it starts with collapsing Chicago's vulnerable electrical grid.Flynn is trapped in a soul-sucking job, recruiting at a renowned computing firm. When Wolf takes her hostage during a brutal attack on Soldier Field, she becomes a pawn in their mission to take control of the city. Forced to help Wolf infiltrate her company, right and wrong is no longer black or white. If Flynn refuses, he will murder every person she loves. If she agrees, Chicago will suffer unimaginable horror. Killing Wolf is her only solution. But, while searching for his breaking point, she discovers a glimpse of humanity she didn't know existed—a loneliness she also recognizes in herself. Now, it will take more than wit and willpower to stop him from destroying her city, it will take everything she has.The New Order lands readers right where Isenthal left them in book I — on the edge of a cliffhanger… Chicago has fallen and Flynn Zarytsky, an unwilling accomplice in the city's takeover by REDS, has gone into hiding. As she and her fellow Allies, rebels to the new terrorist regime, scrounge for supplies and survival among the darkened buildings, measures grow desperate. When a meeting gone awry sends Flynn across the path of a familiar face, she's flung once more into a troubled partnership that could determine the city's fate. Alliances are formed and tested as Flynn, Nate, and their comrades create an ambitious plan that could save the nation—or get them all killed. If they want any chance of success, they must learn to place trust and hope in unlikely places. Can redemption be found for those who have done the most harm but suffered the deepest hurt? Is forgiveness, empathy, even love possible among the broken pieces of REDS's new order? The action continues in this final installment of Claire Isenthal's thrilling series, a page-turning read not to be missed.https://www.claireisenthal.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 605 - Jayne Mills - BOTTOM OF THE BREATH - Seeking Answers in The Grand Canyon, Using Our Write BrainLike both my mother and my daughter, I have always loved to read. I also dreamed of writing a book someday. In fact, as a young person, I planned to be a writer by profession.Life, however, has a way of reminding us that we're not in charge. In the book, Cyd's aunt tells her, “Man plans and God laughs.” That has certainly been true in my life. It was a happy accident that I ended up changing my major from journalism to finance. I have enjoyed a long, successful, and rewarding career doing math (which I also love) and working with the best clients anyone could hope for.In 2019, as I was undergoing chemotherapy treatments and spending lots of time on my sofa, I began writing this book in earnest. I haven't stopped since.BOTTOM OF THE BREATH is the result. I took five years to write, and another year to get published. I knew nothing about writing a novel when I began, and it's a good thing I didn't know what I didn't know—otherwise I'm certain I would have never started.In the course of writing this book and questioning everything from my writing ability to my sanity, I kept coming back to the desire to leave a story for my children and all my readers in which I share some of the lessons I've learned in my life—about the importance of family, the absolute necessity of friendship, and the power of forgiveness.https://www.jaynemills.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 604 - Anne Louise O'Connell - Author, developmental book editor and partner publisherAbout the authorAuthor, developmental book editor and partner publisher, Anne Louise O'Connell, was a long-time expat, returning to Canada in 2016 after enjoying the sun and sand of Florida, Dubai and Thailand over a span of 23 years. Anne worked in the PR field for 17 years and then decided it was time to just write. From 2007 to 2016, Anne was writing books while freelancing, editing, author mentoring and social media consulting, along with conducting writing retreats and workshops. In 2013, she began facilitating the annual Paradise Writers' Retreat. In 2016, she founded OC Publishing and she continues to write her own books while mentoring other authors and providing developmental book editing, writing coaching and publishing services. While living the expat life, she contributed regularly to the Wall St. Journal Expat Blog, Global Living Magazine and Expat Focus. She has a passion for travel and that adventurous spirit has taken her all over the world. Anne grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has a bachelor of public relations and an early childhood education certificate, both from Mount St. Vincent University. She is the author of @Home in Dubai… Getting Connected Online and on the Ground; Mental Pause, her first novel, a 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Award winner; and her latest novel, Deep Deceit, which launched March 8, 2015 and is the first in a planned mystery series. She has also contributed short stories to the Phuket Island Writers' anthologies and has published a collection of travel and expat life stories called Swimming with the Elephants and Other Adventures. Connect with Anne: Website: https://www.ocpublishing.ca/Blog: https://anne-writingjustbecause.blogspot.com/Twitter: @ocpubhfx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocpublishingSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Bonus - November Will Have 30 Episodes in 30 Days of Living The Next ChapterNational Podcast Post Month is a November challenge every year to produce and release an episode every day - Starting Nov 1st, we will be releasing 30 episodes featuring amazing authors!If you love what we do here, please consider supporting the show financially via our Buy Me A