Novelist Spotlight

In the spotlight is Hank Quense, whose latest book is titled “The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication.” Quense's fiction works include the Gundarland series, the Princess Moxie series, and the soon-to-be-published Zaftan series. His non-fiction books include titles such as “How to Self-Publish and Market a Book, “Book Marketing Fundamentals, “Business Basics for Authors,” and “Creating Your First Novel.”Quense has been strongly influenced by two authors in particular: Douglas Adams and his novel “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” and the Joseph Heller classic “Catch-22.”Learn more about Hank Quense here: https://hankquense.comNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Melissa Edwards, literary agent and executive vice president at Stonesong, the New York-based literary agency. She also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting. We discuss: >> Traditional versus self-publishing >> Handling incoming manuscripts >> Importance of the query letter >> Standard agent/author agreements >> Expectation of the author/agent relationship >> Etc. Learn more about Melissa Edwards here: https://www.stonesong.com/melissa-edwards To learn more about Melissa Edwards work as a contract consultant for authors and agents, go here: https://www.melissaedwardsesq.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Ruby Peru who, studied under Kurt Vonnegut during the 1980s, and David Foster Wallace during the 1990s, and today ghostwrites memoirs, as well as offering developmental editing services. She has also written a novel titled “Bits of String too Small to Save,” among other books.  We discuss:  >> The distinction between memoirs and autobiographies >> Ruby Peru's ghostwriting methodology >> The keys to writing a successful memoir >> Development book editing >> The psychology of readers >> Etc.  Learn more about Ruby Peru's books and writing services here: https://rubyperu.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Kevin Moore, author of “The Book of Souls,” a mystical ghost story and the first in a series of books featuring protagonist Jack Kelly and his paranormal abilities. The sequel to that book is “The Book of Demons” (think Harry Potter meets The Exorcist). Moore will continue the Jack Kelly paranormal saga with a third book released later this year. His play, “Conversations from the Sports Arena,” was performed at the HBO Theater in Hollywood, and his children's picture book, “Me and My Shadow,” was published in 2021.  We discuss:  >> Lucid dreaming >> Paranormal abilities >> Spirituality >> Ghosts >> Zen Catholicism >> The power of love >> Yoga >> Reiki >> Etc.  Learn more about Kevin Moore here: https://kevinmoorepublishing.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Yasmin Angoe, the Anthony-nominated author of the critically acclaimed thriller Her Name Is Knight of the Nena Knight series, which has been optioned for a television series. Her Name Is Knight has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, OprahDaily.com, POPSUGAR, Nerd Daily, the Washington Independent Review of Books, The Guardian, and other platforms. Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation immigrant from Ghana, Africa, and in 2020 received the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from the organization Sisters in Crime.   We discuss:     >> Finding an agent >> Letting the story incubate  >> The sustainability of a series character  >> The psychographics of Nena Knight >> Life in Ghana, Africa >> Obligations of a black female author >> Etc.  Learn more about Yasmin Angoe here: https://yasminangoe.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is award-winning political fiction writer Michael Fedor. He is the author of three published novels: “Tree of Liberty,” “What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose” and “The Senate Deception.” With more than 20 years of political organizing experience, Fedor is known for writing fast-paced and dramatic copy, underpinned by meticulous research into his subject matter. A former candidate and elected official himself, Fedor retired from political life in 2020. Like Bull Moose, his main character, Fedor is an avid outdoorsman, a voracious reader, and a student of history.  We discuss:   >> Writing for volume >> The Bull Moose Party >> The connection between fishing and writing resilience >> The voices in one's head >> Working within a writing group >> The isolation and loneliness of writing >> Searching for a new agent >> The streaming binge list >> Etc.  Learn more about Michael Fedor here: https://michaelfedorbooks.com/   Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Libby Cudmore, Shamus and Black Orchid award winner and the author of the acclaimed novel The Big Rewind, as well as a novel titled Negative Girl. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, among other publications. She has also co-edited the Anthony-nominated anthology Lawyers, Guns & Money: Crime Fiction Inspired by The Music of Warren Zevon.  We discuss:  >> Creating characters >> The importance of the supporting cast >> Raymond Chandler >> Hot spots in Binghamton, N.Y. >> Music >> Fashion >> Movies >> Elliot Gould vs. Clive Owen >> Patrick Swayze vs. Jake Gyllenhaal >> Etc.  Learn more about Libby Cudmore here: www.libbycudmore.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Abigail Owen, the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 books that range from YA epic romantasy to adult modern mythic romantasy to super-spicy adult paranormal romance. She is also the author of a Writer's Digest article about how to get your novel off to a great start.  We discuss:  >> The writers' and agents' ocean cruise>> Focusing on small, achievable daily goals>> Writing with ADHD>> Her best marketing tip?>> The greatest compliment received from readers>> The emotional rewards of writing>> Why everyone should skydive at least once>> Etc. Learn more about Abigail Owen here: https://abigailowen.com  Read her great beginnings article here: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/top-4-tips-for-writing-great-beginnings  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com   

