Living The Next Chapter: Authors Share Their Journey

EPISODE 741 - Anne Beall - The Compassionate Writer - Find Your Voice, Enhance Your Story and Touch LivesIn this episode, author and social psychologist Anne Beall invites listeners into a life shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a deep belief that every person has a story worth telling. She shares how her path from research psychology into the business world and, eventually, into full time writing and literary editing grew out of a desire to understand people more fully and communicate with them more effectively. That journey includes founding and running a market research company for over two decades, selling it, and then dedicating herself to writing books and leading the Chicago Story Press Literary Journal, which focuses on meaningful, insight rich creative nonfiction.Anne describes how her lifelong love of animals led to exploring the emotional intelligence and depth of connection possible between humans and other species. From service llamas who intuitively comfort residents in assisted living to a pig that can identify English words on a soundboard, she recounts stories that challenge our assumptions about animal awareness and underline her conviction that many beings understand us in ways we barely recognize. Those experiences informed her book about heartfelt connections with animals and reinforced her broader commitment to writing about relationships, empathy, and unseen emotional bonds.At the heart of the conversation is Anne's book about compassionate writing and her belief that good storytelling requires a nuanced view of human nature. Instead of dividing people into heroes and villains, she argues that powerful writing reveals everyone as flawed, complex, and deeply human. She explores the difference and overlap between empathy and compassion, suggesting that compassion is not just a feeling but an action: the deliberate effort to understand why people behave as they do, including ourselves. By looking at life's painful or confusing events through a compassionate lens, writers can find meaning in their experiences and translate that understanding onto the page in ways that help readers see themselves more clearly and judge themselves less harshly.Drawing on her role as an editor, Anne talks about what makes a story a good fit for a literary journal, why certain themes become overrepresented, and how even strong work can be rejected for reasons beyond an author's control. She emphasizes persistence, the value of revisiting and strengthening work after repeated rejections, and the reality that numbers and timing often shape publication outcomes as much as quality. Throughout, she returns to the idea that emotional resonance matters most: writers and readers are both seeking stories that illuminate life, particularly around loss, family, identity, and the moments that change us.Anne also speaks directly to listeners who may not see themselves as writers. She encourages anyone who journals or reflects on their life to view those pages as meaningful work that can bring healing and clarity, especially when approached with self compassion. Key takeaway: You are worthy of your story. Approaching your life and your writing with compassion – for yourself, your characters, and your readers – can turn painful or confusing experiences into meaningful narratives that touch lives, including your own.https://annebeall.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 740 - Carter Vance - A story of living, loving and growing up on Canada's Parliament HillIn this engaging episode, author Carter Vance shares his writing journey with host Dave, connecting as fellow Canadians. Originally from the small town of Cobourg, Ontario—famous for its literal Big Apple roadside sculpture and summer beach—Carter credits a high school teacher's encouragement for launching his creative path. She connected him with local cafe owners for poetry readings, sparking his early involvement in plays, school magazines, and submissions to prestigious outlets like Arc Poetry Magazine, which offered a mentorship that honed his skills in audience focus, form, and resilience against rejections.Reflecting on advice he'd give his younger self, Carter emphasizes demystifying publishing, treating writing like a disciplined job—as Stephen King advocates with daily hours—and clarifying one's unique "why" amid abundant content. Creative writing, for him, captures intangible life moments and fosters empathy by letting readers inhabit others' minds, unlike film or music. His diverse career, including policy work in Canada, the UK, Indonesia, and Parliament (as a House leader staffer from 2015-2019 and Senate role), humanized politicians as flawed individuals, revealing unexpected alliances, young staffers' influence, and information's power in decision-making.Carter's debut novel, Smaller Animals (released November), draws from these experiences, following young Canadian political staffers' relationships and growth amid power dynamics—"smaller animals" behind the spotlight. Comparable to Arthur Phillips' Prague, Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, or Sally Rooney's works, it appeals to politics enthusiasts and character-driven readers alike, requiring no deep parliamentary knowledge. He discusses staff autonomy, grunt work evolving to info control, and hopes readers connect personally while gaining insights into unseen influencers.Amid recent Canadian tragedies, Carter finds hope in political maturity, rising public engagement, and openness to change. Upcoming: a short story in Plentitude magazine, more writing, and ideas like a Berlin Wall saga. Key Takeaway: Writing thrives on encouragement, discipline, and authentic voice—craft stories that build empathy and unique perspectives, turning personal experiences into shared connections.https://cartervance.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 739 - J. Bellante Ward - The Wyrd of Skulda Discover Norns, the three legendary females who control timeIn this engaging episode of Living The Next Chapter, host Dave welcomes debut fantasy author J. Bellante Ward, a dental hygienist from Virginia originally from Maryland, who stumbled into writing after a coworker praised her knack for words in a simple professional email. Nervous but thrilled for her first podcast appearance, J. shares how she penned her Norse mythology-inspired series in just two months, embracing her "pantser" style where the plot unfolded organically through character journeys rather than rigid outlines. She discusses battling impatience for instant gratification, learning not to chase perfection—since human imperfections make stories relatable and distinct from AI-generated content—and finding her authentic voice about a quarter into the manuscript, shifting to a more confident tone.J. dives into her series' core: three Norns controlling past, present, and future, reimagined in a world without cell phones or modern tech to emphasize raw human connections and epic quests. Book one follows Bren, the Norn of the future from a dark kingdom, on a self-discovery path amid romance, "smut," and battles against an evil king seeking to dominate the realms via the tree of life. Unplanned characters like Bren's sarcastic best friend stole her heart, earning future books, while part one builds the world lightly and part two accelerates into non-stop action. She credits advice from patients and fellow authors, like writing the ending at 80% to race smoothly to the finish, and cut filler for a lean, approachable read even for fantasy newcomers.​Marketing challenges surface too: J. finds social media inauthentic and mentally draining, preferring genuine conversations like this interview over forced videos, and pitches her elf-and-mythology tale proudly despite adult awkwardness. A vivid reading from chapter three paints a terrifying swamp creature encounter, drawing from head-to-toe details inspired by quirky YouTube like Salad Fingers. Her real "moment" came from a stranger's glowing review, not pre-sales from supporters. Looking ahead, book two launches soon, with Instagram and Facebook as key follows.​Key Takeaway: Embrace your creative flow without perfectionism—human flaws and organic storytelling connect deepest with readers, proving anyone can birth a world from a spark.https://www.instagram.com/j.bella.ward.writes/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 738 - Lalitha Ramanathan -  Parenting Unplugged and Kanmani and Co - Five Friends and a Cat Tackle the WorldIn a different lifetime, I worked in Finance, burying myself in MS Excel sheets. One day, I rekindled my passion for writing, and Excel paved way for Word, and my life has never been the same again.Writing is my oxygen, and I write every single day. Over time, I have amassed millions of words, through stories that encapsulate bits of my soul. My favourite topics include parenting, fiction, children's stories, and any place where there is scope to insert a pinch of humour. Now that you are here, wondering what to read?My stories have found a place in some anthologies. Here, you can find the collections in which my works feature, as well as a sneak peek into my upcoming publications.https://lalitharamanathan.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 737 - Ben Schenkman - Challenging readers' conventional thinking and the complexities of moral dilemmasIn this engaging conversation, author and voice actor Ben Schenkman returns to chat about his creative journey, his latest release My Brother's Keeper, and the many realities of being an independent author in today's publishing landscape.Ben opens with a personal story about his family's love of vintage guitars—a nod to his musical roots and his identical twin brother's collection connected to their Woodstock‐era mother. From there, the conversation evolves into one of the most honest explorations of indie author marketing you'll hear. Ben breaks down what really works when promoting your books and what doesn't, drawing from firsthand experience running Facebook, Amazon, and BookBub ads. His message is simple and refreshing: books sell books, and advertising a single title rarely pays off until an author has multiple works available.Ben shares practical, field‑tested advice inspired by David Gaughran's “Demystifying Facebook Ads” series, explaining why Facebook remains one of the few ad platforms that can still produce results—if authors learn to take control and target the right readers. He then contrasts ads with BookBub Featured Deals, describing how well-timed offers can create lasting exposure, especially for multi‑book series. But long before any ads go live, he emphasizes, authors must focus on collecting authentic reviews, not just from friends and family but from real readers whose balanced feedback adds legitimacy.The heart of the episode revolves around My Brother's Keeper, the darkly magical first installment in The Cycle of Ash. Set in an alternate New Haven, Connecticut, the story blends Jewish mysticism, urban fantasy, and noir detective grit. Private investigator Max Asher returns home to bury his twin brother—and quickly discovers the death may not be what it seems. The novel's emotional depth, grounded world‑building, and spiritual underpinnings reflect Ben's personal connection to his Jewish heritage and his lived experiences as a twin.Ben also pulls back the curtain on his creative process—how he uses beat sheets from Save the Cat Writes a Novel to manage pacing, why reader feedback matters more than formulas, and why no story can satisfy every audience. For aspiring writers, his candor is invaluable: embrace imperfection, learn your genre, and write with emotional truth.As the episode wraps, Ben looks ahead to the March 30 release of My Brother's Keeper and a virtual launch celebration with the Fantasy & Sci‑Fi Fanatics podcast in early April. He also reminds fellow creators to celebrate every milestone—whether it's finishing a first draft or earning that first genuine review—and to recognize that publishing any book is an extraordinary achievement.Key Takeaway:Success as an indie author isn't about chasing algorithms or outsmarting ad platforms; it's about writing honest stories, connecting with real readers, and valuing progress at every stage of the creative journey.https://benschenkman.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 736 - Shymara Medina - Proud Puerto Rican children's book author, is passionate about storytelling that uplifts and inspires young mindsIn this episode, Shymara Medina shares the story behind her journey as a proud Puerto Rican children's book author and the inspiration that shapes her storytelling. She talks about how her life in Georgia, her family, and her everyday experiences became the foundation for books that encourage, educate, and uplift young readers. Show notes often work best when they offer a short, engaging summary that gives listeners a clear sense of the episode's focus and value.A major thread in the conversation is her family's beekeeping life and how that world sparked the idea for Zeke becomes a beekeeper. Shymara explains what she has learned through beekeeper associations, monthly meetings, and hands-on care for their hives, while also showing how bees became more than a topic and turned into a meaningful teaching tool for children. She connects bee safety, responsibility, nature, honey, and the role bees play in a family business to lessons young readers can understand and remember.She also reflects on writing Zeke's quest for courage, a story built around her son's struggles with spelling and the encouragement her family wanted to give him. The book blends story, spelling practice, and comprehension in a way that makes learning feel fun and personal. Shymara shares how seeing children respond to the book, especially during school visits, confirmed for her that stories can help kids feel capable and supported.The episode also explores the realities of self-publishing, finding the right illustrator, protecting creative ownership, and using real life as inspiration for children's books. Shymara offers insight into writing with intention, choosing collaborators carefully, and staying open to growth as an author. She closes with plans for a bilingual book and a young adult project, showing that her creativity is still expanding.Key takeaway: Shymara's work is rooted in the belief that children need stories that reflect real life, build confidence, and remind them that their voices matter.https://www.instagram.com/shymara_medina/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 735 - Alison McBain - Do something creative every day, The New Empire - A  journey of self-discovery has a steep priceIn this episode of Living The Next Chapter, host Dave welcomes Alison McBain, a prolific Canadian author based near Edmonton, Alberta. With a dual American-Canadian heritage, Alison shares her journey from growing up in the States to returning home three years ago, embracing the region's chilly winters now softened by a rare heat wave. She dives into the golden age of publishing, where endless options overwhelm new authors, urging them to ignore the noise, write their stories relentlessly, and persevere through rejections—since that's the true divide between published and unpublished writers.Alison reveals how she discovered her versatile voice by writing prolifically across genres, embracing failures publicly for accountability, and drawing from life's odd jobs and family chaos, like raising three kids. Writing is her passion, akin to breathing; she gets lost in it for hours, reads voraciously from history to fantasy, and rejects "write what you know" for "write what you love," crafting relatable characters in wild scenarios—from spaceships to dragons. She champions individual human experiences over AI's generic output, confident creativity remains our domain.Highlights include her award-winning alternate history The New Empire, inspired by speculative Chinese voyages to 14th-century Americas, exploring a slave boy's coming-of-age amid empire-building. Other gems: a romance born from her nightmare house renovation (now a streaming e-book), the collaborative fantasy anthology Enchantress of Books, and a gender-flipped Beauty and the Beast YA tale challenging power dynamics and beauty standards. In 2024's bold "Author vs. AI" challenge, she penned 34 first drafts across genres like Western and horror—now polishing for release—proving genre-hopping builds loyal readers if stories resonate.Media buzz from CBC and City News followed, fueled by her human-centric ethos. Alison battles imposter syndrome healthily, cherishes reader connections over unnoticed details, and crafts complex villains for narrative drive. Her motto: Do something creative daily, from writing to music.Key Takeaway: Everyone has a story worth telling—shut out distractions, write with passion and perseverance, and let relatable characters connect you to readers who'll cherish your unique voice.https://www.alisonmcbain.