Coffee linkhttps://buymeacoffee.com/truemediacaIf you want to jump the line to see what is coming in the future head over to our YouTube Channel - be sure to subscribe and follow too!https://www.youtube.com/@LivingTheNextChapterhttps://livingthenextchapter.com/#NaPodPoMoSupport the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 603 - Shannon Russell - Second Act Success - Leave unfulfilling careers to build joyful, purpose-driven businesses I spent over 16 years as a Television Producer overseeing multi-million dollar productions in New York City and Los Angeles working for companies like MTV, E! Entertainment, Yahoo!, Pop Sugar, A&E, TLC, etc.My second act began once I leapt into entrepreneurship and opened a franchise business serving families in my community, so I could be more present mom for my two kids. My business quickly grew to be amongst the Top 5 in the organization, and I successfully sold this business in 2024.While running my first business, I started Second Act Success® Coaching so I could help support women as they start a second act in life by changing careers to start a business.My focus as a business coach for women is to help others produce their best life, while finding the flexibility, freedom, and fulfillment they deserve.Now, I share my experience, as a television executive turned business owner with my clients, as we work towards their business goals.Book: Start Your Second Act - How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, & Create Your Best LifeThe ultimate guide to pivot with purpose, reinvent your career, and produce your best life. The career that once inspired you no longer fits your life, and a nagging voice inside tells you there's something more. When your mind, heart, and dreams no longer align with your current path, it's time to start your second act.Shannon Russell, a former TV producer turned entrepreneur and business coach, understands the fears and challenges of disrupting your carefully planned career and taking the leap into something more. Drawing on her personal experiences and the success stories of other women, she shares her proven three-step Second Act Strategy (reflect, research, realize) to guide you from where you are now to where you want to be.https://secondactsuccess.co/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 602 - Leslie A Rasmussen - TV Writer for Gerald McRaney, Alf, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey to Author of Books on Family Leslie A. Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, The Wild Thornberrys, and Sweet Valley High.After leaving the business to raise her boys, Leslie obtained a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Leslie has been published in the Huffington Post over twenty times and speaks on panels discussing female empowerment. She's a member of the Writers Guild of America, Women in Film, and the UCLA Alumni Association.After Happily Ever After is Leslie's debut novel and has won over fifteen awards, and her second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, has won eleven awards, and she's been interviewed about it on NPR and XM radio. Leslie's newest novel, When People Leave, came out in 2025.When Leslie isn't writing, she loves reading, exercising, and spending time with friends. Leslie lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons.What I Write:I have found that most women go through a multitude of similar issues in life. As a mom of two and having been married many years, I have seen this first hand. From the time we are in our thirties, we have experienced both joy and sadness. Whether that's through finding the right partner, having our heart broken, suffering infertility, or losing a loved one. As we go through life, families go through many changes. Children leave the nest, our parents age, our friendships change, and some marriages end. I write women's commercial fiction where I delve into the human experience and situations that are relatable to most of us. I want my readers to see themselves or their family or friends in my characters and to realize no matter what they are going through, they aren't alone. As my background is writing television sitcoms, I also try to find humor in the tough stuff, in fact, those moments are my favorite to write.https://www.lesliearasmussen.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 601 - Cal Logan - ShadowBane - One womb, one soul, two fates. One will rise. One will fallA full-time personal trainer and competitive powerlifter, Cal started writing seriously in 2017, drawing inspiration from history, his time spent practicing mixed martial arts, and of course, books. Cal lives in Chicago with his wife, Taylor, and his dachshund, Rizzo.At the end of the day, I'll be happy if ShadowBane earns me some loyal fans. As a debut author, I can't ask for more than that. In a way, ShadowBane is a promise to readers—here's what you can expect from my books, and if you like what you see, stick around. I'm just getting started, and there'll be plenty more to come.Book: ShadowBaneDescriptionOne womb, one soul, two fates. One will rise. One will fall. Shura and Jin are the last of a divine bloodline, operating at the bloodiest fringes of society where they wield might and magic against the demons they are sworn to destroy. For Shura, it's the only way to restore honor to her lineage and claim her rightful place in the world. For Jin, it's a matter of begrudging duty-and escaping the influence of the three kings vying for control of the continent.In their pursuit of the sadistic cult behind the demons' resurgence, the twins find themselves hunted by an ancient demon harboring a blood vendetta, and are forced to set aside past grudges and seek the kings' alliance. When Shura discovers a chilling prophecy, she fears that even her newfound allies may not be enough to stem the rising tide of shadow. Even the palest chance of victory will come at a brutal price. But the prophecy never foretold whose fate would settle the debt: Shura's or her brother's.https://callogan.