In the spotlight is Amy Daughters, author of the books “Dear Dana” and “You Cannot Mess This Up.” She is also a keynote speaker and a “spreader of the hope.”>> Writing letters>> Facebook connections>> Her appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show>> Comedic writing>> The Houston Astrodome>> The Texas panhandle>> Her time in England>> Writing for the Bleacher Report>> Etc.Learn more about Amy Daughters here: https://www.amydaughters.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com  

In the spotlight is Ran Walker, short fiction proponent and the author of more than 35 books, ranging from novellas, short stories and flash fiction to micro-fiction and poetry. Walker worked in magazine publishing and practiced law in Mississippi before fully committing himself to fiction writing. He is also at work on various short movie projects, with an eye toward films around one minute in length. Walker is also an associate professor of English and creative writing at Hampton University and teaches with Writer's Digest University.   We discuss:  >> Moving from novels to short fiction >> Flash fiction compared with micro-fiction >> Giving oneself the gift of time >> Growing up with books >> Micro-cinema >> Career turning points >> Lydia Davis >> Miles Davis >> Etc.  Learn more about Ran Walker here: https://www.ranwalker.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no        Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com  

In the spotlight is Alyson Richman, a USA Today and international bestselling author of historical novels, including “The Velvet Hours,” “The Garden of Letters,” and “The Lost Wife,” which is in development as a motion picture. Alyson Richman is also an accomplished painter, and her novels combine her penchant for art, historical research and travel. Her novels have been published in 25 languages and have reached the bestseller lists both in the United States and abroad. We discuss:  >> Writing like one paints >> The writer's code of honor >> Writing in a dreamy, gossamer state of mind >> Starting a novel with a question to be resolved >> Avoiding formulas and outlines >> Writing as though each novel is the last >> Her next novel >> Etc.  Learn more about Alyson Richman here: www.alysonrichman.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no      Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Sandra Scofield, a National Book Award finalist who made the monumental decision to move from traditional publishing to self-publishing with her ninth novel, titled “Little Ships,” which Scofield deems her best and most mature work yet. In addition to her novels, Scofield has authored a memoir, a book of essays, a book of stories, and two books on the craft of writing. She is a faculty member of the Solstice MFA low residency program at Lasell University and has taught at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival since 1993. We discuss:>> Literature versus genre writing  >> Not finding a place in the market  >> Living in convent boarding schools  >> The agent in a self-publishing situation  >> Her next novel: “All the Nuns Are Dead”  >> Retirement  >> Etc.Learn more about Sandra Scofield here: https://www.sandrajscofield.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no      Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight, joining us from the City of Brotherly Love, is C.J. Spataro. C.J. (who also goes by the name Carla) is cofounder of the literary magazine Philadelphia Stories and director of the MFA writing program at Rosemont College, as well as director of the master's in publishing program at the college. Her short fiction has won numerous awards, including her short story “The Twi-Lite,” which won the Iron Horse Literary Review Fiction Trifecta. Though she made her name in short fiction, Spataro's debut novel, More Strange Than True, hit the market this year. We discuss: >> The nexus between music and writing >> The utility of short stories >> The 3X writing process >> The unpublished novels lying in wait >> Her next novel >> How “Philadelphia Stories” literary journal came into being >> Etc.  