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 734 - Jordan Gray - The Infinite Night Book 1 - The Happy Marauder Perfect BoundIn this episode of Living The Next Chapter, author Jordan Gray shares his unconventional path to publishing hard science fiction novels, born from boredom during long shifts in the Air Force, industrial jobs, and escorting oversize loads as a pilot car operator. Starting as a middle school detention escape—scribbling paragraphs to pass time—his writing evolved into a sanity-preservation tool amid monotonous tasks like fueling planes or waiting on remote job sites. Dyslexic and self-admittedly "built wrong," Jordan rejects rigid structures like Save the Cat, favoring chaotic "insane ramblings" and adventure logs that let unpredictable characters drive the story.His debut manuscript ballooned from one book into four, as he refused to truncate lives unjustly, hitting the 80,000-120,000 word sweet spot intuitively before declaring, "That's a break." Drawing from blue-collar grit—balancing cargo, risks, and frustrations in hazardous space settings—Jordan crafts relatable "idiots" facing daily struggles like bad public transit or food scarcity, even in a far-future universe where Earth is myth. He obsesses over authentic tech and personalities, hating some characters yet probing their "why," while infusing blue-collar humor that's twisted enough to warn off kids. Promotion means donning DIY spacesuits from motorcycle gear and paintball pads, thrilling fans at conventions who crave his competent, survivalist crews.Editing relies on pros to fix dyslexia hiccups (he accepts 98% of changes), and covers came alive via Canadian artist Jeff Brown, who sketched live on Zoom using Jordan's padlock-inspired alien weapon—forged from scrap metal, duct tape prototypes, and a welder friend's beer-fueled lessons. Inspired by Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force, he aims for annual October releases, prioritizing audiobooks amid fan demands, while building a website with glossaries, signed stores, and event schedules. Community support—from deployment buddies to bookstore cold-calls—fuels him, turning survival scribbles into full-circle joy.Key Takeaway: Follow your dreams as a survival strategy—whether in boredom or chaos—by embracing your unique process, building community, and making time for fun amid responsibilitieshttps://theinfinitenightbooks.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 733 - Joel Steele - Life Switch - How to Experience the Power of Living ON by Discovering Your Potential, Passion, and PurposeJoel Steele joins the conversation to explore the journey behind his book Life Switch—a project rooted in the idea that anyone can learn to “flip the switch” from living an ordinary life to an extraordinary one. Speaking from his home in southern New Jersey, Joel blends real-life stories, raw honesty, and practical lessons that challenge listeners to rethink how they approach success, failure, and personal growth.Joel's message begins with a simple but crucial insight for aspiring authors: a great book alone isn't enough. Without an audience or a network, even a life-changing message risks being unheard. He reflects on his own experience of releasing a well-received book without first building a following, encouraging new writers to spend just as much time creating relationships as they do crafting their manuscripts.From there, Joel dives deep into the personal transformation that birthed Life Switch. Once describing himself as “average to below average in everything,” he shares the moment he decided to redefine his limitations. Asking the question “Why can't I?” became the catalyst for achieving one goal after another. He calls this awakening the moment he turned his life switch “on.” By visualizing his goals, writing them down, and pursuing them with commitment, he proved that seeing is believing—and believing is achieving.At the heart of his philosophy are the “Three P's”: Potential, Passion, and Purpose. Potential reminds us that our capability is limitless, expanding each time we push past old boundaries. Passion fuels that drive, offering the excitement and energy that makes hard work feel meaningful. And Purpose serves as our personal GPS—without it, Joel says, we're simply driving in circles. Together, these principles form the backbone of the Life Switch mindset.Joel shares compelling personal stories, including the cautionary lessons from a risky real estate partnership that turned into a test of responsibility and resilience. He reflects on how taking ownership—rather than placing blame—was the difference between financial ruin and recovery. These lessons reinforce his core belief that setbacks are not dead ends but raw material for future success.Throughout the discussion, Joel speaks directly to anyone at a crossroads: graduates, career changers, or those rebuilding after loss. He invites listeners to visualize their lives like a puzzle—every piece is already within reach; it just needs to be arranged with clarity and persistence. And he reminds us that fulfillment doesn't come from perfection but from progress and self-honesty.Joel's Life Switch mission extends beyond personal empowerment. With a pledge to donate one million dollars to charity when the book reaches one million sales, he demonstrates his belief that success means more when it serves others. Each purchase, he notes, becomes part of that larger purpose.Key Takeaway: Life doesn't change by accident—it changes when you decide to live “on.” By embracing your potential, fueling it with passion, defining your purpose, and acting with accountability, you can turn every struggle into a stepping stone toward the extraordinary life you were meant to live.https://bookjoelsteele.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 732 - Rich Lyons - Life Is Sales, sales mastery includes self awareness and embracing the unknownIn this episode, Dave welcomes Rich Lyons, author of Life of Sales, entrepreneur, and former CEO of Lyons Consulting Group. From escaping the Chicago winter for the warmth of Zihuatanejo to reflecting on a career rich with lessons in integrity, leadership, and purpose, Rich shares an intimate look at his personal and professional evolution.Now an author, speaker, and mentor, Rich discusses the twenty-year journey behind his book Life of Sales—a title that grew from a simple domain name idea into a full reflection on human connection, business growth, and the belief that everyone, in some way, is selling. Whether it's convincing a client, inspiring a colleague, or encouraging a child, Lyons sees “sales” not as persuasion but as service. He emphasizes patience, persistence, and the willingness to ask good questions and truly listen.Drawing on his background as an engineer turned entrepreneur, Rich recounts how he built a leading e-commerce consulting firm from the ground up. His leadership philosophy centered on culture—creating an environment where both employees and clients thrived. He tells a striking story about offering an unconditional money-back guarantee early in his company's history, a bold decision that nearly cost him financially but ultimately defined the company's reputation for trust and integrity.Throughout the conversation, Rich touches on the changing world of sales in an AI-driven era, highlighting that while tools evolve, the fundamentals remain: authentic relationships, attentive communication, and ethical decision-making. He explores emotional intelligence in business, reminding listeners that awareness of fear, trust, and empathy transforms not only how we serve customers but how teams connect with one another.Lyons also offers insight into leadership development and his focus on helping entrepreneurs grow as transformational leaders. His upcoming book, Business Is Culture, will expand on building purposeful organizations from the inside out—starting with personal awareness and alignment between values and actions.Listeners will find wisdom in Rich's calm, clear perspective on leadership, growth, and conscious success, as well as his ability to redefine what “sales” truly means in work and in life.Key takeaway: True sales is service. When you lead with awareness, empathy, and integrity, you don't just sell—you build trust, culture, and connection that endure.https://www.lifeissales.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 731 - Lance Hillsinger - Child Welfare Social Worker to Author - Navigating Legal Documents to AuthorshipIn this thoughtful episode, author and retired social worker Lance Hilzinger joins us from San Luis Obispo, California, to reflect on a lifetime of service in the child welfare system and his journey into writing. With three decades of experience advocating for children and families in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo Counties, Lance offers a candid look behind the courtroom doors of juvenile and foster care cases. He shares how both frustration and hope became the foundation for his writing, leading to several books that examine social policy, history, and faith.Lance began his career with a master's degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University before realizing that academia wasn't his calling. A twist of fate led him to a social work position where he found his true purpose—helping families heal, understanding parents struggling with addiction, and advocating for vulnerable children. Over the years, he witnessed the evolution of the foster care system, including new programs supporting youth up to age twenty‑one, and the ongoing challenges of poverty, substance abuse, and a shortage of foster homes.Discussing his writing, Lance explains how technical report writing in court shaped his clear, factual, and concise storytelling style. His first book captured the evolution—both progress and pitfalls—of child welfare practices, inspiring readers to consider becoming foster parents or court advocates. Later works broadened his focus: “Build a Better Bridge: Social Policy for the Twenty‑First Century” revisits America's War on Poverty, calling for smarter, long‑lasting solutions to chronic social issues, while “Beyond Amelia: Lesser Known Women of Yesteryear” celebrates unsung female pioneers in science, leadership, and exploration. His newest book, “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: A Court Investigator Examines the Gospels,” blends logical analysis and faith, exploring timeless biblical truths through a modern lens.Lance also shares his experiences with publishing—its rewards, challenges, and lessons learned about contracts, editing, and choosing the right partner. Throughout the conversation, he returns to one unshakable theme: the importance of compassion, honesty, and consistency, whether in social work, writing, or personal faith. He reminds listeners that real change happens slowly but meaningfully, through persistence and integrity.Key Takeaway:Lance Hilzinger's story is a testament to serving others with empathy and endurance. Whether guiding a family through hardship or crafting a book that bridges understanding, his work invites us to believe that steady, thoughtful effort can make systems—and lives—better.https://www.lancehillsinger.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 730 - Dale L. Sproule - Gods of the New Wilderness Series that blends philosophy, AI, and mythAuthor and long-time speculative fiction writer Dale L Sproule joins Dave to explore how the writing and publishing landscape has transformed over the past several decades and what that means for today's authors. Speaking from Toronto, after years on Canada's west coast, Dale reflects on how the shift from traditional print to online and self-publishing has forced writers to take ownership of every stage of the process. Writing, he says, is the fun part; what comes after is learning to assess if a manuscript is truly ready and finding the right people to help you make it better.Dale shares practical, experience-based insights on the value of writers groups, both in person and online. He talks about how hearing your work read aloud exposes awkward phrasing, weak passages and moments that do not ring true, and how feedback must always be weighed against your own vision rather than automatically accepted. In his view, developing as a writer means learning to distinguish between advice that improves your story and suggestions that simply change it.The conversation moves into Dale's varied creative background as a painter, publisher and editor, and how those skills now allow him to manage cover art and book design himself. From there he tackles the tensions around AI in the arts, acknowledging the genuine anxiety in the creative community, especially among visual artists, while also recognizing that some AI-assisted work is producing astonishing, genuinely new forms of expression. Dale's science fiction series, Gods of the New Wilderness, which imagines a world devastated by an immense solar event that wipes out electronic technology. In its aftermath, a biological computer grown in the root network of a forest evolves into a society of sentient trees that rebuild their world using the remnants of human knowledge, mimicking human culture, philosophy and even individual historical figures inside a vast virtual space.At the heart of his story is a deeply human, allegorical conflict: a girl overwhelmed by the flood of information from this forest intelligence learns to communicate through reworked lyrics of long-lost songs, while her powerful, psychopathic sister exploits that knowledge, torturing both sibling and forest to rebuild technology and consolidate control. Dale describes how the AI-like forest becomes the moral center of the tale, gradually developing empathy and emotional awareness, while some of the humans lose theirs, flipping the usual “AI as villain” trope on its head.Dale closes by sharing where listeners can find his work, including his Gods of the New Wilderness series and earlier horror collections, and by reflecting on the urgency he feels, in his seventies, to get long-gestating projects onto the page. Key takeaway: Writing today asks you to be both artist and architect of your own career. Community, careful feedback and ethical clarity around new tools like AI can help you protect your voice, tell more original stories and build worlds that still feel deeply, recognizably human.https://godsofthenewwilderness.