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 600 - Dominick Domasky - Celebrating 600 Episodes, Tap Into Your Creativity, Go Beyond Learning, Embrace StartingEpisode 600 brings the return of Dom Domasky - every one hundred episodes of Living The Next Chapter, Dom returns to celebrate a podcast idea that he gave me 600 episodes agoDom shares publishing inside information and how we as creatives need to engage in action over information collecting!Check out Dom and his services here!!https://www.motivationchamps.com/Books Mentioned:Lean Learning - How to Achieve More by Learning Lesshttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lean-Learning/Pat-Flynn/9781668027646https://patflynn.com/____RICK RUBIN - THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEINGRick Rubin is a nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer, named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time and the most successful producer in any genre by Rolling Stone. He has collaborated with artists from Tom Petty to Adele, Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys to Slayer, Kanye West to the Strokes, and System of a Down to Jay-Z.https://sites.prh.com/thecreativeact____Book: GOOD TO GREATThis book addresses a single question: can a good company become a great company, and if so, how? Based on a five-year research project comparing companies that made the leap to those that did not, Good to Great shows that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline. This book discusses concepts like Level 5 Leadership; First Who, Then What (first get the right people on the bus, then figure out where to drive it); the Hedgehog Concept, and the Flywheel.https://www.jimcollins.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 599 - Gary Barnes - The Traction Coach, On a mission to empower everyone that he connects withMy name is Gary Barnes, and it's my mission in life to help people find more creativity, passion, fulfillment, and, yes, wealth in their businesses.To do that, I help people just like you to learn how to get past their self-defeating behaviors. And I help business creators to:Stop running your business with "one foot on the gas and the other foot on the brake"Live a life of vision and purpose, instead of exhausting yourself on the same old treadmillCreate more financial success and abundance (without working yourself into the ground)Heal relationships and marriages by working with your money instead of against itLearn to market your business with integrity and authenticityHave a lot more fun in your business and your life!My clients call me "The Traction Coach"Why? Because I specialize in quickly getting some "sand under your wheels" so you can move forward toward the life you want to live.I know that anyone can lead an empowered life, no matter what challenges you've faced or what circumstances you're in right now. And I've developed tools that will help you realize that potential, not just for today's challenges, but for tomorrow and the years to come.I also understand what it's like when things aren't so rosy. I've faced down a life-threatening illness . . . and won. That experience is part of what led me to dedicate my life to helping people maximize their lives and their businesses.Book: How a Beaver Saved My Life (Previously titled Into the Night): The Real Life Story of Adversity to Triumph Book is a dramatic look into one man's journey when doctors told him that he would be in a wheelchair or dead in ten years. You will share Gary's engaging, deeply touching, and sometimes hilarious stories. The experience will seem so real that you will think you are there with Gary as he faces death and disability and finds his way to win over both!https://www.garybarnesinternational.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

E598 - Imagination Wizard Jason DeGray Writes About Those Left Behind with his Typewriter - A Space Western and Weird Fiction UniverseAbout the authorImagination Wizard Jason DeGray conjures vivid worlds of adventure, from the lawless deserts of Those Left Behind to the cosmic horrors of The Dark Goddess. A master storyteller, he crafts tales of defiance, brotherhood, and survival that grip fans of Firefly, The Dark Tower, and beyond. Whether it's sci-fi westerns, fantasy epics, or pulse-pounding thrillers, Jason's stories ignite the imagination with rugged heroes and high-stakes action. When not weaving novels, he's exploring the wild deserts of New Mexico, seeking inspiration for his next epic. Dive into Jason's universe, where every book is a portal to rebellion and wonder—start with Those Left Behind and join the fight! Connect on Facebook for new releases and behind-the-scenes lore.Book: Those Left BehindOn Quad's ravaged frontier, survival is a brutal gamble. Zed, a brash mercenary, and Vyx, a brilliant mechanic, are recruited by the cunning Ezra Pound to defy the Colonyal Gyld's iron rule. Joined by Sygurd, a vengeful warrior-monk wielding the mystical Gram, they battle the Strays—ferocious dogmen unleashed by the Gyld to crush rebellion. From scorched deserts to neon-lit slums, their mission to seize a mysterious desert deposit unveils a cosmic conspiracy: a sentient ship, Yshtar, and a liquid that could reshape Quad's fate. Bound by brotherhood and driven by defiance, Zed's crew ignites an uprising against tyrants and alien shadows. Those Left Behind is a gritty sci-fi western packed with rugged heroes