Learn more about C.J. Spataro here: https://www.cjspataro.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is the late, great novelist Paul Auster and one of his friends and biographers, I.B. Siegumfeldt, who spent three years logging conversations between herself and Paul Auster and compiling those conversations into a book titled A LIFE IN WORDS — a wide-ranging dialogue between Auster and the Danish professor, in what has been called a “remarkably candid and sharply focused investigation” into Auster's art, craft and life. In total, Paul Auster wrote more than 30 books, some translated into more than forty languages, as well as writing the screenplays for a selection of films. We discuss: >> The first sentence of his novels>> His imaginative characters and storytelling>> Work style>> Popularity in Europe>> The Paul Auster Research Library and The Paul Auster Society>> His passion for and involvement in cinema>> Etc. Learn more about Paul Auster here: https://www.faber.co.uk/author/paul-auster Learn more about I.B. “Gita” Siegumfeldt here: https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/persons/inge-birgitte-siegumfeldtNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Chad Boudreaux, former deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where he advised department leader Michael Chertoff, and current chief legal officer at Huntington Ingalls Industries, the nation's largest military shipbuilder. Along the way, Boudreaux became a novelist, writing the thrillers “Scavenger Hunt” and “Homecoming.” His forthcoming novel is titled “Mob Justice.”  We discuss:  >> Legal versus fiction writing >> Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum >> Submarines and shipbuilding >> Hidden floors in buildings >> Waco, Texas and the Branch Davidians >> Etc.  Learn more about Chad Boudreaux and his books here: https://www.chadboudreaux.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Rosie Walker, author of psychological thrillers, her latest being “My Husband's Ex.” That novel was pre-dated by three other psych trillers: “The Baby Monitor,” “The House Fire” and “Secrets of a Serial Killer.”  We discuss:  >> The role of the unconscious mind >> Plotting and analysis using an Excel spreadsheet >> Hitting a daily word count >> Pacing >> Being open to agents and editors' input >> Keeping up the momentum >> Book coaching >> Etc.  Learn more about Rosie Walker, her books and editorial services here: https://www.rosiejanewalker.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is best-selling author, Emmy-award-winning television producer and media strategist Paula Rizzo. She did the television production thing for nearly 20 years before going on her own to train experts, authors and entrepreneurs on how to be media-ready and build their reputations in the traditional and social media realms.  We discuss:  >> Her path to television production >> The decision to move from TV to media strategist >> How she works with authors >> The online courses available >> Her bestselling “lists” books >> The tools of the marketing trade >> The 10 questions every author needs to answer >> Etc.  Learn more about Paula Rizzo here: https://paularizzo.com  Get Paula Rizzo's free list of the 10 questions every author needs to answer here: https://paularizzo.com/10Q  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

She was born in Saudi Arabia, moved to India as an adolescent, and later to the United States and Canada in her twenties. Today, Deepa Rajagopalan has published a short story collection titled “Peacocks of Instagram,” whose title story won the 2021 PEN Canada New Voices Award, and is now working on her first novel, titled “We Have Come Empty Handed,” the story of a disparate group of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, whose lives become entangled and caught in the exigencies of war, deception and intolerance.  We discuss:  >> Her path to publication >> Life in Saudi Arabia >> Mentorship >> Her influences >> Writers conferences and book expos >> Etc.  Learn more about Deepa Rajagopalan here: https://www.deeparajagopalan.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