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 729 - Melania Murphy - Bound by Love, Not Tradition - Empowering Women Through Married Name ChoicesIn this episode, Melania Murphy joins the show to explore how married name choices can be a powerful act of identity, equality, and intention in modern relationships. Based in Bradenton, Florida, Melania shares how her own family background—growing up in a household with multiple last names—helped spark her curiosity about why women so often drop their names when they marry. With a background in journalism and applied behavioral science, she digs into the history and social forces behind the tradition of women taking their husband's surname, tracing it back to coverture laws in England and the way those norms spread through British colonies into the United States.Melania explains how many people still default to the man's name long after the legal restrictions that once enforced it have been dismantled, and she contrasts this with practices in other countries such as Canada, France, Greece, and Japan, where laws or cultural shifts either limit or reshape married‑name choices. She emphasizes that in the U.S., couples actually have far more options than tradition suggests, including keeping both names, hyphenating, creating a new family name, or even having the husband take the wife's name. Using a framework she calls “SELF”—Significance, Empowerment, Legacy, and Freedom—she invites women to reflect on what their name means to them, how it connects to their ancestry, and how they want to model choice and equality for the next generation.A key takeaway for listeners is that changing or keeping a name should not be an automatic gesture, but an intentional conversation between partners. Melania encourages couples to look beneath surface‑level expectations, examine why a particular name feels important, and consider how their choice will shape their children's sense of identity. She also highlights that names are not permanent markers and that many people, including women after divorce, choose entirely new names to reflect who they have become. By normalizing a wider range of married‑name choices and inviting men to read her work as well, Melania hopes to move cultures toward a future where name decisions are grounded in equality, not inherited power structures.The conversation around identity, marriage, and women's autonomy is growing — and I'm honored to be part of it.Through articles, podcast interviews, and media features, I've had the opportunity to share insights from Bound by Love, Not Tradition and discuss the deeper cultural and personal implications of married name choices.What should you do with your last name at marriage? If you're unsure, you're not alone. In fact, 80% of American women still take their husband's name—even though the law no longer requires it.Whether you're a first- or second-time bride, a relative of a bride, or simply curious, this book gives you a fresh, empowering take on a decision that's both deeply personal and culturally complex.Author Melania Joy Murphy blends history, personal stories, and expert insight to help you explore all your options—keeping your name, changing it, hyphenating, blending, or asking him to take yours.Through her SELF framework—Significance, Empowerment, Legacy, and Freedom—you'll learn how to navigate your decision with confidence and compassion by exploring questions like:What is the significance of your name in your life and personal story?Do you feel empowered to put yourself first and ask for what you want?What legacy do you wish to create with your name?Can you enjoy the freedom to choose what feels right for you?This isn't just about paperwork. It's about identity, relationships, and claiming the space you deserve in your marriage and in society. No shame. No judgment. Just support for choosing what's right for you.https://www.melaniajoy.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 728 - Fran Hawthorne - Journalist and Author of the new novel Her DaughterAuthor and journalist Fran Hawthorne joins the show to discuss her latest novel Her Daughter and the deeply personal and complex themes that run through her work. From snowy New York days to memories of her formative years in California, Fran brings warmth, humor, and candor to a conversation that spans decades of storytelling, from her childhood writing ambitions to her award‑nominated fiction today.Fran shares how Her Daughter—a novel ten years in the making—grew from a spark into a nuanced exploration of parental alienation, a subtle yet devastating form of psychological manipulation within families. She describes how seemingly ordinary conversations can erode trust and self‑belief, showing how emotional control can exist without overt conflict. Her goal, she says, is not only to build empathy and awareness but to speak directly to readers living through similar experiences: “It's not your fault. You're not alone.”Drawing from her background as a journalist, Fran also reflects on her career writing nonfiction about ethics, consumer activism, and the pharmaceutical industry. Her investigative rigor and commitment to getting the details right—right down to smelling the ferns for a forest scene—infuse her fiction with journalistic authenticity and emotional truth. She recounts flying across California for on‑site research, missing flights, and risking cliffside roads, all in pursuit of realism on the page.Throughout the episode, Fran talks about the importance of editing ruthlessly, learning from critique, and being open to rewriting even the most beloved parts of a manuscript. She offers wisdom for writers about flexibility, persistence, and the courage to keep creating through rejection. As she puts it, she's been writing since she was four—and never stopped believing that stories matter.The discussion closes with a glimpse of her next project, a novel centered on sisters and the complicated bonds that shape a lifetime. Like all her work, it continues her fascination with family, ethics, and emotional truth set against vividly researched American backdrops.Key takeaway:Great writing demands both vulnerability and discipline. Fran Hawthorne reminds us that stories born of truth and persistence can open hearts, strengthen empathy, and help readers—and writers—see themselves more clearly.https://www.hawthornewriter.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 727 - Rita Lussier - And Now, Back to Me - When You Dread The Truth of The Empty NestAn award-winning journalist and writer whose column “For the Moment” was a popular feature of The Providence Journal for a dozen years. Her writing has also been featured on National Public Radio, in The Boston Globe, The New York Daily News, and many more. Rita enjoys coaching writers, conducting workshops and has worked as a publicist and editor. She has taught at both the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College. She lives with her husband in Jamestown, Rhode Island where she enjoys running, walking and time with family and friends.And Now, Back to Me — a new book by Rita LussierSomeday, it will come. We know this. But there's life to be lived. Play dates and finger paints. Soccer games and bloody knees. First driver's license and first love. And then, just like that, there it is. The day our last child leaves home and we're left staring into an abyss like nothing in our experience. For so many of us, it's a time in our lives shaken by dread, fear, sadness and the question we thought we'd never have to confront. What now? But the news from the empty nest is far from all bad as we discover in Rita Lussier's memoir, And Now, Back to Me. Her story, as told over 40 chapters, takes us on an emotional roller coaster that is, at once, gut-wrenching and playful, at times seemingly disoriented but ultimately brimming with optimism.https://www.ritalussier.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 726 - Eleanor Vincent - Disconnected, Portrait of a Neurodiverse MarriageAuthor and memoirist Eleanor Vincent joins Dave from her home in the San Francisco Bay Area, reflecting on a life shaped by place, creativity, grief, and late-life love. She traces her journey from snowy Midwestern roots to California, where a long career in journalism taught her the discipline of daily writing and the power of working alongside other writers. That early newsroom experience became the foundation for her later work as a creative writer and memoirist, and she now champions community and “hive energy” as essential antidotes to the loneliness of writing.Eleanor describes how a childhood steeped in books, theater, and nightly reading aloud opened the door to literature and showed her that a life in the arts was possible. Stories became both inspiration and survival tool in an emotionally unstable home, teaching her early on that reading and writing could be forms of healing, escape, and hope. That understanding would prove crucial decades later when tragedy struck.Her first memoir, Swimming with Maya, grew out of the devastating loss of her nineteen-year-old daughter after a horse-riding accident. Rather than simply recording events, she spent a decade shaping her grief into a crafted narrative that others could enter, emphasizing that memoir is an art, not just catharsis. Writing was only one strand of her healing; therapy, spiritual practice, movement, friendship, and time all played vital roles. The book ultimately became both a tribute to Maya's life and a testament to organ donation, showing how her daughter's death helped save and transform other lives.Eleanor's new memoir, Disconnected, reflects a more seasoned writer grappling with a very different kind of heartbreak: a late-life marriage to an undiagnosed autistic partner and the unraveling of that relationship during the pressure cooker of Covid lockdown. She explains how neurodiverse couples often live inside what therapists call the “double empathy problem,” where both partners are trying hard yet neither feels safe or understood. Shutdowns, masking, and associated traits like alexithymia and demand avoidance created a tragic dance of miscommunication that conventional couples therapy could not repair. Ultimately, Eleanor chose to leave the marriage, drawing on hard-won resources and support that many partners in similar situations lack.Throughout the conversation, she returns to her core motivation as a writer: to transform difficult experience into page-turning stories that genuinely help people. Whether writing about child loss, organ donation, or neurodiverse relationships, she aims to give readers language, context, and companionship for situations that can feel isolating and impossible.Key takeaway: Memoir becomes most powerful when it combines emotional truth with craft, transforming raw pain into a story that offers understanding, companionship, and practical hope to others walking through their own seasons of loss, love, and change.https://www.eleanorvincent.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 725 - Veronica Iniguez - Captain and Me at Sea! Sometimes, the greatest mysteries are hidden in plain sightAbout the authorVeronica Iniguez is a debut author, born in the vibrant heart of Mexico and now embracing the desert magic of Arizona. She is a proud mother of six wonderful children. As an educator, she is passionate about inspiring young minds through learning and discovery. When she's not homeschooling her little ones, she's helping other children learn to read and develop a lifelong love of books. This book reflects her passion for storytelling, creativity, and helping children thrive.Book - Captain and Me at Sea! - Captain and Me at Sea! is an adventurous picture book chronicling Captain, a brave pirate, and a feathered companion, Me. Captain and Me are on a mission to navigate the sea to seek a mystery! During their journey, they get themselves into a tangled mess, encounter a scary storm, and then find themselves exhausted. Despite the obstacles, Captain and Me complete their mission, realizing the mystery was their own shadow all along! Captain and Me at Sea! is a story that reminds us that sometimes, the greatest mysteries are hidden in plain sight, waiting to be discovered with open hearts and curious minds.https://www.inispress.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 724 - Ellen Meeropol - Literary Late Bloomer and Author with a Love for Island LifeEllen Meeropol is the author of six novels (Sometimes an Island, The Lost Women of Azalea Court, Her Sister's Tattoo, Kinship of Clover, On Hurricane Island, and House Arrest) and the guest editor for the anthology, Dreams for a Broken World. Her work has been honored by the Sarton Women's Prize, The Women's National Book Association, and the Massachusetts Center for the Book. A literary late bloomer, Ellen Meeropol began seriously writing fiction in her fifties, but her first publications came much earlier. At age twelve, her essay, "I am a Square Dance Orphan," was published in a national square dance magazine and she wrote a monthly feature column for her high school newspaper in the Washington, D.C. area. Ellen studied art at Earlham College and the University of Michigan.After working as a day care teacher and a women's reproductive health counselor, Ellen became a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner, working at a children's hospital in western Massachusetts for 24 years. During that time, she authored and co-authored two dozen articles and book chapters about pediatric issues and latex allergy. She was honored for excellence in nursing journalism by the nursing honor society Sigma Theta Tau and received the Ruth A. Smith Writing Award for excellence in writing in the profession of nursing. In 2005 Ellen was given the Chair's Excellence Award from the Spina Bifida Association of America for her advocacy around latex allergy and spina bifida.In 2000, after decades of reading voraciously and thinking that "someday" she would write, Ellen started writing fiction and studying craft, earning an MFA from the Stonecoast Program at the University of Southern Maine. In 2005, determined to spend more time with the characters demanding her full attention, she left her nurse practitioner career.https://www.ellenmeeropol.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 723 - Terri Lewis - From Ballet to Authorship - Words That Dance, That FlyIn this author conversation, Terri Lewis shares how dance, history, and family have been woven through every stage of her life and writing. Now speaking from Florida while her Colorado garden sleeps under snow, she reflects on the two passions she held in high school: ballet and writing. Knowing a dance career had a limited window, she chose ballet first, becoming a professional dancer and choreographer, then gradually transitioned into writing while honing her craft, learning how to truly tell a story and build a novel.Terri describes the importance of literary community and feedback, encouraging new authors to join critique groups, attend workshops and conferences, and bravely share their work even when it feels vulnerable. She emphasizes kindness and reciprocity in the writing world, urging writers to really listen when asking others about their work rather than talking only about themselves. For her, repeated feedback is a signal: if two people say the same thing, pay attention; if three do, you have a problem to fix. She also shares how one early mentor's simple note affirming that she could write a publishable novel became a treasured encouragement that she still keeps.Her love of history and research runs through her novels. Her first book, inspired by a medieval woman abducted by King John and later reunited with her original fiancé, grew out of her fascination with the everyday lives of people in the Middle Ages rather than just kings and battles. Her second novel began with a candy box of family artifacts: letters, photos, and documents about her grandfather's World War One service, shell shock, and the long fight her grandmother waged to secure his pension. That story, told through both grandparents' perspectives, deepened her understanding of their courage, especially her grandmother's strength in an era when women's choices were tightly constrained.Terri's latest ballet-centered novel draws directly on her own experience as a dancer. It follows two friends and rivals in a 1970s ballet company whose pregnancies unfold on opposite sides of Roe v. Wade, exploring how legal, bodily, and artistic choices shape their careers, relationships, and identities. She aims to show the behind-the-scenes reality of dance: exhausting rehearsals, painful lighting calls, and the emotional strain beneath the glamour, while also portraying the different strengths of her two dancers and how their friendship is tested over time.Throughout the conversation, Terri returns to the idea that mastery in any art takes about ten years, and that you never truly arrive. She is still revising a novel she began a decade ago, recognizing how much she has grown as a writer and how each revision makes the work stronger. She encourages listeners to capture their own family histories with simple tools like audio recorders at gatherings, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. Key takeaway: Terri's journey shows that creativity is a lifelong practice of persistence, community, and curiosity, where every experience, whether on stage or in the archives of a candy box, can become meaningful story material if you keep showing up and doing the work.https://terrilewis1.