and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of Firefly and The Dark Tower. Will Quad rise or burn? Join the fight—grab your copy now!https://www.facebook.com/jasondegrayauthor/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 597 - Kate Woodworth - Little Great Island, A Story of a Commuity of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies impacted by Climate ChangeKate Woodworth is the award-winning author of the novel Racing into the Dark, which Publishers Weekly said, “hits the mark repeatedly with emotional truths and fluid prose” and which Kirkus Reviews called, “vivid and honest, dramatic and without pat resolutions: an impressive debut”.A passionate lover of the natural world, Kate is the author of essays on the impact of climate change on fishing and farming that have been published by the Climate Fiction Writers League and on her Substack, “Food in the Time of Climate Change.” Her novel about love, community, and climate change, Little Great Island, has been called “an extraordinary achievement and a pure pleasure to read” by National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award winner Ha Jin. Kate is the founder and creative force behind “Be the Butterfly”, a grassroots climate action initiative that invites everyone to do one small thing to help mitigate climate change. Kate received her MFA from Boston University.Little Great IslandOn Little Great Island, climate change is disrupting both life and love.After offending the powerful pastor of the cult where she's lived for a decade, Mari McGavin must flee with her six-year-old son. With no money and no place else to go, she returns to the tiny Maine island where she grew up—a place she swore she'd never see again. There Mari runs into her lifelong friend Harry Richardson, one of the island's summer residents, now back himself to sell his family's summer home. Mari and Harry's lives intertwine once again, setting off a chain of events as unexpected and life altering as the shifts in climate affecting the whole ecosystem of the island…from generations of fishing families to the lobsters and the butterflies.Little Great Island  illustrates in microcosm the greatest changes of our time and the unyielding power of love.“An uplifting and grown-up novel in which two lost souls find love and purpose”—Kirkus Reviews“…utterly grounded and achingly empathetic, developed with gorgeous, flowing prose and a steady, sometimes heart-wrenching plot.”—Booklisthttps://katewoodworth.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 596 - Amanda DuBois - Lawyer and Author Shed light on the profound realities people faceAbout the author: In addition to writing the Camille Delaney series, I'm the founder and busy managing partner of DuBois Levias Law Group, a woman-owned boutique family law firm on Lake Union in Seattle, where I maintain an active family law practice. Over the past thirty years, I've represented thousands of individuals – both in divorces and medical malpractice cases. I've argued hundreds of motions and taken many cases to trial. I've also provided pro bono legal representation for parents who served time in prison and have become very familiar with the issues they face. Prior to becoming a lawyer, I was a high-risk labor and delivery nurse at University of Washington Medical Center.Having a background in both medicine and the law has given me unique insight into the inequities of both systems. That perspective drove me to create the Camille Delaney mystery series. Camille's adventures weave questions about justice into a fast-paced reading experience with the twists and turns one would expect from a good thriller. My purpose in writing the series is to raise awareness of injustice and create an opportunity for readers to reflect on how our system could work better for those most marginalized.Book: The Complication - The first in the Camille Delaney Mystery series, The Complication is a fast-paced legal and medical mystery filled with greed, murder, and intrigue. After her friend Dallas Jackson suffers a fatal complication during routine surgery, Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is determined to find out why. Dallas was like a father to Camille, and she feels she owes it to him and his family to get answers. Book: Deliver Them From Evil - In book two of the Camille Delaney Mystery series, a mother turns to Camille for help investigating a top Seattle doctor after tragedy strikes the delivery room.Seattle attorney Camille Delaney is cash-strapped and struggling to balance the demands of her new solo legal practice with raising her three daughters. But when an emergency C-section goes wrong and a baby dies in the delivery room, the mother, Helene Anderson, shows up at Camille's office asking for help. Facing the challenge of a legal system where child-loss verdicts are limited by the dollar value placed on a child's life, Camille considers a quick settlement for the family. But Helene insists: her child's life had value, and Camille needs to prove it in court.Book: UNSHACKLED - A Camille Delaney MysteryShackled to her bed against the pleas of medical staff, Charli Zhao gives birth to a beautiful daughter named Willow. Charli had been transported to the hospital from prison, where she is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. Within hours of the birth the unthinkable happens: the newborn is abducted, leaving Charli devastated and wondering if she'll ever find her child, even after she gets free.https://amandadubois.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 595 - Terry Kirk - Pitfall, Chicago trader Frank Cork navigates the 1929 Market Crash. He's at the top of his game... and then he's notI write historical fiction novels—fast-paced, gritty financial thrillers that delve into real-life cataclysmic events.  