She began her career as an actor for stage and screen, then became a novelist around age 40, selling more than half-a-million books thus far. Today, Barbara Kyle is also a mentor, book coach and popular speaker at writers' conferences. We discuss: >> The move from acting to fiction writing >>  Three things agents and publishers must see and the first 30 pages of a would-be novel >> The importance of writing a detailed >> The problem with passive characters >> The chief issue dogging aspiring novelists >> Useful fiction-writing books >> Etc.  Learn more about Barbara Kyle here: https://www.barbarakyle.com/ Sign up for Barbara Kyle's free webinar — 3 Things Agents & Publishers Must See in Your First 30 Pages — here: https://www.barbarakyle.com/free-webinarNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is John Darnton, novelist and author of six novels, including “Burning Sky,” his latest. Darnton worked 40 years at the New York Times cover city hall before becoming a foreign correspondent in Africa; Warsaw, Poland; Madrid; and London. Along the way he won a Pulitzer Prize and two George Polk Awards, while moonlighting as a novelist. In addition to his six novels, Darnton has also written a memoir (“Almost a Family”) about his father's life and death as a foreign war correspondent.  We discuss:  >> The transition from reporter to novelist >> His daily word count >> His work style pre- and post-retirement >> The inspiration of Charles Darwin >> His father's life and death >> Reporting on Lech Walesa and Poland's Solidarity movement >> Etc.  Learn more about John Darnton here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/6414/john-darnton/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no         Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Rachel Turow, a San Francisco native who earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon. She is the author of the book The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head.  We discuss:  >> The principles of self-talk >> Feeling bad about feeling bad >> Wordless self-criticism >> Speaking about yourself in third person >> Organizing a self-talk group >> Meditation >> The tug-of-war between writer and internal critic >> Emotional vicissitudes >> Crossing things off your list  Get a copy of The Self-Talk Workout here: https://snip.ly/p7fc97  Learn more about Rachel Turow here: https://www.rachelturow.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no       Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is U.K.-based novelist Marek Handzel, the author of six titles, including the forthcoming book “The Anchorite.” His other titles include “The Dojang,” “I Must Stay Home,” “Redemptio,” “Through Open Doors” and “The Gaff.”   We discuss:  >> The Shroud of Turin >> Isolation >> Catholicism >> Martial arts >> Writing at night >> Naming characters >> Historical references >> Novellas vs. novels >> Etc.  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is the late novelist Joseph Heller of Catch-22 fame, and one of his biographers, Tracy Daughtery, who is himself the author of six novels, a novella connection, six short story collections, a book of personal essays, and a collection of essays on literature and writing.  In addition, he has published biographies of Donald Barthelme, Larry McMurtry, Joan Didion, Billy Lee Brammer, etc.We discuss:  >> Catch-22's original title>> Heller's celebrity lifestyle>> His other novels>> Book editor Robert Gottlieb>> The Heller Cult>> Wartime novels>> Tracy Daugherty's latest books>> Etc.  Learn more about Tracy Daugherty and his books here: https://tracydaugherty.com Learn more about Joseph Heller here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Heller Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is Tom Zoellner, the author of nine nonfiction books, including Island on Fire: The Revolt that Ended Slavery in the British Empire, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for the best nonfiction book of 2020 and a finalist for the Bancroft Prize and the California Book Award. He works as a professor at Chapman University and Dartmouth College, and as an editor-at-large for the Los Angeles Review of Books.  We discuss:  >> The three questions every author should ask while deciding on a subject >> The mistakes aspiring writers tend to make >> Teaching creative nonfiction >> What AI does well >> Arizona >> Train travel >> Etc.  Learn more about Tom Zoellner and his books here: https://tomzoellner.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

In the spotlight is biographer and storyteller Laurence Leamer, whose most recent bio, “Capote's Women,” has been turned into a Hulu series and has been nominated for five Emmy Awards. He is the author of more than 18 books, including five New York Times bestsellers and one off-Broadway play.  We discuss:   >> His choice of subjects >> His work style >> Being fired by Newsweek magazine  >> Johnny Carson and his ex-wives >> Andy Warhol's muses  >> Truman Capote's demons  >> Etc.   Learn more about Laurence Leamer here: https://www.leamer.com    Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no    Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In the spotlight is Amanda DuBois, author of the Camille Delaney mystery series. She is the founder and managing partner of the DuBois Levias Law Group, a woman-owned boutique family law practice in Seattle. She was also a former high-risk labor and delivery nurse at the University of Washington Medical Center, before beginning her legal career in medical malpractice. Today, she writes from her own experiences of confronting injustice.We discuss:>> Legal thrillers>> Developmental editing>> Meditation as a writing tool>> The law profession>> Medical practice>> Social justice>> Etc.Learn more about Amanda DuBois here: https://amandadubois.com/Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is Paula Treick DeBoard, novelist and new bookstore owner. In April 2024, DeBoard opened Bookish in Modesto, Calif., and discusses her motivation and her strategy for succeeding. She is also the author of four family dramas, the novels “The Mourning Hours,” “The Fragile World,” “The Drowning Girls” and “Here We Lie.” She also teaches writing at the University of California, Merced. Check out the Bookish website here: https://www.bookishmodesto.com/ Learn more about Paula Treick DeBoard here: http://www.paulatreickdeboard.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

Ask literary critics to name the greatest American novelists of the past 50 years and Don DeLillo's name is sure to be there. DeLillo, now 87, has written more than 18 novels and has won awards ranging from the National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award to the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.   Discussing his career during this episode are Jesse Kavadlo and Aaron DeRosa, both members of the Don DeLillo Society. Kavadlo is also a professor of English and humanities and the director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Maryville University of St. Louis, and DeRosa is also an assistant professor of 20th and 21st century American literature at California State Polytechnic University.  Learn more about Don DeLillo here: https://delillosociety.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

Matt Coyle is the author of the best-selling Rick Cahill crime novels. Though he has wanted to be a crime writer since age 14, his actual foray into crime fiction was delayed for 30 years while he spent time managing a restaurant, selling golf clubs for various golf companies, and doing national sales for a sports licensing company. He wrote nights for more than a decade in producing his 2013 debut novel “Yesterday's Echo.” He has since published a total of 10 Rick Cahill novels and he has won numerous awards.  We discuss:  >> Writers' groups >> Book conferences >> Writing without outlines >> First drafts >> Moving from first-person to third-person storytelling >> Advice for aspiring crime writers >> Etc.  Learn more about Matt Coyle here: https://mattcoylebooks.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is William Styron, the famed author of novels that included “Sophie's Choice” and “The Confessions of Nat Turner.” Joining the great author in the spotlight is William Styron biographer Jim West, professor of English, emeritus, at Pennsylvania State University. He is a biographer and book historian, and the author of several books, including “William Styron: A Life.”  We discuss:  >> The controversies spawned by Styron's most important novels >> Writing with a vision rather than an outline >> Autonomy of characters >> The depression he suffered >> The unspoken competition with Truman Capote >> The spoken competition with Norman Mailer >> His place in literary history >> Etc.  Learn more about William Styron here: https://william-styron.com/obituaries Learn more about James West here: https://english.la.psu.edu/directory/jlw14Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.   

In the spotlight is John Updike and University of Cincinnati literature professor James Schiff, author of the book “John Updike Revisited.” Schiff, who is also editor of the John Updike Review, talks about Updike's more than 60 books, short stories, poetry, reviews and letters — and the two Pulitzer Prizes and other awards. We discuss his: >> Time at The New Yorker >> Passion for the visual arts >> Work ethic and productivity >> Creation of the Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom series of novels >> Visual writing >> Sexually charged writing>> Etc. Learn more about John Updike here: https://johnupdikechildhoodhome.com/author/johnupdikesociety/ Learn more about James Schiff here: https://researchdirectory.uc.edu/p/schiffja Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.  

In the spotlight is D.H. Lawrence, the great and controversial novelist, and Richard Kaye, professor of literature in the English department at Hunter College, part of the city university system in Manhattan. Since 2017, Mr. Kaye has been the editor of The D. H. Lawrence Review, the 50-year-old journal dealing with the life and work of the British writer. We discuss: >> The censorship of Lawrence's novels>> Lady Chatterly's Lover>> D.H. Lawrence's status as one of the greatest writers of his century>> His modernist works>> His take on social alienation and industrialization>> His championing of sexuality, vitality and instinct>> Etc. Learn more about D.H. Lawrence here: https://www.dhlawrencesociety.com Learn more about Richard Kaye here: https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/english/richard-kaye/richard-kaye Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Ben Fox, founder of Shepherd.com, an upstart competitor to Amazon, Goodreads and other major online booksellers. Fox, who reads 100 books a year, believes that books build better human beings, and he is on a mission to help everyone find the book they didn't know they were looking for.   We discuss:  >> The weakness of Amazon >> The strengths of Shepherd >> How the site helps authors and readers >> Bookstores >> Serendipity >> Etc.  Learn more about Shepherd by visiting the website here: https://shepherd.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.  

In the spotlight is the author of “Bright Lights, Big City” — the explosively successful debut novel by Jay McInerney, selling 700,000 copies during its first year, and tens-of-thousands of copies annually for years running. Dubbed a member of the 1980s “brat pack” (along with Bret Easton Ellis and Tama Janowitz), McInerney followed his sensational rookie effort with titles including: “Story of My Life,” “Brightness Falls,” “The Last of the Savages,” “Model Behavior” and “The Last Bachelor,” and others.  We discuss:  >> Writing in second person >> The trappings of literary success >> His new projects >> Raymond Carver >> New York's literati >> Contrasting the 1980s with the 2020s >> His passion for wine and writing columns about the fermented grape >> Etc.  Learn more about Jay McInerney here: https://jaymcinerney.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Sasha Vasilyuk, author of the debut novel YOUR PRESENCE IS MANDATORY, now available for pre-order and soon to be published in the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, Finland and Brazil. She is also a journalist who has written for The New York Times, TIME magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Harper's Bazaar, NBC, USA Today, and other media outlets.  We discuss:  >> The transition from journalist to novelist >> A key San Francisco writers' group >> Multisensory writing >> The macrocosm versus the microcosm >> The invasion of Ukraine >> Alexie Navalny >> Russian POWs >> Etc.  Learn more about Sasha Vasilyuk here: www.sashavasilyuk.com   Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Jonathan Eller, author of a three-volume biography of science fiction novelist and short story writer Ray Bradbury. Eller is also founding director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies at Indiana University. We discuss Ray Bradbury's  >> writing lessons>> work ethic>> fear of the dark>> love of magic>> passion for ideas>> Los Angeles basement>> Favorite authors>> Etc. Learn more about Ray Bradbury here: https://raybradbury.com/  Learn more about Jonathan Eller here: https://liberalarts.iupui.edu/centers/iat/directory/jonathan-r-eller/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is romance novelist Audrey Carlan, a No. 1 New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller. She writes stories that help readers “find themselves while falling in love.” Some of her works include the Calendar Girl serial, the Trinity series, the International Guy series, 1001 Dark Nights series, and the Marriage Auction series. Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages. We discuss: >> Moving from self-published to traditional publisher>> The inspiration from Fifty Shades of Grey>> Reading three hours per night>> The temperamental muse>> Writing effective sex scenes>> Etc. Learn more about Audrey Carlan here: https://audreycarlan.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is T.C. Boyle, the author of more than 30 books of fiction, including titles such as “Blue Skies,” “The Harder They Come,” “The Terranauts," “The Relive Box,” “Outside Looking In,” “Talk to Me” and “I Walk Between the Raindrops.” He was a longtime lit professor at USC, and his books have been translated into more than two dozen foreign languages.  We discuss:  >> Writing methods >> Narrative >> Teaching the craft >> Music >> Drugs >> The outdoors >> Optimism and pessimist >> Etc.  Learn more about T.C. Boyle here: https://www.tcboyle.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.  

In the spotlight is Joanna Penn, who teaches how to write, publish and market your book — and make a living with your writing. She is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author more than 35 books published and almost 1 million sold across 169 countries in five languages. She is also a podcaster, international speaker, and entrepreneur. But it hasn't always been this way for Joanna Penn. She was an IT consultant for 13 years for large corporations in Europe and Asia. Though well employed, she was determined to become a full-time novelist — and accomplished that feat in September 2011. In February 2011, she published her first thriller novel “Pentecost,” later republished as “Stone of Fire.” There are now 11 books in the ARKANE action-adventure thriller series, described by readers as “Dan Brown meets Lara Croft.” We discuss: >> Why she writes fiction under the name J.F. Penn >> Why she writes nonfiction under Joanna Penn >> The use of generative AI >> Selling books through an author's Shopify store >> The Creative Penn podcast >> Traveling for research >> Her theological studies >> Etc. Learn more about Joanna Penn here: https://www.thecreativepenn.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Cornell University professor of literature Robert Morgan, who will discuss the life, times and writings of famed novelist Thomas Wolfe. Morgan has a good deal in common with the author. Thomas Wolfe hails from Asheville, N.C., and Robert Morgan hails from Henderson County, just south of Asheville. They have the same birthday (Oct. 3), and both are graduates from the Chapel Hill campus of the University of North Carolina, an both lived most of their adult lives in the northern U.S.  Robert Morgan is himself a poet, short story writer, novelist and author of nonfiction books — 15 books of poetry, nine volumes of fiction, and three nonfiction books. His bestselling novel “Gap Creek” was an Oprah Book Club selection.  We discuss:  >> Being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey >> What people don't get about poetry >> The sound and voice of poetry >> Learning to be reckless with one's prose >> Aline Bernstein, Thomas Wolfe's mistress and muse >> Southerners and storytelling? >> Etc.  Learn more about Robert Morgan's writing and books here: https://www.robert-morgan.com/   Learn more about Robert Morgan's professorship at Cornell University here: https://english.cornell.edu/robert-morgan  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is TV and movie writer/producer/executive producer and creator Dean Hargrove. He has been writing and creating television series since 1961 when he became a staff writer on the first “Bob Newhart Show.” He became the sole staff writer on “The Man from UNCLE” and wrote the screenplay for the pilot of “Columbo.” Thereafter, he created and produced “Matlock,” “Jake and the Fatman,” “The Father Dowling Mysteries,” “McBride,” “Jane Doe” and “Murder 101.” He also wrote and produced 33 Perry Mason movies, among many other programs — and he's not done. Dean Hargrove is currently developing a radio podcast series titled “The Trials of Johnnie Cochran,” as well as a potential British TV series titled “The Trial of Joan of Arc.”  We discuss:  >> Breaking into the business >> How TV programs come into being >> UCLA Film School >> The career turning point >> The brilliance of producer Fred Silverman >> The “golden age of television” >> The lifestyle of a TV writer >> Etc.  Learn more about Dean Hargrove here: https://www.deanhargrove.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

It took Carl Vonderau a long time to become a full-time author. He left his native Cleveland to study economics at Stanford, then spent more than 30 years as a banker in the United States, Latin America and North Africa — international settings that served as inspiration for his crime novels “Murderabilia” and “Saving Myles.” His work was honored with a Left Coast Crime award for Best Debut, and a San Diego Book award for Best Mystery.  We discuss:  >> Why behind every crime is a family >> The importance of setting and point of view. >> Focusing on “voice” >> The use of objects in character development and storytelling >> Writing 50,000 words in a month. >> Getting an agent through a one-sentence pitch >> Using a developmental editor >> Being raised a Christian Scientist >> Etc.  Learn more about Carl Vonderau here: https://carlvonderau.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Daniel Kraus, New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV and film. His collaboration with legendary filmmaker George Romero (“The Living Dead”) was acclaimed by The New York Times and The Washington Post, and during his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored “The Shape of Water,” the Oscar-winning film. Kraus's work has been translated into more than 20 languages. We discuss: >> Writing as obsession >> Combining plotted and freeform writing >> Genre hopping >> Hitting the cover of the New York Times Book Review >> His objective to “write beautifully about terrible things” >> The writer's work ethic >> Etc.  Learn more about Daniel Krause here: https://www.danielkraus.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is Tyson Cornell, who started his book publishing company, Rare Bird, after nine-and-a-half years as marketing and publicity director at Book Soup, the legendary independent bookstore on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif. We discuss:  >> The Rare Bird concept and name >> The focus required for reading books >> Work as a lifestyle >> The most difficult and exhilarating parts of the job >> John Updike and his final tour>> Music>> Creative inputs and outputs>> Etc.  Learn more about Tyson Cornell and Rare Bird here: https://rarebirdlit.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.  

In the spotlight is family therapist, divorce mediator, Broadway and off-Broadway producer, screenwriter and screenwriting teacher Jennifer Manocherian, who has just published her first novel, “Alpha Bette,” a story influenced by her many personal and professional life experiences. Bette Gartner, the novel's protagonist, is a 95-year-old widow who wakes up one morning and decides to host a small dinner party that evening for family, staff, two neighbors, and a medium — though no one knows why. The story takes place over the course of the day and is told through the multiple points of view of Bette's guests, with their storylines eventually converging at the dinner table. We discuss: >> The struggle moving from screenwriting to novel writing >> Hiring a developmental editor >> Night terrors >> The novel's cover design >> Family >> Aging >> Her background as a therapist >> Etc. Learn more about Jennifer Manocherian here: https://jennifermanocherian.net/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

Simon Toyne quit his job as a television producer at the BBC to pursue writing his first novel. That turned out to be “Sanctus,” the bestselling debut thriller novel of 2011 in Great Britain. He is now the author of six more novels: “The Key,” “The Tower,” “The Searchers,” “The Boy Who Saw,” “Dark Objects” and “The Clearing.” Toyne has also produced/hosted a true crime series titled “Written in Blood,” where he spoke with bestselling authors such as Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter about the true crimes that inspired their fiction. He lives in Brighton, England with his wife, three children and two dogs.We discuss: >> The importance of having a routine >> Writing to a music soundtracks >> The Pomodoro Technique >> Writing the book you want to read >> Giving yourself permission to write badly >> Clive Barker and Stephen King >> Etc. Learn more about Simon Toyne here: https://www.simontoyne.net Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is Scott Lord, who has pulled many of his novels' characters and situations from his 35 years as a practitioner of criminal and civil law. His first novel, “The Logic Bomb,” is a legal thriller, and his newly released novel, “Come November,” is a historical thriller about an assassination plot to disrupt the momentous 1947 vote of the United Nations to partition Palestine and create the State of Israel. We discuss:  >> The novels written and yet to be published >> Writing dialogue>> The import of including a love story>> Scott Turow, John D. MacDonald and John le Carré >> Life in the courtroom >> His passion for opera >> The Italian language >> Etc.  Learn more about Scott Lord here: https://scottlord.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Vanessa Riley, author of 20 novels including “Queen of Exiles,” “Murder in Drury Lane” and “Island Queen,” the latter of which has been optioned by members of the team that helped produce the hit streaming series “Bridgerton.” She is also a trained engineer whose research skills have helped advance the agendas at NASA, GM, Hewlett Packard, and several startups.We discuss:>> Unsung black women>> The author's responsibilities>> The Regency Era>> Developing the writing muscle>> The Scrivener app for writers>> Her attraction to math and engineering>> Etc.Learn more about Vanessa Riley here: https://vanessariley.comNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

In the spotlight is Lawrence Schiller — photographer, movie director, producer, author, dealmaker, collaborator — someone who has been connected to the biggest names at the center of the biggest news events of the past 60 years. Think in terms of Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, Lenny Bruce, Norman Mailer, Gary Gilmore, O.J. Simpson and JonBenét Ramsey. He collaborated with Norman Mailer on the author's Pulitzer Prize winning true-life novel titled The Executioner's Song. He collaborated with Albert Goldman on the book Ladies and Gentlemen, Lenny Bruce. His eleventh book is titled Marilyn and Me, a Photographer's Memories. He also wrote the bestselling books American Tragedy, a book about the inside of the O.J. Simpson case, and Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, about the killing of JonBenét Ramsey. In the 1980s and 90s he directed seven motion pictures and miniseries for television; The Executioner's Song and Peter the Great won five Emmys awards, including best mini-series. The books American Tragedy, and Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, and Into the Mirror: The Life of Master Spy Robert P. Hanssen were also made into TV mini-series.  And, coming full circle, his photographs of Marilyn Monroe and from the Kennedy assassination are among the most iconic ever captured. Learn more about Lawrence Schiller here: https://lawrenceschiller.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.  

In the spotlight is famed novelist Larry McMurtry and biographer, Tracy Daugherty, author of “Larry McMurtry: A Life,” the first comprehensive biography of the novelist, who authored 40 books, including many hit novels such as “The Last Picture Show,” “The Terms of Endearment” and “Lonesome Dove.” Daugherty's bio of McMurtry hit the cover of the New York Times Book Review where critic Dwight Garner described the book as “vastly entertaining.” We discuss: >> His rambling lifestyle >> Romances that included Cybil Shepard and Diane Keaton >> Screenwriting and Academy Award>> Workmanlike writing regimen >> Friends such as Ken Kesey, Susan Sontag and Swifty Lazar >> The massive rare-book collection and business >> Etc. Learn more about Larry McMurtry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_McMurtry Learn more about Tracy Daugherty here: https://tracydaugherty.com/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program. 

In the spotlight is Thomas Wolfe, the famed American novelist, and Joseph Bentz, professor of American Literature at Azusa Pacific University, who serves as the Articles Editor for The Thomas Wolfe Review and as a board member for the Thomas Wolfe Society.  We discuss:  >> Thomas Wolfe's beginnings in Asheville, North Carolina >> His sprawling and effusive writing style >> Epic battled with legendary editor Maxwell Perkins >> Tensions with Hemingway and Fitzgerald >> Libel lawsuits >> His early death >> The Thomas Wolfe Review >> The Thomas Wolfe Memorial Museum in Asheville, N.C. >> Etc.  Learn more about Thomas Wolfe at the Thomas Wolfe Society website: https://thomaswolfe.org/  Joseph Bentz's books are available on Amazon, and you can learn more about him here: https://www.apu.edu/clas/faculty/jbentz/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.