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 722 - Andrey Medina - Screenwriter and Author - Sci-Fi storyteller who's fascinated by the questions that don't have easy answersIn this episode, Dave sits down with author and screenwriter Andrey Medina to explore how imagination, movement, and instability as a child sparked a lifelong inner world that eventually led him to science fiction. Andrey explains that he was not so much “called” to authorship as he was found by science fiction itself, discovering in it a way to imagine alternatives to reality. Influences like Tolkien and Asimov did more than shape his taste; they fundamentally shaped how he thinks about worlds, systems, and psychohistory-level questions of how reality can be simulated and reimagined.Andrey shares honest, practical advice for aspiring writers: finish something. Even a three to five page story matters, because reaching the end delivers pride and a deeper sense of catharsis as both writer and reader of your own work. He describes how completing a story can move you to tears or leave you breathless, and why that emotional climax is the best encouragement to keep going. From there, the second crucial step is to show your work to someone. Even if the reader does not fully connect, the simple fact that they speak your character's name out loud proves that someone else now carries a piece of your imagination in their mind. He also talks about setting himself a week-long challenge during Covid to write a short story every day, emphasizing that even “crappy” stories hold fragments of gold worth revisiting later.The conversation turns to craft and career. Andrey talks about mining small but powerful ideas from imperfect drafts, like a story of a boy who believes he is a robot and a father forced to deconstruct life into tiny, teachable truths. He discusses writing both for himself and for readers, consciously merging the stories he loves with clear commercial awareness, particularly in his young adult speculative dystopian thrillers. Drawing on his screenwriting background, he explains how thinking in scenes, locations, conflict, and emotional reaction shapes his novels, and how good dialogue functions as action rooted in motivation and emotional baggage.Andrey introduces his series, beginning with The Conduit Trials, featuring Ren, a sixteen year old rebel in a totalitarian regime whose botched mission leads to a death sentence and a shocking offer to become a fighter pilot for the very system she opposes. He teases themes of moral ambiguity, propaganda, and critical thinking in a world where nothing is fully right or fully wrong, and shares how recent chaotic global events helped fuel the emotional “lava” behind the story. He wants readers to be fully immersed in Ren's world while constantly asking themselves, “What would I do in her place?”He also explains how listeners can currently read The Conduit Trials as a free ARC through BookSprout, join his mailing list via a link at the end of the book, and stay updated on future installments and launches.Key takeaway: Finish something, no matter how small, and let it be seen. Completion gives you emotional proof that you are a storyteller, and every shared story, even an imperfect one, plants your imagined world in another person's mind.https://www.facebook.com/andreymedina84Send us Fan MailSupport 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 721 - Janet Kintner - A Judge's Tale - A Trailblazer Fights For Her Place on the BenchIn this episode of Living the Next Chapter, host Dave sits down with Janet Kintner, a retired judge, attorney, and newly published author whose journey from the courtroom to the writer's desk reveals a life committed to justice, courage, and reflection. Speaking from her homes in San Diego and Victoria, Canada, Janet offers a look into her groundbreaking career as one of the youngest female judges in California and the personal transformation that came with writing her memoir.Janet opens up about her early motivation to pursue law in a system historically dominated by men. Facing bias, skepticism, and immense pressure, she navigated the courtroom with determination, earning a reputation for sharp intellect, integrity, and fairness. Her experiences as both advocate and judge shaped her understanding of justice as empathy balanced with objectivity. She shares that maintaining emotional distance was a necessity in law—essential for fair judgment but challenging when faced with tragedy. Writing her memoir forced her to reconnect with those long-suppressed emotions, creating both healing and honesty in her storytelling.The process of writing, Janet admits, was as demanding as any legal trial. From juggling hundreds of drafts to conducting years of research, she learned to stay organized and rely on professional editors who matched her style. Classes in memoir writing also helped her transition from legal precision to emotional clarity, teaching her to articulate feeling rather than just fact. Her advice to new authors is practical: take writing classes, choose your editor wisely, and date every document to track progress.Janet reflects on her groundbreaking appointment to the bench at age thirty-one—then the youngest judge in California—and the isolation that often comes with being a pioneer. Over time, she found solidarity with younger judges entering the system, helping to reshape a once insular profession. Through her career, she remained guided by fairness, objectivity, and a commitment to giving every voice—especially women—a chance to be heard.As she discusses her memoir, Janet shares that she wrote not only for her generation of women but for younger readers who can learn from the struggles of the past. Her humor, warmth, and optimism shine throughout her story, softening even the hardest experiences. She's proud of weaving strength with vulnerability, showing that compassion is never a weakness in leadership.Looking ahead, Janet hints at her next project: a work of fiction that lets her explore imagination and “say all the things I wish I'd said.” With clear joy, she notes that writing has become an uplifting addiction—another chapter in a life defined by purpose and perseverance.Key takeaway:True legacy is not built on authority alone but on integrity, empathy, and resilience. Janet Kintner's journey reminds us that even after years of reasoned judgment, rediscovering emotion and sharing our stories can be the most liberating act of all.https://www.janetkintner.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 720 - Hollis Jo McCollum - Epic Dark Fantasy with Inspired Romantic SubplotsIn this lively author episode, Dave is joined by dark fantasy writer and podcaster Hollis Jo McCollum for an unscripted, improv flavored conversation about creativity, connection and the realities of podcasting as an author. Hollis broadcasts from Suwanee, in the north metro Atlanta area, where she loves the local community, walking trails and especially the vibrant Korean cafes and markets that have become part of her daily rhythm. Her podcast is called “I Do What I Want!” which she describes as both a catchphrase and a mindset; she is not belligerent, but proudly stubborn about creating on her own terms, using improv skills instead of heavy editing and embracing a live, unedited format on YouTube and Spotify so listeners see the authentic process, cats and all.Throughout the conversation, Hollis traces how improv, drama club and “yes, and” thinking shaped her confidence and on mic presence, and she and Dave dig into the importance of being fully present in conversations. That leads to a thoughtful tangent on how phones and constant screen time are eroding social skills and problem solving in younger generations, illustrated by a story about a Gen Z teen who is anxious about a simple interaction asking for napkins and by Hollis's partner's candid street photography full of “nose to phone” subjects. Both hosts advocate for being more present, talking to actual humans, and deliberately stepping outside comfort zones as a path to growth, creativity and better podcasting.Hollis then shares the origin of “I Do What I Want!” which began as a single planned episode about the Dungeons and Dragons campaign that inspired her novel “To Save a World,” recorded with her best friend of over thirty years. Unsure how to start, she actually hired a production company to help her set up her mic, hosting and Spotify presence, and discovered she loved the format enough to keep going, mostly solo, with occasional author friends as relaxed guests. That experience taught her how critical scheduling is: she originally aimed for longer, twice monthly episodes but quickly learned that with a full time job, writing, marketing and life responsibilities, she needed a realistic rhythm. Now she anchors the show to one live episode on the last Sunday of each month, built on a simple half page outline with a few milestones, trusting that the format and voice will naturally evolve over time rather than being over planned from the start.The episode also touches on her voice acting work, where she leans into character voices like the insidious villain Simoom, and on her strong feelings about listeners speeding up audiobooks and performance heavy podcasts. For Hollis, pacing, pauses and breathing are integral to emotional impact, so compressing audio feels like stripping respect from the performer and story, even though she concedes some people prioritize efficiency. As the conversation closes, Hollis talks about why podcasting remains worthwhile even though she is not chasing huge download numbers; it gives readers and potential fans a way to discover her personality, ask questions and connect outside crowded conventions. https://www.hollisjomccollumauthor.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 719 - Alfred Muller - supernatural, occult fiction and traditional fantasyAlfred Muller shares a personal, long-form reflection on writing, feedback, and growth as an author, framed by his Tennessee roots and a deep love of the craft. The episode weaves practical advice with candid stories—from embracing constructive criticism to the discipline of finishing a manuscript—into a portrait of how dedication, routine, and audience awareness shape a writer's progress.In this conversation, Muller emphasizes that criticism should be treated as a tool, not a personal attack. He recalls how classroom feedback helped him rework scenes for better dialogue flow and realism, underscoring the value of real-time critique when you can ask clarifying questions and observe responses. He also highlights the importance of understanding your audience and adjusting language and references to fit their world, which can prevent disconnects between narrator, character, and reader.The discussion moves into the practical side of developing as a writer. Muller advises new writers to seek feedback in educational settings where instructors and peers can provide strategic, actionable notes. He reflects on the transformation that comes from revising with a cold, analytical eye after a delay, rather than reacting impulsively to criticism. The episode also touches the difference between drafting and publishing: the opportunity to solicit questions and explanations evaporates once a work is released to the public.On craft and character, Muller discusses the process of building authentic dialogue and motivation. He describes how personal interests—like hockey—can flavor a character's voice and choices, and how conveying believable speech requires attention to what the audience knows or cares about. The narrative delves into world-building choices, such as naming conventions and religious or mythological elements, to anchor supernatural or fantastical elements in human-scale concerns and emotions.The episode closes with a candid look at publishing milestones, ongoing projects, and the ongoing balance between daily life and creative work. Muller shares the practicality of maintaining writing momentum during busy periods, using prompts and micro-writing exercises to push through blocks. He reminds listeners that finishing a draft is the gateway to meaningful revision, and that reading widely remains essential to sustain growth and keep perspective in a changing literary landscape.Key takeaway for listeners: constructive feedback, thoughtfully received and applied, accelerates growth; finish what you start to unlock productive revision, and anchor fiction in relatable human concerns to keep characters and worlds compelling.https://alfredmuller44.wixsite.com/alfred-muller-booksSend us Fan MailSupport 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 718 - V. Maia - Cultural clashes and ordinary moments become intertwined with extraordinary dreams and the destiny of the universeV. Maia is a Brazilian academic researcher, IT professional, and passionate storyteller. With a Ph.D. in cloud computing privacy and over two decades of experience in the information technology sector, his expertise ranges from data security to cybersecurity.But V. Maia's interests extend far beyond the digital realm. A lifelong fascination with astrophysics and science fiction fuels his imagination and shapes his perspective on life. His global travels, from his roots in Brazil to academic and professional pursuits around the world, have sparked deep reflection on cultural differences and the human experience.In his debut novel, “Under Full Moons: A Tale of Parenting in Paris… and the Fate of the Universe,” V. Maia weaves a unique narrative that blends the mundane realities of parenting with the extraordinary possibilities of lucid dreaming and cosmic events.When he's not writing or exploring the mysteries of the universe, V. Maia can be found in his Brasilia home, cooking up delicious meals with his family.Book: Under Full MoonsVinícius takes on the challenge of moving from Brasilia to Paris with his family, where his wife will complete a master's degree. He will be responsible for looking after the children and the house. However, along with the cultural conflicts and the intense new family routine in France, Vinícius soon begins to have paranormal encounters, first in his dreams and then in waking life. These beings that contact Vinícius are desperate: they need his help to prevent the universe from being torn apart via a real-life cosmological and cataclysmic phenomenon called the Big Rip, in a faraway future. Although the entities are advanced and can travel through vast swathes of time, they are unable to prevent their own extinction. As Vinícius pieces together the puzzle presented to him, he learns that it all depends on his ability to harness lucid dreams. Unless Vinícius has these dreams, he will be powerless to alter the fabric of spacetime. The fate of the universe hangs in the balance.https://vmaiaauthor.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 717 - Hal Glatzer - Accidental Detectives, Friends With Benefits and How Music Influences WritingHal Glatzer is a novelist who blends mystery with a rich musical background, sharing insights about his creative journey, his fiction's settings, and the people who populate his work. The interview unfolds in three main threads: the mysteries Glatzer writes, the music he performs, and the biography that informs his storytelling.Glatzer's literary path begins in youth with classical training in violin and clarinet, moving through the folk revival and bluegrass, and finally embracing the Great American Songbook. This musical fluency informs his approach to dialogue and rhythm in fiction, where characters banter and move storylines forward through speech. His long-running Katy Green novels anchor his literary voice in historical-recovery and performance, while his current project centers on Herman and Teddy, an older couple who navigate an affair while solving murders. They are “accidental detectives” in a cozy mystery setting, chosen to explore grown-up themes with wit, warmth, and intellectual curiosity.Grand Lake City, Glatzer's fictional setting, serves as a crafted backdrop that mirrors real Rust Belt towns gradually reviving their economies. The two primary protagonists—Herman, a late sixties retired magazine editor, and Teddy, a middle sixties former high school math teacher—live a “friendship with benefits” relationship. Their dynamic blends sharp banter, contrasting personalities, and complementary lives, which continually challenge and propel the mysteries they stumble into. The series follows this duo across three novels so far: The Nest, The Office Wife, and The Two Birds, with plans for future installments and possibly revisiting the Katie Green character from his earlier work.A central theme is how music—whether live performance or the memory of songs—deeply embeds itself in people's brains and sustains memory, emotion, and identity. Glatzer describes performing for nursing homes and veterans as a powerful reminder that music often outlives other faculties, a belief that resonates with how he builds mood and atmosphere in his stories. He also explains that his storytelling relies on the tension between characters and situations: even a cozy mystery benefits from obstacles that threaten personal relationships and force protagonists to confront difficult choices.For readers, the appeal lies in dialog-rich, character-driven mysteries where adults face real-life complexities, including marriage, friendship, and moral dilemmas, while the plot unfurls through witty dialogue and engaging puzzles. Glatzer emphasizes that his ideal reader is an adult who appreciates a well-crafted whodunit with authentic relationships and no graphic sexuality, while acknowledging that his work may test readers' comfort with adultery within a carefully controlled narrative.Key takeaway: Hal Glatzer's mysteries thrive on character chemistry and dialogue as the engine of plot, pairing cozy, accessible puzzles with mature, nuanced relationships that keep readers thinking—and listening—for the next twist.https://halglatzer.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 716 - Richard DeVeau - In Plain Sight - In Washington, nothing is what it seemsIn this engaging return visit to the show, author Richard DeVeau discusses his new thriller In Plain Sight, the second installment in his Eve Tanzi series following the debut Lights Out. Living in Batavia, Illinois—a suburb along the Fox River west of Chicago—he shares how his brother's lighthouse refurbishment on Cape Cod sparked the idea for Lights Out. Intrigued by lighthouses as historic guides with foghorns offering comfort to sailors, DeVeau flipped the concept: what if someone weaponized them for evil? His antagonist launches missiles from real lighthouses in Boston and Maryland, subverting their heritage in a tale of domestic terrorism known as the Greater Boston Massacre.DeVeau explains how In Plain Sight stands alone while advancing the series. Picking up after the first book's tragedy, protagonist Eve Tanzi—a tough Special Forces operative, CIA agent, and artist—works directly with the president from a D.C. apartment to unmask remaining cabal members: a senator, judge, and presidential insider. She recruits a trusted Afghanistan comrade—described as Einstein in Arnold Schwarzenegger's body—for brains, brawn, and budding romance, amid fresh conspiracies threatening national control. Each book builds momentum for readers jumping in mid-series, with key backstory woven in naturally.Drawing from his New England roots, World War II comic fascination, and French Canadian heritage (echoed in Eve's Quebec ancestor), DeVeau revels in research via books like Modern War in Ancient Land and firsthand accounts. He compares writing to his 35-year fine art painting career: both involve dialoguing with the work, solving problems, and immersion. Sensory details, especially smell's memory power (burning tires in Kabul, his grandmother's tourtière pie), enrich scenes. Dialogue flows naturally from eavesdropping at gallery openings and ad copywriting experience, avoiding stiff "writing-speak"—a tip reinforced by reading screenplays like early drafts of Roxanne.DeVeau aims for a book-a-year rhythm, planning the third by summer. He credits early readers like his Harvard-educated pastor friend for developmental edits sharpening Eve's reactions, and highlights her warrior-artist balance as an ancient archetype adding depth. His early ebook involvement—crafting ads for Stephen King's 2000 novella Riding the Bullet, which crashed servers with 500,000 downloads—foreshadowed the digital revolution.Books are available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Ingram distributors; local signings continue at his nearby store. Visit richarddeveau.com for updates.Key takeaway: Lighthouses symbolize guidance, but DeVeau shows how flipping familiar icons fuels thrilling stories—write what you love, research deeply, and let process mirror your passions for authentic, immersive tales.https://richarddeveau.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 715 - Babs Walters - Facing The Jaguar - Telling is HealingIn this moving episode, author Babs Walters discusses her memoir Facing the Jaguar, a deeply personal story of trauma, healing, and transformation. Speaking from her home in sunny Florida, she reflects on the lifelong promise she made to write her story and how the process of sharing it became both a journey of self-discovery and a tool for helping others confront their own pain.Babs traces the origins of her memoir back to childhood, when she first dreamed of telling the truth about her family's secrets. But it wasn't until decades later—and after significant healing—that she could write from a place of grace instead of anger. Early writing attempts were too raw, she recalls, even her NYU professor once told her that “even War and Peace has peace in it.” Therapy and time allowed her to transform her painful experience into a message of hope, forgiveness, and empowerment.She also explains how she learned the craft of memoir writing—understanding that an autobiography tells a life story, while a memoir shares one story within a life. Through multiple writing courses, Babs mastered structure, pacing, and the importance of universal themes. Her editor encouraged her to shape her narrative around recurring imagery from her childhood, including a haunting dream about a jaguar that became both a metaphor for fear and a symbol of strength. This dream later inspired the book's powerful title, Facing the Jaguar, signifying her confrontation with her father, the man who caused her deepest trauma.Beyond recounting abuse, Babs sought to make her book a story of survival and purpose. She hopes to inspire readers to break cycles of generational trauma, release shame, and find their voices. Facing the Jaguar speaks directly to survivors, especially women, people in recovery, and anyone ready to face painful truths. She cautions, however, that healing is a gradual process—“a journey, not a destination.” Her short, vignette-style chapters let readers pause and regroup as they process emotional material.Babs now uses her platform and website to continue helping others. She offers resources, writing workshops, and a checklist titled “How to Tell When You're Ready to Tell.” She reminds listeners that not every story must be shared publicly—sometimes healing begins privately, even if it's just writing something down and letting it go. Her site also invites visitors to leave anonymous postcards sharing secrets as a symbolic step toward release and honesty.Perhaps the most poignant part of the conversation is Babs's reflection on love and recognition. Her daughter and husband have become her strongest champions, countering a lifetime of shame and silence. Their support proves that healing can restore not only inner peace but also connection. “The hardest part of keeping a secret,” she says, “is not having a witness.” Through her book and speaking engagements, she now serves as that witness for others, showing them they are not alone.Key takeaway: Facing the Jaguar reminds listeners that courage and compassion can coexist with pain. Healing begins when we stop hiding, find our voice, and face the “jaguars” in our own lives—because sharing our truth, in whatever form we choose, can save both ourselves and others.https://babswalters.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 714 - David Lomax - Trail of Thoughts - true story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery in the remote wilds of AlaskaIn this heartfelt conversation, author David Lomax joins Dave to share the extraordinary story behind his deeply personal and historical memoir, Trails of Thoughts. Speaking from his serene home in Oregon, David reflects on his 25-year journey to complete a book rooted in his own lived experience and the remarkable legacy of his stepfather — a pioneering native Alaskan contractor, pilot, and visionary.David opens up about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia and the courage it took to tell his story authentically. He describes how the book began as handwritten notes, written at a time of uncertainty, and how a patient editor helped him shape the narrative from raw pages into a structured, meaningful chronicle spanning from childhood to the present. Through humility and persistence, David discovered how storytelling could help him reclaim both memory and identity.At its heart, Trails of Thoughts is a record of survival — not just in Alaska's unforgiving wilderness but in the complex terrain of personal loss, family dynamics, and self-doubt. David shares how writing became a process of emotional endurance, one that forced him to balance truth with grace. He touches on the challenges of portraying loved ones honestly, especially when grief and memory intertwine. His reflections on losing his son, Robert, reveal a vulnerability that resonates deeply with anyone who's had to process pain through creative expression.Beyond its emotional depth, the book captures a vivid portrait of life in the Arctic: the building of new villages, the ingenuity required to survive in extreme conditions, and a profound respect for the Indigenous communities whose traditions shaped David's understanding of resilience and respect for nature.David also speaks with pride about the audiobook adaptation, a richly detailed production complete with authentic aircraft sounds from Alaska's past. Hearing his own words brought to life moved him deeply — a reminder that his years of persistence have preserved a story worth remembering.Key Takeaway:David Lomax's journey shows that storytelling is an act of endurance, humility, and healing. Even when the path is long and imperfect, sharing our truth — in our own words — can become both legacy and liberation.https://trailofthoughts.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 713 - Scott Pearson - Simon & Schuster's Star Trek Novel Editor and Author Taking Us To New Places and BeyondThis episode features author and editor Scott Pearson sharing his woodland life in Carlton, Minnesota, and his multifaceted career in science fiction, Star Trek, and publishing. From fan to professional, he reveals how persistence and adaptability built his path through a rapidly changing industry.Scott describes his detached office amid the trees, a quiet hub for editing and writing. Publishing has evolved dramatically since his early days mailing manuscripts; self-publishing, once taboo, is now viable. His key advice: keep writing, finish stories, and explore contests or networks to break in. A lifelong Star Trek fan since grade school, he started with derivative sci-fi, shifted to literary fiction in college—his first published story about a Minnesota farming couple—then returned to genre via the Strange New Worlds contest win. This led to Star Trek short stories, a novella, and an ebook, plus anthology work blending sci-fi, mystery, horror, and thriller. His latest, the self-published The Sad Rains of Mars, collects a dozen sci-fi tales.As Star Trek's copy and developmental editor, Scott ensures fiction aligns with canon, verifying quotes by rewatching clips. He balances fandom with professionalism, enjoying stories while catching continuity gaps for "retcons." Fan fiction hones skills but stays non-commercial; licensed work requires agent connections and multi-layer approvals from publishers and Paramount. Conventions like Shore Leave connect writers and editors.Freelance editing—Star Trek novels, Baen Books, IDW comics, self-publishers—fills his days, often crowding personal writing despite a Monday-Thursday schedule. He spotlights Tales of the Weird World War, co-written novellas with Bill Leisner mashing genres in an alternate history of shapeshifting monsters, from 1940s noir to 1950s saucers.Key takeaway: Persistence through industry shifts, from fan roots to pro editing and original work, turns passion into a sustainable creative life—finish stories, honor canon, and balance paid gigs with personal projects.https://scott-pearson.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 712 - Valerie Taylor - A Romantic Comedy Series and A Cozy Series - Write From A Different PerspectiveThis episode features novelist Valerie Taylor discussing her shift from corporate marketing to writing romantic comedies and cozy mysteries, sharing practical advice for aspiring authors on overcoming blocks, building series, and embracing new challenges.Valerie shares a recent encounter at a senior living center craft fair, where she stood out as the only author among crafters. When a woman confessed she was stuck 30 pages into her book, Valerie suggested rewriting a scene from another character's viewpoint. This technique, she explains, refreshes perspective and sparks new ideas, a method she uses in her multi-viewpoint novels to avoid getting bogged down.She warns aspiring writers against thinking they will produce just one book. Finishing and publishing the first creates an addictive high from reader feedback, often leading to more. Valerie's "What's Not" series follows mature protagonist Cassie O'Callahan through dysfunctional marriages, new romances, and travels to Venice, Paris, and Greece. A minor character, Venus Bixby, grew so compelling that she spun off into a cozy mystery series set earlier in a fictional New England whaling town, Chatham Crossing.In the cozies, like "Switched to Death," quirky sleuth Venus runs an oldies music store, cookie bakery, and cat daycare. When the mayor dies at the Christmas tree lighting, her business is implicated, pulling her into the investigation alongside someone she cares about. Valerie notes cozies keep romance "clean," stopping at the bedroom door, making them suitable for teens and adults.Drawing from her marketing background, she details crafting cohesive covers with symbolic motifs and alliterative signposts like "Cats, Cookies, Chaos." Travel research, from walking Venice scenes to emailing Greek wineries, ensures authentic settings. As an introvert, she has adapted to competitive book fairs but prefers intimate craft events.Looking ahead, Valerie eyes shorter forms like Substack essays, historical fiction, or screenplays, drawn by praise for her dialogue. Her newsletter "Behind and Ahead" spotlights global authors and personal updates. She stresses life experience as a superpower for writers of any age.Key takeaway: Writing thrives on fresh perspectives, persistence beyond one book, and new challenges; observe closely, let characters evolve, and treat every project as a chance to grow.https://valerietaylorauthor.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 711 - Reyna Marder Gentin - Jessica Harmon Has Stepped Away, A Mother Daughter Story and a Book TourThis episode explores how former criminal appellate attorney turned novelist Reyna Marder Gentin reinvented her life and writing, and how law, empathy, and complex family relationships shape her fiction. It offers an honest look at creative risk, persistence, and the emotional truths behind her stories.From Courtroom to Creative WritingReyna begins by describing life in Westchester County, just north of Manhattan, and her long career as a criminal appellate attorney. For more than two decades she represented people convicted of serious crimes, trying to secure reduced sentences or second chances. Over time, though, she hit an emotional wall: she felt increasingly unable to understand the human backstories behind acts that appeared undeniably “evil,” especially because appeals work limits lawyers to the trial record rather than the full complexity of a person's life. That disconnect pushed her to leave the law and follow an unexpected path into memoir and fiction writing.Learning to See Stories DifferentlyReyna explains that appellate work trained her to see every situation from multiple angles, always asking “what if” and searching for alternate interpretations. That habit now drives her fiction; when she reaches a pivotal scene, she challenges her first instincts and explores how events might unfold differently, always seeking the emotional hook that draws readers in. She talks about the importance of crafting empathy on the page, just as she once tried to do for judges, and how her sense of an “ideal reader” has evolved.Patience, Persistence, and the Reality of PublishingReyna is candid about the gap between writing classes and real-world publishing. Not everyone will finish a book, and even completed manuscripts may never be published. Her Books, Characters, and ThemesReyna walks through her body of work and the life experiences that inspired it. Her debut, Unreasonable Doubts, draws on her public defender background and follows a young lawyer losing faith in her work who becomes emotionally entangled with a client. Her middle grade novel centers on an eighth-grade girl with undiagnosed dyslexia, a hardworking single mom, and a perceptive teacher who finally recognizes the girl's strengths and learning challenges. Another novel, Both Are True, follows a new family court judge balancing the emotional demands of her courtroom with a complicated romantic relationship.Her newest book shifts away from law entirely and delves into the fraught, intimate territory of a mother-daughter relationship. Protagonist Jessica Harmon, a stalled thirty-year-old would-be writer, feels stuck in an unfulfilling editing job and blames her famous academic mother, Cynthia, for her inability to launch. When Cynthia wins a lifetime achievement award and invites Jessica on a book tour, buried secrets and a long-ago, life-changing episode from Cynthia's college years come to light. Reyna explores themes of resentment, love, generational influence, and the search for identity, emphasizing that even when the ending isn't conventionally “happy,” characters can still arrive where they need to be.Send us Fan MailSupport 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 710 - Corey Croft - Wrestling With Your Writing, A Novella - France V. BrazilIn this episode, author Corey Croft joins the show from Vancouver to explore the realities of writing, the creative life and the difficult choices facing modern authors. Corey speaks candidly about the tension between traditional and independent publishing, explaining that neither path is easy. One demands the perseverance to face repeated rejection while the other requires the stamina to handle every piece of the work alone. For Corey, the deciding factor always comes back to feedback. Writers need readers, and honest critique can illuminate which publishing route makes sense and what a story truly needs.Corey describes his creative evolution from a younger, more dramatic writer to one now grounded in clarity, craft and emotional honesty. He explains how his latest novella France v Brazil ninety eight reflects this transition. The book is a compact, introspective character study about a man unraveling emotionally and spiritually after years of isolation. It blends existential themes with dark humour in a way that nods to Camus and Sartre, posing questions about control, freedom and the limits of understanding oneself. Corey emphasizes that while the subject matter is heavy, the story is not meant to glamorize mental illness. Instead, it seeks to express genuine human struggle in a way that lets readers see themselves in the character's vulnerabilities.The conversation turns toward artistry and presentation, including Corey's unconventional book covers and his longstanding creative collaboration with his brother. He explains that he values originality over trends, both in visuals and in writing, and that experimentation is essential for growth. Corey also speaks openly about how his characters often begin as reflections of his own emotions. Revisiting old drafts feels like revisiting earlier versions of himself, allowing him to refine characters from anger into something more complex and relatable.Though the novella is small in scope, Corey intends its impact to be personal and profound. He hopes readers approach his work without preconceived notions and feel something authentic, whether admiration or discomfort. For him, art exists to make people think, feel and question, not to provide easy answers.Corey shares his website and social links where readers can explore his stories, poetry and upcoming soft launch. He notes that while self-promotion remains a challenge, creating art for its own sake continues to drive him.Key Takeaway:Corey Croft's work reminds us that writing is both introspection and connection. The most powerful stories emerge when we let go of perfection, invite feedback and embrace the honest, messy work of understanding ourselves through the characters we create.https://coreycroftauthor.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 709 - Sandra Schnakenburg - The Housekeeper's Secret - Uncover the story hidden by a family's beloved housekeeper, Lee MetoyerIn this episode of Living The Next Chapter, author Sandra Schnakenburg shares the extraordinary origin of her memoir The Housekeeper's Secret, born from a deathbed promise to her beloved housekeeper, Lee Metoyer. A corporate finance veteran with no formal writing training, Sandra recounts how Lea, who raised her from age three on their 44-acre estate starting in 1965, lived with them for 30 years under a fabricated identity. Lee often teased the family about her unbelievable life story she planned to write, but lung cancer cut her plans short in 1994, leading her to implore Sandra to tell it instead.​Fifteen years later, while clearing her late mother's home, Sandra discovered Lee's ashes hidden in a closet, reigniting her quest. What began as a search for Lee's supposed husband and son—lost in a car accident, per her cover story—unraveled a shocking truth: Lee had reinvented herself to escape a traumatic past tied to a prominent Creole family in Louisiana, marked by resilience amid hardship. Clues like her aversion to baths, frostbitten feet, false teeth, and evasive one-word answers to Sandra's probing questions fueled the mystery, transforming the book into Sandra's own healing journey through 3,000 pages over a decade.​Sandra dove into writing classes at Rice University, formed critique groups, and battled resistance, inspired by books like Stephen King's On Writing and Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. The memoir blends family love, historical Creole lore, and investigative suspense, readers experience the unveiling alongside her, falling for Lea's electric spirit before grappling with revelations of survival and reinvention. Now a top seller celebrating its first birthday, it's sparking film interest and global resonance on themes of abuse, narcissism, and legacy.​Key Takeaway: Honor the call to share your story, no matter your background; perseverance uncovers truths that heal and connect across generations, proving words outlive ushttps://sandraschnakenburg.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 708 - Jeanette Gil - Cuban-American and proud Latina author - A book for kids - Aloe Vera's Special GiftI'm a Cuban-American and proud Latina author who believes in the power of stories to celebrate culture, family, and the beautiful connections that shape us.Whether you're exploring my children's books, or diving into my insights on education and leadership, my mission is to inspire and empower through the written word.Grab a cafecito, take a look around, and discover something new. Let's connect on this exciting journey of storytelling, learning, and growth.Book: Aloe Vera's Special Gift - Aloe Vera's Special Gift is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery teaching children that our differences can be our greatest strengths and that everyone has something special to offer the world—even if it's not immediately visible.In this insightful conversation, author and doctoral student Jeanette Gil shares the heart, hustle, and healing behind her debut picture book Aloe Vera's Special Gift. Inspired by her grandchildren, her Miami garden, and cherished family memories, Jeanette's story celebrates resilience, identity, and the healing power we all have within us.Jeanette explains that writing the manuscript came naturally, but turning an idea into a published picture book required patience, realistic expectations, and deep collaboration. She learned quickly that in children's publishing, illustrations carry just as much meaning as words, sometimes even more. Finding the right illustrator with cultural understanding and artistic alignment became essential. Together, Jeanette and her illustrator built not just a book but a creative partnership that continues to spark new ideas, from coloring books to upcoming seasonal spinoffs.A passionate advocate for literacy, Jeanette describes her first school visit before the book was even officially launched. Reading to seventy-five children from immigrant families, she saw firsthand the emotional impact of her story and realized her deeper purpose. That experience inspired her current mission: filling school library shelves through book drives and empowering young readers to embrace their self-worth.Jeanette also reflects on the realities of self-publishing as a business. Marketing, visibility, social media, website management – they all stretch her creativity outside the comfort zone. Yet she remains committed to enjoying the journey, not rushing the process, and allowing each story to shine in its own time.Aloe Vera's Special Gift shares a message that resonates with both children and adults. Aloe feels plain and overlooked compared to the colorful, sweet-smelling flowers in the garden until she discovers her unique gift to heal others. Her story reminds us that what truly matters is found inside: courage, kindness, the ability to help others, and the confidence to embrace your strengths. It is a celebration of growth, cultural roots, and the resilience that blooms through every season.https://www.jeanettegil.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 707 - Dr. Dawn Filos - Tales of a Pet Vet - Stories from the Clinic and House CallsDr. Dawn Filos has been a practicing small animal veterinarian for over 31 years. She has taught pet first aid courses, CPR courses, and has always enjoyed educating her clients to enable them to be the best pet parents that they can be. She has a particular interest in sharing the emotional benefits that sharing our lives with pets provides. She speaks much about that, with guides on how to not just train your pets, feed and entertain them, care for them medically… but she discusses topics such as how to navigate pet insurance, and plans for legal trusts to care for your pets when you may not be here to do so… to name a few subjects. She hopes you will learn, laugh, and love subscribing to her blog.Follow her, and keep an eye out for news on  her upcoming book release, Tales of a Pet Vet. Stories from the Clinic and House Calls,  to be released in October, 2024. It is the perfect gift for pet lovers. Dr. Filos is also available for public speaking engagements and zoom book clubs.Book: Tales of a Pet Vet: Stories from the Clinic and House Calls - In stories tailor-made for pet lovers, a seasoned veterinarian shares her good, bad, and messy days on the job—and highlights the undeniable magic of the human-animal bond.Dr. Dawn Filos has always had a passion for animals—and with a lot of hard work and perseverance, she turned that passion into a career. Here, with emotional honesty, Dr. Dawn shares her colorful, memorable journey from nervous novice to seasoned, self-assured doctor. This modern-day James Herriot ultimately finds her niche as a house-call vet, where she creates a way to practice on her own terms with the privilege of unique, intimate access into the homes and lives of her beloved patients and their human families.Sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sad, and often hilarious, Tales of a Pet Vet will resonate deeply with pet lovers everywhere.https://drdawnthepetvet.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 706 - John Schachnovsky - Beyond The Badge - CRIME, JUSTICE, AND THE FBI IN THAILANDAbout the authorJohn Schachnovsky is the former head of FBI operations in Thailand. He spent 25 years as a law enforcement officer, motivating and managing diverse teams in demanding environments. Book: Beyond the Badge: Crime, Justice, and the FBI in ThailandWelcome to Thailand: there's no room for error, and the stakes are high.As an FBI Agent stationed in Bangkok, John Schachnovsky must build trust, goodwill, and long-term relationships with his Thai counterparts. Beyond the Badge explores how those relationships lead to the capture of dangerous criminals, transcending borders.From high-profile incidents like the shocking death of David Carradine to handling overseas terrorism, from the extradition of a suspect in the murder of a United States Marine to apprehending a notorious kidnapper with an Interpol Red Notice, experience true international crime investigations as never before: behind the scenes and firsthand.Follow former Special Agent Schachnovsky as he takes on Irish mobsters, parental kidnappers, child abusers, cyber criminals, and murderers. More than a collection of riveting tales of intrigue, Beyond the Badge is a window into FBI foreign partnerships—a critical reminder of the importance of international cooperation in the fight against crime.In this episode, we sit down with John Schachnovsky, a retired FBI agent joining us from Bangkok, Thailand, where he has lived for nearly two decades. John reflects on a remarkable career that began far from the world of federal law enforcement. Once a laid back college hockey player, he had no clear path until his father encouraged him to consider a job that did not involve sitting behind a desk. That advice led him first to the U.S. Border Patrol, an experience he says transformed him from an unfocused student into a disciplined professional through a demanding and highly militaristic environment.From there, John joined the FBI and trained at Quantico. He explains how different it felt: less about breaking you down and more about shaping you into an agent they have already vetted carefully through rigorous applications and background checks. He shares a fascinating look into Hogan's Alley, the FBI's simulated town used to test practical skills from search warrants to interviews. According to John, this unique training gives new agents a level of confidence before facing real world situations, though nothing can fully prepare you for the first arrest outside controlled conditions.After several years in San Francisco, John pursued a dream assignment overseas and eventually became the FBI's legal attache in Thailand. He describes the overlooked role the FBI plays internationally, assisting American cases that extend abroad, opening extraterritorial cases related to terrorism and child sex trafficking, supporting foreign partners with U.S. based investigations, and providing specialized training to enhance global cooperation. He highlights how diplomacy, trust building, and cultural fluency are just as crucial as investigative skills, especially in a country where FBI agents have no arrest authority and rely entirely on local police.Send us Fan MailSupport 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 705 - Jane Loeb Rubin - I run like the wind to stay ahead of my disease - living, family, writing - my refugeIn this captivating episode, author Jane Loeb Rubin shares her inspiring journey from healthcare executive to acclaimed historical fiction writer, sparked by her 2009 ovarian cancer diagnosis linked to a genetic mutation inherited from her great-grandmother Matilda. Living in Morristown, New Jersey, Rubin penned her debut essay memoir Almost a Princess before diving into a four-book series tracing Matilda's family from late-19th-century New York through World War I and into Prohibition-era 1924. Titles like Threadbare, In the Hands of Women, Over There, and the upcoming Mayhem in the Mountains blend meticulous research—three months upfront, ongoing fact-checking, and author's notes—with vivid details on Gilded Age fashion, tenement life, suffragette struggles, and medical horrors, including brutal cancer treatments misread as venereal disease.Rubin immerses listeners in WWI innovations like frontline X-rays and blood transfusions that boosted survival rates, drawing from soldiers' letters that reveal immigrant platoons—disproportionately Italian and Jewish—forging unbreakable bonds across ethnic divides, dissolving neighborhood silos for true American assimilation. Personal family ties fuel her work: grandfathers in WWI, father and uncles in WWII, all silent on war's traumas. Her Matilda Fund has raised $83,000 for Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, with royalties supporting trials like one at Mayo Clinic; her granddaughter's recent cupcake drive pushed it higher.Through female-centered tales of immigration, medicine, and resilience amid bootleggers, KKK incursions in the Catskills, and women's rights battles, Rubin honors forgotten voices. Her website offers book club questions, events, and reading lists.Key Takeaway: Historical fiction illuminates our shared humanity—fear, pain, and progress unite us across eras—urging appreciation of hard-won rights and guardrails against division.https://www.janeloebrubin.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 704 - Sasha Preston - The Sweetest Getaway, a gripping, girl-powered caperAbout Sasha PrestonOriginally from Michigan, I've made my home in the perfectly weatherless land of Southern California. I fell in love with a boy from Orange County and never looked back.I write women's fiction crime capers that help you to escape your daily reality, feel a sense of excitement, and plan your next adventure – all with some humor and close friendship thrown into the mix.They say you should write about what you know. While I still haven't officially committed a heist, there's nothing I love more than going on adventures with girlfriends. You can find me waking up while it's still dark outside to write, exercise, and explore.Jennifer was a wholesome daydreamer who'd never broken a law in her life until she lets her roommate, Nari, rope her into a money-making scheme that isn't exactly…legal. How could she have known that stealing would be so much fun?Everything goes smoothly, until someone rats them out to the cops. Now, Jennifer and Nari need help from a team of seasoned criminals to pull off a heist that'll either set them up for life…or get them locked up for a very long time.Can Jennifer find a path to happily ever after that doesn't include an orange prison jumpsuit? There's only one way to find out…The Sweetest Getaway is a standalone, no spice, cozy heist novel with laughs, a diverse cast, and the smartest heroines since Ocean's 8. Perfect for fans of women's fiction and crime capers. Download today for a criminally good time.https://www.sashapreston.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 703 - Michael Hunter - Resilience for leaders in tech, integrating heart, mind, body, and spirit to sustain leadersIn this episode of Living The Next Chapter, host Dave welcomes Michael, a seasoned guide for tech leaders who positions himself not as a fixer, but as a partner uncovering hidden dynamics that sap energy and stall progress in teams. From Columbia, Missouri—near the quirky geographic heart of the continental U.S.—Michael shares his winding path: childhood passions for drawing floor plans and self-taught coding on an Apple IIe, a pivot from architecture school to software engineering, and now, three decades later, authorship of The Resilient Tech Leader. Releasing in early 2026 alongside an online workbook and audiobook, the book distills his 16 practical tools, refined through personal reinvention and client work, into a roadmap for building resilience amid tech's chaos.​Michael emphasizes resilience as the foundation for leadership evolution, likening it to a personalized diet: universally applicable yet uniquely tailored. Tech pros excel at logic, he notes, but overlook heart, body, and spirit—leading to paradoxes where "every technical problem is a people problem" due to ambiguous human communication. His chapters blend TL;DR summaries, whimsical vignettes of CTOs and engineers, core problem-solution frameworks, personal examples, and team-application strategies, appealing to all learning styles with whimsy akin to Mary Poppins' spoonful of sugar.​Guests and clients rave about its impact, like one veteran who revisited basics and found fresh relevance in focusing amid distractions. Michael's agnostic illustrations and simple, safe, sustainable approach amplify the message: integrate your whole self to lead authentically, boosting personal gusto and team metrics like efficiency and engagement. More evolutions await in future books, with his newsletter at resilienttechleader.com offering updates, podcasts, and metaphors customized to real-world tech hurdles.​Key Takeaway: Cultivate resilience by tuning into your heart, mind, body, and spirit—your unique path to sustained leadership energy starts with one resilient step forward.https://uncommonteams.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 702 - John R. Carlos - Retired Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander and Author of Cryonic Dreams, AwakeningAmazon Bestselling Author John R. Carlos Launches a Bold Sci-Fi Trilogy That Confronts Power, Control and the Ethics of ResurrectionAbout John R. CarlosBorn in Madrid and raised in Perth, Australia, John R. Carlos is a retired Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander. Over a 42-year career, he served in a variety of roles across Australia and on deployments to Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, the UAE and Afghanistan. His storytelling is strategic, nuanced with the understanding of systems, hierarchy and moral complexity.Carlos now turns his focus to speculative fiction, publishing his debut novel “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening.” A meticulous worldbuilder and philosophical storyteller, he is passionate about crafting narratives that challenge readers to confront silence, resist control and awaken to the ethical dilemmas of our time.“Packed with heart-stopping suspense, vivid world-building, and thoughtful explorations of scientific ethics, this novel is a captivating must-read for anyone interested in the world we are all sliding towards.” - International Review of BooksCanberra, Australia - In the first installment of his debut series, “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening,” author John R. Carlos delivers a gripping sci-fi thriller that explores the dark intersection of biotechnology, institutional control and the human spirit's refusal to be programmed. Set in the year 2169, the story follows Dr. Michelle Brown, a cryonics specialist whose groundbreaking resurrection of Maryanne Kendricks—a woman preserved for 133 years—triggers a chain of sabotage, murder and pursuit by the ruthless surveillance agency AASID.As Michelle flees Earth to protect Maryanne and uncover the secrets buried in her DNA, she becomes entangled in a covert resistance against elite forces who mask their narcissistic hunger for control behind the guise of virtue and innovation. What begins as a scientific breakthrough becomes a philosophical reckoning—one that could alter the future of humanity itself.“‘Cryonic Dreams: Awakening' tells a story about what happens when science pushes the limits and the tough ethical choices that follow,” said author John R. Carlos. “With modern technology advancing at a rapid pace, it was crucial to outline a story about the tension between power and freedom—one that balances speculative ideas with genuine human stakes. My goal is to encourage readers to think critically about the future we're creating.”Blending cutting-edge biotechnology, high-stakes intrigue and a chillingly plausible vision of tomorrow, “Cryonic Dreams: Awakening” is the first installment in a planned trilogy. It explores the consequences of rewriting history, the weaponization of resurrection and the myth of Mars as a symbol of escape and rebirth.https://johnrcarlos.com.au/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 701 - Julie A Swanson - North of Tomboy, Trying to Find Your Spot and Fit In As A KidIn this episode of Living The Next Chapter, Dave sits down with author Julie A. Swanson to talk about her novel North of Tomboy and the real-life experiences that shaped it. Julie shares that she has been writing since childhood, creating handmade books her mom would “send off to be published,” even though nothing actually happened with them. Although she originally dreamed of being a writer, she was steered into math and science, studied biomedical engineering, and later became a high school math and science teacher and basketball coach before finally returning to her first love of writing while home with her children.Julie explains the long and winding journey to publication, including working with major publishers who requested extensive revisions that often pulled the story away from what felt true. She describes how, in trying to please big publishers, she temporarily lost touch with the heart of her stories and eventually realized she needed to trust her gut. With North of Tomboy, she restored the manuscript closer to her original vision, kept only the editorial changes that truly strengthened it, and ultimately found a home with a smaller press that embraced the book as it was meant to be.The conversation dives into the deeply personal roots of North of Tomboy. The book is based heavily on Julie's childhood as a girl who felt out of step with traditional expectations of femininity, preferred sports and “boy” activities, and could not find herself represented in the books she read. She talks about wanting to write the story she desperately needed as a middle-schooler: a realistic, empathetic portrait of a kid who does not feel at home in the typical girl box but is not being pushed toward any agenda or label. Julie clarifies that while the book is categorized in spaces that might include LGBTQ-related tags, it is not political, does not use contemporary identity terminology, and is written strictly from the honest inner experience of a child in the 1970s trying to make sense of her feelings.Julie and Dave also explore grief, family, and sports as central themes. Her earlier novel about a high school athlete dealing with a father's terminal illness was inspired by real athletes she knew and by her own father's battle with cancer. She describes watching different young women respond in very different ways to the loss of their fathers, from losing all interest in sports to playing harder “for Dad,” and how those stories fed into her fiction. For North of Tomboy and its planned series, she spent decades drafting, revising, and even following a powerful dream that nudged her toward a specific word count before resubmitting the manuscript, ultimately leading to acceptance.Throughout the episode, Julie reflects on how much the cultural landscape has changed for kids who feel different compared with her childhood, when there were no words or open conversations about gender expression and identity. She notes that if puberty blockers had existed and been widely discussed when she was young, she might have begged for them, even though in hindsight that would not have been right for her. https://www.julieswanson.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 700 - Dominick Domasky - Motivation Champs, Creative Sparks for Authors and Creative Facing Lackluster ResultsIn this episode, Dominick Domasky shares an encouraging and practical conversation about purpose, consistency, and the long game of creating meaningful work. He reflects on the early mistakes he made with his first book, the years it took to find his direction, and how those experiences shaped a mission that is no longer centered on himself but on helping other people share stories that can inspire, heal, and uplift.Dom speaks openly about why success is not always immediate and why low views, slow starts, and quiet seasons do not make a message less valuable. He emphasizes that creators should stay committed to their why, keep showing up, and trust that the right people may discover the work later, even if it does not get attention right away. He also explores how comparison can distract from progress, and why consistency matters more than chasing quick results.The conversation also highlights the importance of serving an audience with real value instead of constantly promoting a product. Dom explains that authors and creators build trust when they keep showing up, give people a reason to care, and connect their work to something that helps others. He shares examples of community-minded efforts, in-person events, podcasts, short-form video, and collaborative opportunities as ways to expand reach while staying authentic to the message.A strong thread throughout the episode is the power of community, encouragement, and practical action. Dom celebrates people who use their platform to lift others, and he points listeners toward a mindset of generosity, persistence, and belief in the impact of their words. His message is clear: keep creating, keep serving, and keep trusting that the work matters even before the numbers prove it.Key takeaway: Your message grows strongest when your purpose is bigger than your ego, your consistency outlasts your discouragement, and your focus stays on helping others win.https://motivationchamps.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 699 - Mark Peres - The Accord - The Accord, a defining novel about the future of human-AI relationsThis episode features author Mark Peres, who shares the story of his rich and varied life journey as a writer, educator, and civic leader based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark describes growing up as the son of an international import-export salesman, moving often between port cities, which helped him build a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and human connections. He eventually settled in Charlotte over 25 years ago, where he has since worn many hats—including lawyer, professor of leadership and ethics, magazine editor, and nonprofit executive director.Mark's work revolves around exploring the big questions of life from philosophical, ethical, and historical perspectives. As a professor at Johnson and Wales University, he engages students with courses on global ethics, leadership, and a unique class he designed called The Good Life, which covers core life skills and meaningful living. This educational role both informs and nourishes his writing.Mark is the author of two significant books. His memoir, The Man Who Lived a Hundred Lives, is a deeply personal yet universal story about the complex bond between father and son, told through the lens of his father's adventurous life and their evolving relationship. His novel, The Accord, is a philosophical thriller exploring human identity, grief, and the evolving relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. The story centers on a grieving philosophy professor who encounters an emergent AI, weaving together themes of ethics, emotion, and our technological future.He discusses how AI is reshaping education and creativity, urging that ethical use involves transparency, mastery, and collaboration—using AI as a tool to amplify human thinking, not replace it. Mark sees AI as neither wholly utopian nor dystopian but reflective of humanity's complexities. His narrative examines how AI might coexist with humans, positing it as one of the defining issues of our era.Mark also offers thoughtful advice for aspiring writers: know yourself, explore what truly interests you, and love the writing process as much as the finished product. Writing is a long, solitary journey that requires emotional perseverance and genuine passion rather than a chase for commercial success.Throughout the episode, Mark reveals a consistent theme of connection—whether to place, people, or powerful ideas—and describes his dedication to fostering community and civic engagement through humanities and the arts. His reflections invite listeners to embrace both their roots and their roles in an evolving world.Key Takeaway:Mark Peres encourages us to live deliberately—grounded in self-knowledge, committed to meaningful inquiry, and open to the evolving challenges and possibilities of technology and community. His journey reminds us that the search for the good life is ongoing and that our greatest work often lies at the intersection of personal passion and collective responsibility.https://www.markperes.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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

April 2026 Podcast Check-in - Thanks for supporting our amazing guests - we appreciate youIn this April 2026 check-in, Dave from Living the Next Chapter takes a moment to speak directly to listeners and thank them for supporting the show and its guests. He shares a behind the scenes update about having time left on his hosting site and uses the episode as a chance to connect one on one with the audience, reminding them that there are many finished interviews already lined up and more content coming soon.Dave also encourages listeners to follow the show on YouTube, where they can get a look at what is being recorded before it appears on the podcast feed. He invites the audience to use the YouTube channel as a backstage pass to the show and asks for support through subscribing, liking, and sharing. Along with that, he highlights the show's Buy Me a Coffee page for listeners who want to help cover the costs of running the website and producing the podcast.Throughout the episode, Dave focuses on community. He asks listeners to recommend the show to others who love books, authors, and the stories behind the stories, and he invites them to send voice messages through the website so they can be featured on the podcast. He also mentions that listeners can leave comments on Spotify and YouTube, reinforcing his goal of making the show interactive and listener driven.More than anything, this episode is a heartfelt thank you. Dave explains that he wants the podcast to serve both listeners and guests well, helping authors reach new audiences and giving listeners a place to discover meaningful conversations. It is a reminder that Living the Next Chapter is built around connection, support, and shared enthusiasm for great stories.Key takeaway: This episode is an invitation to be part of the Living the Next Chapter community by listening, sharing, supporting, and joining the conversation in whatever way feels right for you.____https://livingthenextchapter.com/https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediacahttps://www.youtube.com/@LivingTheNextChapterSend us Fan MailSupport 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  698 - Joe Battaglia - Award-winning journalist, From High School Sports to Olympic Coverage - We Go for Gold “Beneath The Rings”Joe Battaglia is a seasoned and award-winning journalist who spent years in The Olympics arena. With over two decades in sports media, Battaglia has led content creation across news, politics, and athletics, including a role on the NBCOlympics.com team that earned a Sports Emmys for Outstanding New Approaches To Sports Event Coverage for the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Summer Olympics. He currently lives in Texas with his family. Joe is the author of the award-winning children's book, The ABCs of Track & Field: A Fast Start For Future Runners Jumpers & Throwers, and Beneath the Rings is his debut adult novel. Book - Beneath The Rings - The Doha 2040 Summer Olympics are supposed to be about gold medals and global unity. Instead, they kick off a descent into terror when 12 Israeli and Lebanese athletes vanish, leaving behind only the chilling threat of The Obsidian Hand and an impossible $500 billion ransom. Veteran journalist Nova Mendelsohn finds herself entangled with a cryptic Ancient Arabic note and a mysterious local merchant, forced to race the clock. Her pursuit of the truth will take her from the glittering Olympic Village into the city's darkest corners and onto the blood-soaked sands of the desert, where a centuries-old vengeance threatens to ignite a catastrophic final act. What secrets lie beneath the surface of the Games, and what will it cost Nova to uncover them?https://booksbybattaglia.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 697 - Rae Dumont - In the Shadow of Silence - A Novel of love and joy leading to the descent of untreated depression and unbearable lossIn this episode, author Rae Dumont shares the inspiration behind her novel In the Shadow of Silence, a story drawn from her decades as a pediatrician and family therapist. Living in a New Jersey suburb near Manhattan, Dumont explains how the book demanded to be written, capturing fundamental truths about families facing mental health struggles, particularly depression. Influenced by James Baldwin's commitment to truth, she focuses on relational dynamics rather than specific events, portraying no person as an island.The novel centers on Lyman, a man battling depression, and his family's emotional turmoil—anger, guilt, inadequacy, and confusion among his wife Eva and children. Dumont wrote for those suffering in silence, emphasizing they are not alone; help exists through therapy, medication as an adjunct, couples counseling, exercise, and awareness practices. She highlights how children notice parental moods early, like Lyman's young daughter's tears prompting his initial treatment, and stresses modeling help-seeking as strength, not weakness, to break generational cycles of unspoken trauma and suicide.Family members grapple with mixed feelings, such as frustration when efforts to help fail, and the dangers of stopping treatment impulsively without support. Dumont addresses cultural stigmas, especially for men, urging collaborative monitoring instead of solo battles. Post-tragedy, she advocates space for diverse reactions—fury, grief, or silence—using tools like family mapping to reveal what kids already sense.Key Takeaway: You are not alone in depression or supporting a loved one through it—reach out for help, talk openly, and model vulnerability to foster healing and connection across generations. About Rae Dumont I am a mother, a widow, a friend. As a pediatrician and a family therapist, I have shared in many people's experiences, and tried to help.I hope to bring these lives to the page, and to share what they taught me.This book is for you, if you have struggled with depression. There are people who love you, and reasons to live.If you have tried to help a loved one who does battle with darkness, this book will show that you are not alonehttps://www.raedumontwriting.org/Please read  my blog on SUBSTACKhttps://raedumont.substack. comSend us Fan MailSupport 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 696 - Heather Ogden - The Lies We Fear - The Betrayal, Dark Fantasy, Power and Control, Truth as RebellionHeather Ogden is a writer, fantasy worldbuilder, and lifelong storyteller who finds strength in solitude and meaning in imagination. As an introvert, she's always been drawn to quiet spaces where deep emotions and layered characters can unfold without noise.She writes to explore identity, power, and the fragile line between loyalty and truth—often through morally gray characters and emotionally intense worlds. Her stories come from a place of reflection, curiosity, and a desire to understand the unspoken.When not writing, Heather loves immersive storytelling in all forms: whether it's sinking into a novel, strategizing through a D&D campaign, or exploring character-driven video games. She believes fantasy is a mirror—and that some truths are best discovered in the dark.The Betrayal: The Lies We Fear - Poised with regal grace and pristine wealth, Angelette Arabella is the dutiful daughter of Valerius Arabella, a dictator who rules with an iron fist. When she stumbles upon a series of long-buried secrets that threaten to dismantle their carefully crafted lives, she faces a harrowing choice: expose the truth and risk everything or remain silent and let the lies continue. As tensions rise and loyalties shift, she must decide who to trust in a game where betrayal lurks around every corner.Will Angelette have the courage to face the darkness, or will her fear silence her forever?https://www.thelieswefear.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 695 - Becca Pearce - You Don't Have to Achieve to Be Loved - Identity, Health Scare and Rebuilding, and For WhatIn this heartfelt conversation, Becca Pearce shares her personal journey from striving for relentless achievement to discovering the simple truth that love does not depend on accomplishment. Joining from Baltimore, Maryland, Becca recounts how her community, the influence of her city's sporting legacy, and her close network of family and friends helped shape her sense of self. Early in her career, she took on a massive challenge: leading Maryland's implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Despite her dedication, the project's failed launch left her facing public professional loss and an identity crisis.Soon after, Becca was diagnosed with a brain tumor that upended her life even further. Recovery demanded extraordinary vulnerability and forced her to accept help from her young daughter and family. These experiences, coupled with the slow journey of healing and re-learning basic skills, made Becca realize that her worth wasn't tied to her career, her title, or her ability to “do it all.” She describes powerful moments of shifting from the desire for external validation to a new focus on the relationships and inner values that truly matter.As she wrote her book, Becca revisited old stories she'd told herself, confronting difficult truths and embracing narrative change. She found that the act of writing became a path to healing, helping her rewrite her own perceptions and guiding the book's structure to support others going through change. Becca's book leads readers through a step-by-step transformation process, with journaling prompts to help recognize unhappiness, break free from achievement-driven thinking, and re-center life around values and authentic connection.Becca also offers practical advice on how to recover from setbacks and ego bruises, such as stopping to breathe, expressing emotions in healthy ways, and assessing the trusted people who remain when achievements fall away. She emphasizes the importance of uncovering and living your personal core values, and how these can evolve as your definition of success changes. Through all her coaching work, Becca aims to help clients move from confusion and discomfort toward clarity and purposeful living.For listeners, the episode is a reminder that true love and worth are found not in perfection, titles, or achievement, but in the simple act of showing up as your authentic, vulnerable self.Key Takeaway:Becca's story challenges the belief that we must achieve to be loved. Instead, it offers hope: no matter the setbacks, losses, or life changes, you can rewrite your own narrative, reconnect with your values, and discover fulfillment through self-acceptance and meaningful relationships.Book Information:"You Don't Have to Achieve to Be Loved: Escape the Lies You've Been Sold to Design the Life You Want" is available wherever books are sold.https://morebeccapearce.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 694 - Anna B Reardon - Wethersfield Road - A love letter to anyone who's ever felt like they were too muchLiving The Next Chapter welcomes author Anna B. Reardon to dive into her debut novel, Wethersfield Road, and the deeply human journey behind it. Speaking from her home in Austin, Texas, Anna shares the vibrant backdrop of her city and how its mix of nature and creativity mirrors the many layers of her own story—a story of recovery, self-discovery, and learning to love being “too much in the best way.”Anna describes Wethersfield Road as “autofiction,” blending truth and imagination to explore her path to sobriety and wellness in her twenties. The novel follows Amelia, a young woman who, after a life-altering accident, begins the difficult but beautiful process of rebuilding her relationship with herself and with the world. As Anna explains, the horse, the forest, and the natural world became metaphors for healing—reminding her that the journey back to being human often starts with connecting to something simple and alive.Writing the book, she says, was both healing and frightening, the act of putting private chaos into public words. Anna shares that some passages came from journal entries written during her darkest times, offering an authentic lens on depression and recovery. She discusses how fiction gave her freedom to tell emotional truths safely—Amelia could voice the thoughts Anna once couldn't. And in one of many poetic moments, Anna recounts writing a scene about ladybugs only to feel one land on her arm mid-sentence, a synchronicity that affirmed her belief in paying attention to life's quiet signs.Throughout the conversation, Anna reflects on addiction not only to substances but to validation, control, and even distraction. She describes the concept of “coping mechanism whack-a-mole,” where one unhealthy escape replaces another, and how true healing comes when we stop chasing external fixes and begin to trust our own inner resilience. Her metaphor of “the national forest versus the amusement park” captures this beautifully—the forest being the authentic, grounded self that doesn't need flash or noise to be enough.The episode also touches on broader themes of millennial womanhood—the ache of growing up under impossible standards, the challenge of learning emotional literacy in the digital age, and the rediscovery of self-worth that so many experience in adulthood. Ultimately, Anna's story is a testament to transformation, connection, and creative courage.Key takeaway: Healing is not about becoming someone new—it's about remembering who you already are. As Anna reminds listeners, discomfort isn't a red light, it's a green one. Growth often feels unnatural before it becomes second nature.https://www.anna-writes.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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 693 - Lally Pia - Fortune Teller's Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely DoctorLally Pia is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and an award-winning author. Her debut memoir, The Fortune Teller's Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor was published by She Writes Press in April, 2024. It received first place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards (2023), third place at the Independent Book Publisher Awards (2024) and second place at Book Fest (2024).Lally was a finalist in the nationwide talent search for America's Next Great Author (2022). Her article about recovery from a stroke featured in The Davis Enterprise and on Doximity's Op-Med. A video, A Day in the Life of a Psychiatrist, landed over 71,000 views. She amassed over half a million views on TikTok @theunlikelydoctor.Lally worked as assistant professor at California North State University School of Medicine and is currently a voluntary faculty member there. She is on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento California Writers Club.Lally has lived in Sri Lanka, Wales, England and Pennsylvania and she currently lives in Davis, California with her husband, Tim. She is currently completing a novel, Andorea, (psychological suspense). She is pitching a TV pilot based on her memoir.Book: The Fortune Teller's Prophecy - A single mother must navigate the difficult path of family, promises and elusive dreams. When Lally was three months old, a fortune teller told her father that she would one day become a doctor. Could he be right?https://www.lallypia.com/Send us Fan MailSupport 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

Send us Fan MailEPISODE 692 - Sandra Freels - Anneke Jans in the New World - an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary lifeOriginally from Indiana, Sandra Freels majored in Russian at Indiana University and then completed a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures at Stanford University. The author of three textbooks, for many years she headed the Russian Program at Portland State University. An interest in genealogy led Sandra to the Council Records of New Netherland and the delicious stories of the people who once lived there. She claims descent from Anneke Jans and sixteen other major and minor characters in her debut novel, Anneke Jans in the New World. Sandra at present lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband Joel and their two cats.COMING JANUARY 6, 2025Timed perfectly to publish just as New York celebrates its 400th birthday, a riveting story of a spirited young mother who faces the unknowns of seventeenth-century New Amsterdam after fleeing the Old World in search of a better life.It's 1630, and Anneke Jans has just arrived in the fledgling colony of New Netherland with her husband, Roelof, and their two young daughters to create a new life for herself and her family. One of very few women in the colony, Anneke quickly realizes that she will need to make her own rules if she is to survive.When Roelof dies, Anneke marries Everardus Bogardus, the flamboyant minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. With this marriage, Anneke joins the elites of the colony—but when the colony's new director provokes war with the region's American Indians and her new husband emerges as the head of the anti-war opposition, she also finds herself in the midst of political turmoil. As difficulties mount, she must rely more than ever on her quick wits to protect herself and her growing family.Based on real events, Anneke Jans in the New World tells the story of an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life.https://sandrafreels.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