Follow my cast of characters through three novels.In Pitfall, Chicago trader Frank Cork navigates the 1929 Market Crash. He's at the top of his game... and then he's not. Can he fight his back to his family, his fortune, and his life? Plunder is coming soon. Frank is dispatched to London at the behest of the President in July 1940 to raise a War Chest. Beset by bombs and politics, he must come up with a plan to finance the costs of America's entry into World War II. So much is riding on Frank's plan.  Probe is up next. Frank's daughter has taken the reins at the firm and helping the cash-starved Martin Company (now Lockheed Martin) launch a response to the Russian sputnik.Follow the Cork family on a rollicking journey through these world-changing financial events and more. Each book will send you reaching for the next in this multi-generational family saga.I have a Juris Doctor (Law) degree and practiced law for more than a decade. There is no better way to uncover riveting stories! Later, I migrated to the innovator sector as  Founder & CEO of Funding portal, a fintech platform for helping companies find funding. Recently, I led the sale of the company to a global firm.PITFALL IS FOR SALE ON AMAZON, INDIGO, AND OTHER MAJOR PLATFORMS AND BOOKSTORESPITFALL is Book #1 in my historical fiction series featuring rogue trader Frank Cork. Visit the 'PITFALL' page for a summary, and listen to Chapter 1.  The fast-paced, gritty historical fiction has been named a 'Top Book to Read this Spring' by CBC Reads!Coming Next I  PLUNDER. Beset by bombs and politics, Frank goes to London to build a war chest to fund America's entry into World War II. So much is riding on Frank's success! Visit the 'PLUNDER' page to learn more.https://terrykirkbooks.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 594 - Dr. Arthor L Faber - Effective - Seven Keys to Christian Leadership SuccessDr. Arthor L. Faber is an Oral Roberts University graduate with a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership and a master's in Christian Ministry. He is the founder and proprietor of Telos Christian Life and Leadership Coaching, a Christian-based organization specializing in assisting in the future development and formation of tomorrow's leaders in established and grassroots corporations, helping innovative people launch new businesses with a Christian foundation and influence, and defining the overwhelming challenges faced by individuals while assisting in the formation of plans to overcome what's inhibiting their dreams and future success. Previously, he was the founder and chief executive officer of Platinum Business Enterprises in Long Island, New York, leading the company in offering over 500,00 natives within the region in urban hair care and beauty supplies since 1997. Dr. Faber is currently the founder and Pastor of Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in Aquebogue, NY, serving since 2014.Any inquiries or assistance toward your goals are welcome, as the way to make better Christian leaders and businesspeople for the future is to share what was once shared with us.Book: Effective! Seven Keys to Christian Leadership SuccessIn every facet of society, we encounter leaders-individuals in positions to guide and influence others for the greater good. Leaders can be found in schools, government, entertainment, sports, homes, and churches. While leaders deserve to be admired and respected for their roles, many have recently fallen short of our expectations, failing to embody the qualities we want our children to emulate. This disillusionment comes from witnessing failures, including those among leaders of our families and churches, where self-indulgence and greed have become prevalent. The pressing question is: what has led to this breakdown in leadership, and how can we address it?**EFFECTIVE!** by Dr. Arthor L. Faber directly identifies the problem of leadership failure and its roots, while proposing solutions. Through analysis of case studies and testimonies from leaders, the book highlights that many leadership challenges stem from inadequate preparation. Faber outlines seven "keys" to success for Christian leaders: PRAYER, FAITH, INTEGRITY, VISION, WISDOM, STEWARDSHIP, and AGAPE LOVE. Each key is defined, connected to biblical principles, and illustrated with personal insights from the author. Whether you are beginning your leadership journey, currently leading, or shaping future leaders, **EFFECTIVE!** serves as a vital resource. By applying its principles, the possibility of failure diminishes, allowing the vision of success as a Christian leader to become their reality. God calls us to be EFFECTIVE! With this guidebook, effective leadership is just a read away.https://arthorlfaber.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 593 - Richard Carson - The Book of Change, A Guide to manage organizational change in the workplaceRichard H. Carson's 40-year career includes being a practicing executive manager, organizational consultant, and research university academic. The latter was spent doing doctorate level research at a “Tier One” research university (Washington State University) in organizational psychology. For the first 30 years he worked as a senior executive manager and as a policy analyst, on economic and environmental issues, to three Oregon governors. He then spent the next 10 years as a change management consultant for a national management company. He worked helping both profit and non-profit organizations become more performance efficient and cost-effective.This experience resulted in his creating the PSOCM process model to achieve organizational change management. This also resulted in his founding the firm of Carson & Associates in 2018.The firm now provides services such as organizational change management, strategic planning, and executive coaching exclusively to individuals and organizations.Carson brings fresh new thinking to the process of organizational change management (OCM).Step-by-Step Guide to make Organizational Change Management The Book of Change is both a cutting-edge, meta-analysis model and a resource publication where the reader can learn about the change management process. You can learn about the history, terminology, institutions and current thinking regarding the topic. Much of the publication is built on the thinking of others who have been or are contributing to the field.The Book of Change is the first and only doctorate level, systematic meta-analysis of the seven decades of both the historical and the published organizational change management models. The book presents a comprehensive model that combines the best attributes of the various change management models that have been created in the last 75 years. One of the more unique and appealing aspects of the book is its readability, as in non-academic and non-metaphysical, in terms of explaining what needs to be done.https://www.bookofchange.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 592 - Joe McClean - Screenwriter, Author and Director - Putting Yourself Out There and Into Your Story, That is Where the Opportunity LiesJoe made a bunch of short films and one feature length movie with friends and no money. To this day, I enjoy watching those early attempts to craft a story, but essentially this era of on-the-job-training was my film school. Now it was time to take my first big swing. I wrote a script I felt I could raise enough money to shoot myself, a found-footage film, and I spent a year begging for cash and favors. The star of a hit TV show, who had gone to the same high school as me, graciously agreed to act in it. An NBA player made a small investment. Actor, comedian, and Late Show with David Letterman regular, Jay Thomas agreed to make a cameo. The snowball was growing and eventually I scraped together enough cash to direct Life Tracker. The movie played over 20 science fiction conventions and got a digital distribution deal with Charter Communications (now Spectrum) and streamed into millions of American homes.Life Tracker Great! Now I needed a follow up to prove that my work ethic couldn't be mistaken for beginner's luck.​ Taking advantage of a group of talented actor friends and another who owned property outside of Fresno, I wrote and directed a super-low-budget homage to The Big Chill called The Drama Club which can currently be seen on Tubi.The Drama Club Looking back from that point, I could see the years of work I'd put in. Meeting people. Working with casts and crews. Going on adventures together. taking risks and building trust. Jobs started to fall into place. I signed my first manager. I joined the Writers Guild of America. I pitched big shot producers at legacy studios and powerhouse production companies. Always searching for that next opportunity. That's when I met Blair Underwood. A business lunch turned into an attachment (and a friendship), and soon I was hitting up everyone I'd ever done business with to see who wanted to join the team.Viral was written and produced by me, it's directed by and stars Blair, and he shares the screen with Sarah Silverman, Jeanine Mason, and the incomparable Alfre Woodard! The movie is finished and we're actively working with our sales team to bring it to audiences.In the mean time, I'm working with Amistad (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing) on a two-book deal titled Sins of Survivors about the plight of a family who lived in the once vital African American neighborhood of Black Bottom in 1930s and 40s Detroit. The first book is currently available everywhere books are sold, and the second hits shelves in the summer of 2026... So, go to your local bookstore's website get your copy!Why "Ginger Beard," you ask? My wife's maiden name is "Beard," and when our son was born he had a reddish tint to his hair. So, my company is named after my son, my "Ginger Beard"... It's only a bonus that I have red facial hair.https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-mcclean-6668b018https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565697/https://www.gingerbeardfilms.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 591 - Francene Gillis - Where Did i Go - A Memoir Plus, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury MTBIFrancene Gillis, author/consultant/educator/advocate, has been a writer her whole life, starting at the age of five with a writing contest created by her teacher at Port Hood Consolidated, Mother St. Magdalene. Fifty years later, she is still writing in multiple genres, both fiction and nonfiction for a variety of audiences. She devoured books in the school library and putting words to paper became therapeutic when life's tragedies hit. She discovered that her writing could speak for those in pain. Experiencing the devastating loss of loved ones, much of her first writings involved themes of inspiration, loss, overcoming adversity, and sharing her feelings with others so they would not feel alone. She started writing poetry as a teen and giving it to grieving friends, or as tributes to community members. She majored in English at St. Francis Xavier University, continued with a BEd, and obtained a master's in education in Multiculturalism, Administration & Leadership. A community activist, she writes advocacy pieces, such as those gathered in her book, A Rose in November and in her regular column for the Inverness Oran.Her latest book, Where Did i Go? A Memoir Plus, will launch June 2025, partner published by OC Publishing. It was written after her career as a high school English teacher came to an unexpected, painful end in 2016 due to a slip and fall on black ice on her way to work that caused mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Except for educational purposes, Francene has always lived in Port Hood on the coast of Cape Breton, NS. with the ocean at her backdoor.https://www.francenegillis.ca/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 590 - Cedric Muhikira - Libaax - Grow Your Roots Where You Land, Finding Your Footing in a Foreign LandCedric Mu is a storyteller whose roots lie in migration, identity, and the search for belonging. Born into a world where stories were cherished like family heirlooms, Cedric grew up immersed in tales that spanned generations and geographies, stories of home, displacement, and resilience. These narratives inspired a lifelong passion for capturing the essence of the human experience—especially the delicate balance of living between cultures.With Grow Your Roots Where You Land, Cedric brings to life the poignant journey of Ayaan, a Somali immigrant who arrives in Detroit with nothing but dreams of a better life. Infused with cultural authenticity, Cedric's writing blends Somali traditions with American urban life, celebrating both the joy and pain of building a new identity in a foreign land. Through the rhythms of Somali qaraami music and the electrifying pulse of Detroit's techno beats, Cedric tells a story that resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds.As a self-taught writer, Cedric's path to authorship has been shaped by listening to the experiences of immigrants and those grappling with identity, with a deep commitment to honoring both Somali and American traditions. A writer with a storyteller's heart, Cedric invites readers to explore the transformative power of becoming and growing roots wherever life takes them.https://cedricmuhikira.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 589 - Chris Castanes - Do You Need Some Sales Motivation - You're Going To Be Great At ThisChris Castanes is a humorous sales speaker who can be a great fit for your next event, meeting or conference.Book - “Nearly Motivated”. Filled with examples and more humorous “Dumb Stories”, the author offers more insights on how to find prospects, handle a sales meeting, closing a deal and other pieces of information to those in sales, as well as business owners and “self employed” people.Book - “You're Going To Be Great At This: A Sales Memoir”A short, irreverent book that gives the good, bad and ugly of a career in selling. This is the little book on sales you'll wish you had when you started!Chronicling a career in sales from childhood to present day, “You're Going To Be Great At This!” describes the good, bad, great and crazy in the world of sales.Do you want to get your message to the masses?Wouldn't you like to know how to make a networking event work efficiently for you?Do you need help keeping your head in the game?How is selling like dating?https://www.chriscastanes.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 588 - A O Wagner - The Karma Kantata - Thoughtful Suspense with Societal, Technological, and Spiritual Significance, Sobriety and Self-IdentityAbout the AuthorA. O. Wagner is an author whose personal journey through addiction and spiritual awakening influences his writing. While embracing a healthy life as a non-drinking alcoholic, he uses his transformative experiences to shape his work. With a background in technology and a strong interest in philosophy and spirituality, Wagner creates stories that combine deep thinking with personal growth. He hopes his books resonate with readers who are searching for a deeper understanding of life and their place in the universe.Genre: Intellectual Mystery, Spiritual/Philosophical FictionWhat if your genes know more about your future than you can imagine?Dan, an introverted computer genius, has fought his way back from a life-shattering crisis that left him isolated, powerless, battling addiction, and close to death. Now, he is asked to investigate a computer system for gene analysis, the very one he developed. On its own it has started predicting the exact date on which the analyzed people will die.Several deaths confirm the system's predictions.As Dan searches for answers, he embarks on a personal journey of finding new purpose and helping others face and recover from the addiction that once consumed him.The Karma Sequence is a thrilling novel of high-tech suspense that follows a young man's incredible journey to find himself and the meaning of life while unraveling an ominous mystery that directly affects the future of every human being. With its gripping plot and captivating characters, this story will keep you hooked until the very last page while offering a profound model for understanding life's purpose and the deeper meaning of existence.https://prbythebook.com/experts/a-o-wagner/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 587 - Tony Berryman - Mysteries and massage therapy thrillers, written two fingers at a timeTony writes mysteries and thrillers, two fingers at a time. His first massage therapy thriller, The Night Nurse, was published in 2020. His second, On Borrowed Time, is due out June 1.Tony spent 17 years as a registered massage therapist in Vancouver and now works for Parks Canada. When he's not making a paycheque or writing books, he can be found hiking and paddling the Columbia Valley or trying out new recipes on unsuspecting guests.Tony also co-writes with Juanita Rose Violini, his life partner and murder mystery plots expert, under the pen name Trigger Jones. Trigger's first two sci fi adventure books,Gravity Doesn't Lie and Atmosphere Meltdown, are available now. The first book in their time travel treasure hunt series will be out soon.https://tonyberryman.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

EPISODE 586 - Noël Stark - Steamy, Sassy, Smart Romance - Love, Camera, ActionAbout Noël StarkLOVE, CAMERA, ACTION is Noël Stark's debut novel. She's worked in almost every position in the Film/TV industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Although she's Canadian, she lives in L.A. with her young son, desperately missing winter. She likes chocolate milk in her coffee and gets most of her real world intel from her three step kids.Love, Camera, ActionUp-and-coming TV director Cali Daniels knows sex. Well, okay, she knows how to shoot sex scenes, and she's been hired to direct a highly anticipated steamy episode of the popular series The Demon. This job is her chance at a big-time career in the film and television industry—all she has to do is deliver an unparalleled show using her hard-knocks know-how and ample creativity.If only the director of photography—effortlessly sexy Jory Blair—would stop shutting her ideas down at every turn. Jory has spent years cultivating his career as an A-list director of photography, but a recent health scare has him rethinking his life and craving the director spot. Now this creative newbie, who he can't get out of his mind, wants to change the look of his show. Even worse, the friction between them is sparking into blistering chemistry.As collaborating takes on a whole new meaning, and the show's producer not-so-subtly suggests that Jory sabotage Cali in order to achieve his own goals, they'll have to decide if chasing their dream jobs is worth losing the dream of a future together. Fans of How to Fake It in Hollywood and Plot Twist will devour this steamy, enemies to lovers, workplace, debut romance.https://www.noelstark.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 585 - Ciara Blume - Natural Magic - A murder, a mystery, and a not-so-overactive imagination Ciara is a multi award-winning and bestselling author who creates uplifting, humorous, and occasionally magical fiction about women facing challenges and finding ways to reclaim their magic.Living on the picturesque California coast, she draws inspiration from nature and her wild imagination. A mother of four with a taste for travel and adventure, she is also an avid (if overly ambitious) crafter. When not immersed in writing, she enjoys scrolling through adorable pet photos and home organization videos – especially when procrastinating on a deadline.Follow Ciaran's stories and gain early access to works in progress by signing up for the newsletter.The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural MagicThe Witches Catalogue of Wanderlust Essentials The LitLovers Series and morehttps://ciarablume.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 584 - Albert Bramante - Rise Above The Script, Confronting Self Doubt and Mastering Self Sabotage for Performing ArtistsAbout Albert Bramante"Veteran talent agent and no-nonsense coach inspiring actors to cultivate a growth mindset, conscientiousness, and rise above self-sabotaging habits."Dr. Bramante is a true triple-threat when it comes to empowering performers to overcome psychological roadblocks and achieve success. As a veteran talent agent with over 20 years of securing major roles for actors, he has unparalleled insights into the entertainment industry's challenges. However, Bramante's real superpower is his unique fusion of this experience with a Ph.D. in Psychology and certifications in hypnosis and NLP.This rare combination allows him to provide your audience with a credible expert perspective on the mindset and psychology of peak performance for artists. Bramante doesn't just understand the pressures of the acting world - he can prescribe proven psychological strategies to help performers break through self-doubt, imposter syndrome, fear of success, and self-sabotaging patterns.Your listeners will gain exclusive access to Bramante's psychological toolkit tailored specifically for the creative struggles actors face. With knowledge translated into practical exercises, they'll learn to adopt empowering mindsets, productive habits, and silence self-limiting beliefs.Book: Rise Above the Script: Confronting Self Doubt and Mastering Self Sabotage for Performing ArtistsWe all hold dreams within, yearning to manifest our highest potential. Yet when opportunity arises, inner obstacles often trigger self-sabotage. What mental traps prevent actualizing our possibilities?In Rise Above the Script, psychologist and talent agent Dr. Albert Bramante unravels the hidden drivers behind self-defeat. By strengthening self-belief, managing motivation, optimizing natural talents, and confronting deep-seated fears like failure and success that distort our path, we clear the way for actualizing dormant gifts.Dr. Bramante integrates scientific research on peak performance with insights gained through guiding actors' careers. Practical strategies help construct unshakable confidence and self-efficacy. Examining personality traits in the Big Five model highlights maximizing strengths while overcoming weaknesses. Confronting fears of rejection, change, isolation, and other roadblocks paves the way for boldly pursuing aspirations.Rise Above the Script provides the mental toolkit for recognizing and breaking free of limiting patterns holding you back. Its wisdom applies equally to artists, entrepreneurs, students, parents—anyone feeling the friction between their ambition and their achievement.https://albertbramante.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca