Podcasts about fictionthe

Send us a textIn this engaging and thought-provoking episode of Stories to Create, host Cornell Bunting sits down with the insightful Christina Guerra for a powerful conversation that unpacks the complexities of modern young life and relationships. In a first for the show, Cornell also brings in a special live phone call with his longtime Jamaican friend living on the East Coast, David Harrison adding an authentic cross-cultural perspective to the mix.Together, they explore the evolving meaning of dating in 2025, navigating situationships, the impact of social media on love, and whether traditional gender roles still hold any weight. They also dive deep into the emotional and practical sides of modern romance:How do today's young people define intimacy and set boundaries? Should you find financial stability before falling in love—or grow through struggles together? Is ghosting just a part of dating now, or is it still just wrong?With honest reflections, laughs, and even a few cringe-worthy dating stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how love and connection are transforming for a new generation.Tune in to hear:The top 3 qualities young people now look for in a partnerIf "the one" still exists—or if that's just rom-com fictionThe pressure around physical intimacy in today's cultureHow friendships and online influencers can impact your love lifeReal talk on whether you can outgrow a good relationshipPlus, don't miss the fun wrap-up with the worst dating advice they've ever heard, and how Cornell would sum up modern love in a meme.Listen now and join the conversation that every young person needs to hear. Support the showThank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast

Summary:In this inspiring episode of Natter, Kate and Michelle chat with author Caroline Madden about her journey to publishing The Marriage Vendetta, navigating the writing process, and the power of perseverance, community, and comedy in storytelling. A must-listen for writers and book lovers seeking insight, laughter, and a dose of creative motivation.Key points covered in this episode:Why persistence is a writer's greatest toolThe challenges (and rewards) of writing humour in fictionThe value of editors, mentors, and writing communitiesWhy supporting new voices in literature mattersFrom the nuances of writing humour in literature to the crucial role of editors and mentors, this episode is packed with insight for aspiring writers and passionate readers alike. Caroline shares the importance of community, how life experiences shape creative expression, and why supporting emerging voices in writing matters more than ever.Whether you're deep in your own manuscript or simply love stories about the writing life, this conversation is a warm, honest, and inspiring natter you won't want to miss.Natter is brought to you in association with Bookstation Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Fin podcast, professional services reporter Maxim Shanahan and Rear Window columnist Hannah Wootton on Slater and Gordon’s workplace meltdown and the mysterious woman at the centre of it all. Quotes in this episode are voiced by AFR staff. This podcast is sponsored by AICD.Further reading:Slaters refers former staffer to police over incendiary mass emailThe law firm says a forensic investigation has found the sender of the infamous memo had access to sensitive data and was familiar with its cybersecurity.A decades-long rap sheet of deceit blows open Slater and Gordon probeThe woman whose first name matches metadata in the rogue salary and performance spreadsheet that erupted into a crisis at the law firm is a convicted fraudster.We fact-checked the email Slater and Gordon says is largely fictionThe now infamous all-staff email sent to more than 900 Slater and Gordon staffers was unsparing in its criticism of the firm. Here’s what we know about key claims.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn today's episode, I am chatting with James Arnett. James was born and raised in Winnipeg in Canada and graduated in Arts and Law at the University of Manitoba and Harvard Law School. He has been a senior partner of a major Canadian law firm, CEO of a prominent Canadian public company and Chair of an Ontario utility. Along the way, he wrote articles for law review journals, newspapers and magazines, but recently has turned to writing historical fiction. He enjoys trekking, Kayaking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. He lives with his wife, Alix, in Toronto and has 4 children and 5 grandsons. His latest novel, The Monmouth Manifest, was published in September last year. In this episode, we chatted about the high percentage of author guest who have been lawyers and then have turned to writing. The importance of good writing while practicing law. His path to getting into writing that started with writing a treatment for a movie. It did not get picked up but then it was suggested he turn it into a novel. He realized he enjoyed and was actually good at writing dialogue. One thing he loves about writing is you get a piece or nugget of history and then you build the plot around it. Key Highlights:The high percentage of former lawyers who transition into writing careersThe role of writing in law and how it helps develop storytelling skillsJames's journey from legal writing to historical fictionThe experience of writing a movie treatment and transitioning it into a novelThe joy of discovering historical nuggets and weaving them into engaging narrativesHow James realized he enjoyed and was good at writing dialogueThe thrill of taking a historical event and building a plot around itConnect with James Arnett:WebsitePurchase James' books:The Monmouth ManifestoBean FateBooks and authors mentioned in the episode:Graham Greene booksAnthony Trollope booksThe Sympathizer by Viet Thanh NguyenAll the Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrThe Howe Dynasty by Julie FlavellBook FlightFor Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest HemingwayBleak House by Charles DickensA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesReady for a monthly literary adventure? We now have the BFF Book Club. Join us each month to explore a new book. After reading, connect with fellow book lovers and meet the author in a live interview! Can't make it live? Don't worry—we'll send you the recording. You can find all our upcoming book club selections HERE. Support the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

The iconic Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tuvix" continues to spark ethical debates nearly 30 years after its original airing. In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of Star Trek's most morally complex stories, examining Captain Janeway's controversial decision to effectively end one life to restore two others.The hosts explore how the episode's unique twist on the classic trolley problem, where instead of choosing between strangers, the decision involves deeply personal relationships and crew dynamics. They discuss how Janeway's emotional connection to Tuvok and her responsibility as captain influenced her judgment.What role do emotions play in ethical decision-making? The hosts examine how the episode challenges the common practice of trying to divorce emotions from moral choices, particularly through the powerful performances of the cast and the way Tuvix's plea for his life forces the crew to confront their complicity through their silence.Other key topics discussed:The brilliant performance by Tom Wright as Tuvix and how he created a distinct character while incorporating elements of both Tuvok and NeelixHow modern TV storytelling might have handled this plot differentlyThe significance of the doctor's refusal to participate and Janeway's choice to perform the procedure herselfThe show's failure to address the emotional aftermath in subsequent episodesComparisons to other ethical dilemmas in Star Trek and science fictionThe hosts conclude that while they may disagree on whether Janeway made the right choice, the episode's enduring legacy lies in its ability to present a moral dilemma with no clear right answer – one that continues to challenge viewers and spark discussions decades after its original airing.  **************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, a The Ethical Panda Podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check our our website to find out more about this and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! You can keep up with our latest news, and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.comFacebook: TheEthicalPandaInstagram: TheEthicalPandaPodcastsTwitter: EthicalPanda77Or you can join jump into the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want to get access to even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month, or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes. Sign up on the podcast's main page. You can even give membership as a gift!You can also support our podcasts through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master AlanUse Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.

Send Eve a text, question, or suggestion! Join Patreon :Add free early releases of Please Me! Bonus episodes & Eve's webinarsEpisode Summary:In this thought-provoking episode of Please Me!, Eve sits down with the inspiring author Mia Sivan to explore the intersections of feminine strength, power dynamics, and self-discovery. From her transition from a successful career in finance to writing steamy contemporary romances, Mia shares her journey of breaking societal norms and redefining what it means to be a strong woman in a man's world.The conversation dives deep into the themes of Mia's work, including BDSM, ethical non-monogamy, and the role of communication in relationships. Mia explains how her characters challenge traditional gender roles and celebrate sexual and financial independence. We also discuss her multicultural characters, drawn from her own life experiences, and how they add depth and diversity to her stories.Eve and Mia explore the challenges faced by strong women, both in life and literature, and the importance of unapologetically owning your strength. The episode wraps up with an entertaining role-play segment and a sneak peek into one of Mia's inventive sex scenes.Topics Covered:Mia Sivan's journey from finance to fictionThe parallels between power dynamics in sex and financeWriting strong, unapologetic female charactersThe role of communication in ethical non-monogamyExploring multicultural relationships in Mia's booksBreaking societal norms and embracing feminine powerSafe sex and Mia's innovative ideasConnect with Eve:Website: Please Me Online - Reach Eve and stay connected.Order Your Cakes Today!Connect with Mia Sivan:Website: www.miasivan.comSupport the showSupport the Show Explore these affiliates and support Please Me Podcast: Website: Please Me Online - Reach Eve and stay connected. OWWLL App: Call Eve on OWWLL app using code EH576472 for a $10 free trial. Download OWWLL SDC.com: Join the premiere "modern lifestyle" ENM website with a free trial membership using code 37340. Sign up on SDC.com Streamyard: Get $10 towards your streaming products and stream live with Eve! Visit Streamyard Organic Loven: Treat yourself to new bedroom toys at this incredible website. Explore Organic Loven Parlor Games: Hormone replacement for women, eliminating issues like incontinence. Shop at Parlor Games Buzzsprout: Save $20 on the best podcast hosting site. Get Buzzsprout LifeWave: Experience stem cell technology that enhances libido and changes lives. Visit LifeWave Juice Plus+: Enjoy plant-based nutrition with the nutrition of 30 fruits and veggies daily....

Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive into the legacy of James Earl Jones and explore the evolving role of AI in creative media. From the iconic voice of Darth Vader to the ethical implications of AI-generated performances, this episode tackles pressing questions at the intersection of technology and entertainment.Note: given its relevance to both podcasts, this episode is going out on both Superhero Ethics and Star Wars Generations.We start by remembering James Earl Jones, talking about why he was such a vital part of Star Wars, and some of his other works that effected Matthew and Riki.Then we ask how James Earl Jones' agreement with Disney to use his voice for future Darth Vader performances impacts the future of acting. The hosts discuss the potential consequences of this decision, weighing the benefits of preserving iconic performances against the importance of allowing new interpretations and opportunities for emerging actors.What are the ethical considerations of using AI to recreate performances of deceased actors? Matthew and Riki examine recent examples from films like Alien: Romulus and debate the implications for both the entertainment industry and the legacy of performers.Is AI in creative media a threat to human creativity or a tool to enhance it? The conversation explores how AI is changing the landscape of film, television, and voice acting, and what it might mean for the future of storytelling.Other topics covered include:The impact of James Earl Jones on Star Wars and beyondThe use of AI-generated voices in the Terminator franchiseThe evolution of AI representation in science fictionThe challenges of recasting iconic rolesThe potential for AI to perpetuate biases in mediaMember Bonus content about Terminator Zero We've started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We've got options for you!Discord: Join in the conversation about this podcast, my other podcast Superhero Ethics, as well as the rest of the TruStory.FM PodcastEmail: ✉️ swg@theethicalpanda.com

Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive into the legacy of James Earl Jones and explore the evolving role of AI in creative media. From the iconic voice of Darth Vader to the ethical implications of AI-generated performances, this episode tackles pressing questions at the intersection of technology and entertainment.Note: given its relevance to both podcasts, this episode is going out on both Superhero Ethics and Star Wars Generations.We start by remembering James Earl Jones, talking about why he was such a vital part of Star Wars, and some of his other works that effected Matthew and Riki.Then we ask how James Earl Jones' agreement with Disney to use his voice for future Darth Vader performances impacts the future of acting. The hosts discuss the potential consequences of this decision, weighing the benefits of preserving iconic performances against the importance of allowing new interpretations and opportunities for emerging actors.What are the ethical considerations of using AI to recreate performances of deceased actors? Matthew and Riki examine recent examples from films like Alien: Romulus and debate the implications for both the entertainment industry and the legacy of performers.Is AI in creative media a threat to human creativity or a tool to enhance it? The conversation explores how AI is changing the landscape of film, television, and voice acting, and what it might mean for the future of storytelling.Other topics covered include:The impact of James Earl Jones on Star Wars and beyondThe use of AI-generated voices in the Terminator franchiseThe evolution of AI representation in science fictionThe challenges of recasting iconic rolesThe potential for AI to perpetuate biases in mediaMember Bonus content about Terminator Zero We've started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We've got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Emma Cowell lives in Falmouth Cornwall with her husband, Tony, and their fur baby, a Russian Blue called Papoushka. A former actress and BBC presenter Emma is currently Head of Philanthropy for national children's palliative care charity, Together for Short Lives. Her first two novels were bestsellers and have been published in seven languages to date. Outside of work, Emma is a keen angler and is attempting to learn Greek to maintain her love affair with the country where she has set her novels.The Island Love Song publishing on June 6th 2024 with Avon, Harper CollinsGenre: commercial women's fiction/romantic fictionThe audiobook of The Island Love Song will feature three pieces of original music that Emma has composed for the novel too!You can find Emma on social media as X & Instagram: @emmalloydcowellFB & TikTok EmmaCowellAuthorSupport the Show.If you would like to show your love for the podcast, please consider buying me a coffee through BuyMeACoffee.com. This gives you an opportunity to make a small, one-off donation - you are not committed to regular payments. Making the podcast earns me no money, and in fact costs me a fair bit, but I do it for the love, and because I have such fun talking with wonderful authors. Even if you can't afford to buy me a coffee, simply letting me know that you love the podcast means a lot to me. Please take a moment to leave a star rating, write a review, or share the episode with others you know who will benefit from listening in, or you can tag me in social media when you share an episode that you love with your followers.My website is http://www.zoerichards.co.uk and you can access the FREE Mini Reboot through this link.You can find me on TwiX and Instagram as @zoerichardsukAnd finally my debut novel, Garden of Her Heart, is published 20th June 2024. You can pre-order here or if you are on NetGalley you can request an ARC (advance reader copy) here.Happy writing, and may the words flow for you.

Find out about 5 core character roles within a novel, and how the purpose they serve ensures the story stays focused.Listen to find out more about:5 key character roles in fictionThe character role hierarchyWhy protagonists aren't always heroesWhy antagonists aren't always villainsWhy even minor characters should have a functionHow understanding the hierarchy helps authors and editors give appropriate head-space to the appropriate charactersSign up for alerts about our publicationsWant to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks will help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development. Sign up for alerts and we'll let you know when our publications are live and how to order: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/646bf79c644615ff2d1ada1aSupport The Editing PodcastTip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/supportJoin our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. patreon.com/editingpodcastDenise and LouiseDenise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.comLouise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editingMusic credit'Vivacity' by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacityLicence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We report from Europe's biggest startup and tech event in Paris.We hear from:Raphael Slama, Commercial Director, FruggrNathalie Seyler, head of EpiskinKarl Pärtel, co-founder, RaikuPascal Le Melinaire, President, Sweetch EnergyWe talk about:The major misconceptions regarding sustainable packaging, after substantial lobbyingBio-printed skin — no longer science fictionThe rise of digital sustainability, and why it mattersThe hunt for the next renewable energy sourceHosted by: Konrad Olsson, Editor-in-chief and Founder, of Scandinavian MIND. Johan Magnusson, Senior editor, Scandinavian MINDSign up to our newsletters: https://www.scandinavianmind.com/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first episode of Unbound I knew that I had to start off by talking to beauty and culture writer and author of Homebodies, Tembe Denton-Hurst! Tune in as we discuss:The intimacy of reading Being both a deep reader and a deep writerRepresentation in children's fictionThe key elements of space and place within HomebodiesThe promise that New York City holds Leaving me to ruminate on books as affirmation and answering the question of do we truly have to like the protagonist in the books we cherish.For a full list of books mentioned, join the Unbound community on Substack Follow Tembe Denton-Hurst: @tembaeCheck out Tembe's Bookish Substack: Extracurricular SubstackFollow Mbiye Kasonga: @mbiye_KProduced by Moyo Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And so we begin! The very first episode. Before we start the journey of examining every single sci-fi film ever* we must understand what science fiction is. In this episode I speak to science fiction scholars Lisa Yaszek and Glynn Morgan about the definitions of this well-known genre. What is the difference between science fiction and fantasy? Are superhero movies sci-fi? Are the we the real monsters? Please be warned: as always there are spoilers ahead! Link for the next film is at the bottom. *Almost For full shownotes which explain more about the topics, names and books mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/what-is-science-fictionThe experts:I am extreme lucky to have these guests with me.Lisa Yaszek has known sci-fi very well for very many years. Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, she researches and teaches science fiction and has authored, compiled, and edited numerous books on the topic. Her Future is Female books not only draw attention to the huge contribution of women writers in the genre but also have wonderful retro covers! (I am not judging a book by its cover but I am judging the cover!) Lisa was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 2009-2010 and serves as an advisory board member for About SF. She has won many awards for contributions to science fiction and serves as a juror for sci-fi writing awards. Glyn Morgan is Curator of Exhibitions at The British Science Museum and put together the Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination exhibition which has moved on from London, UK and is currently showing in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer and former editor of Vector, the Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association. He has written extensively about sci-fi and speculative fiction and has served as an award judge. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to show and guests02:58 Lisa's definition: Darko Suvin and his three criteria10:24 Glynn's definition: Damon Knight's one criteria16:50 Are superhero films science fiction?18:38 Magic Vs science20:28 The history of comic books, superheroes and science fiction26:36 Mysticism in science fiction34:12 What even is science?37:44 Is everything in space sci-fi?43:57 Aliens and monsters49:40 AI, robots and fembots55:34 Time travel and multiverses59:57 Dystopia, utopia, and Star Trek01:12:13 ConclusionNEXT EPISODE!George Melies' Le Voyage Dans La Lune from 1902 will the focus of episode 2. It is available to watch on YouTube. Or you can check here for UK or here for US options. DVDs of the film are also available. 

In this episode, USA Today bestselling author, Noelle Salazar, returns to the pod to discuss her second book, Angels of the Resistance. Longtime listeners might recall our previous chat with Ms. Salazar in episode 24 way back in 2020.  In today's conversation, Ms. Salazar recounts the inspiration for her Angels of the Resistance as well as how her writing process has evolved and matured since her first book, Flight Girls. She also offers advice to aspiring writers before we jump into the purpose of fiction and its impact on us. How does writing and reading about perspectives other than our own change our view of the world around us?For those interested in checking out Ms. Salazar's book:Angles of the Resistance depicts a fascinating but hard part of women's roles in the resistance against the German occupation of Europe during WWII. It contains some sensitive scenes that might be triggering to some members of the audience. It is a read recommended for a more mature readership.Topics:Inspiration for Angels of the ResistanceBalance of fact and fiction in Angels of the ResistancePlot process: pantser (no outline) or plotter (extensive outlining)?Evolution of Ms. Salazar's writing processBalance of storytelling and research in realistic fictionThe importance of fiction--How fiction inspires and encourages and stretches usWriting advice to aspiring authors"What books have had an impact on you?""What advice do you have for teenagers?"Noelle Salazar was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, where she's been a Navy recruit, a medical assistant, an NFL cheerleader, and always a storyteller. As a novelist, she has done extensive research into the Women Airforce Service Pilots, interviewing vets and visiting the training facility—now a museum dedicated to the WASP—in Sweetwater, Texas. When she's not writing, she can be found dodging raindrops and daydreaming of her next book. Noelle lives in Bothell, Washington with her family.Her debut, The Flight Girls, was a USA Today and international bestseller. Angels of the Resistance is her second novel. Her third book, The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, is now on sale.Socials! -Lessons from Interesting People substack: https://taylorbledsoe.substack.com/Website: https://www.aimingforthemoon.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiming4moon/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aiming4MoonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/aiming4moonTaylor's Blog: https://www.taylorgbledsoe.com/YouTube: 

We talked with Peter about:Why he quit science to write fictionThe real-world science that inspired BlindsightWhy vampires?!Blindsight movie(s) in the worksWhat's coming next (the sequel to Echopraxia!)Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer video, or join the Hugonauts book club on discord!And if you haven't listened to our episode about Blindsight, check it out here.

Hi Amy,Welcome to the first episode of REACTEMBER - where the media is toxic but, who are we kidding, so are we.

After 25 years, 47 books, and at least 4 different genres, Miles Cameron (aka Christian Cameron) has seen and survived a lot in publishing. In addition to being an author, he is also a US Navy officer, trained historian, and martial artist. But when the thriller market changed and sky-high advances evaporated, Miles moved on to historical, fantasy, and even science fiction. Today, we talk about surviving the end of your writing career, and starting from scratch (but this time, on midlist hard-mode)--including specific, pragmatic advice from Miles for building brand, timing your marketing, and a few other things that under-supported authors can attempt on their own steam. And above all, the importance of loving what you do, however you do it. SHOW NOTESMiles (Christian) Cameron, and his 25+ year journey through trad publishingStarted off co-writing thrillers with his father for a lot of money, until that genre changed almost overnightSurviving the sudden death of a writing career, and starting over from scratchMonetary differences between genres (historical, fantasy, scifi, thriller, litfic)When to negotiate with publishers on ideas and when to pursue passion projectsBalancing personal artistic integrity against publishing's commercial expectationsSurviving advance to advance, and slowly growing your readership as a midlist authorAdvice given to Sunyi: Write what's in your heart but with your practical hat onStaying with your publishers for years, versus shopping aroundBooks “unflopping” later in lifeCameron's specific social media strategy that does increase his sales, and which he uses consistently“wrong” ways to approach self promotion, and finding the balanceWriting/Fighting and enjoying your “author persona”Publishers think your midlist book is important for about a week after launch, but Miles believes it is important (in a sales sense) for 90 daysThus: The 90/60/30 approach that Miles uses for self promotion, completely on his own and without publisher involvement—and how precisely to run itAn exact presales figure that Miles looks for in his own books (relevant to his books and where he is with his backlog/career)Paid adverts and where/when Miles chooses to use themThe difference between SIZE of following, and ENGAGEMENT of following. Influencers versus book clubs, as an exampleAuthors are not competing with authors!What IS a publisher's cut on your books?!Do publishers know exactly what they're making? Miles suggests probably notThe importance of versatility for authorsWhy you HAVE to love what you're doingMiles' military experience – how it impacted and influenced his fictionThe most common combat writing tropes that drive Miles nutsSome thoughts on how Miles writes historical, versus fantasy (not that different!)

We all know that ethics are important in AI, but beyond doing the right thing, are we actually focusing on the things that matter with the current AI tools? While ChatGPT can write you an analysis of a Shakespeare play to help you pass the semester, should AI be used for more pressing world problems - and are we building AI on the wrong paradigm?AI Ethicist Stephanie Antonian thinks so. I first met Stephanie at a recent Cadastra event around e-commerce, and over networking drinks, we debated these points about AI.Having worked for Accenture, Google, DeepMind and GoogleX, she has been thinking about the role of AI in humanity for some time.She has written a series of essays, the latest one titled: “On Generative AI: Denying the Necessary Limits of Knowledge” and asks the question: What if uncertainty was the secret to advancing knowledge?Her thinking sparked my curiosity, so a few weeks ago, I packed my portable podcast recorder and we went for a 90-minute walk around London's Regent's Park to discuss these issues and more.We covered a lot of ground (literally around 4 kilometres) and one phrase that captivated me was "AI is a love letter to humanity".We explore this and much more in this fascinating episode including:How Stephanie got started in AI EthicsStephanie's experience with AIThe biggest issue in AI Ethics at the momentDealing with algorithmic biasThe issue with AI regulationHighlights of working for Google, Deep Mind and XAdvice for graduates working in techHow can AI be used for good?Dealing with the hype around Generative AI and ChatGPTHumanity's problem of fact vs fictionThe problem with ChatGPTOpen-sourcing the truth to train AIShould AI development be halted?Stephanie's essaysLove and AIThe role of empathy in AIThe link between AI and self-worthThe hysteria in the AI industryAre we building AI on the wrong paradigm?The opportunity for AIThe need for ethics and integrity in AIWhere will the next phase of positive innovation come from?AI's love letter to humanityWill AI take our jobs?How does AI compare to previous innovations?Are you worried about AI?Three actionable tips to better understanding AI opportunities & threatsMore on StephanieStephanie on LinkedInAestora websiteStephanie's EssaysYour Host: Actionable Futurist® & Chief Futurist Andrew GrillFor more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com Andrew's Social ChannelsAndrew on LinkedIn@AndrewGrill on Twitter @Andrew.Grill on InstagramKeynote speeches hereAndrew's upcoming book

Hello everyone,I'm usually skeptical of fiction involving financial markets. To make it thrilling and get life and death stakes, the genre typically blends with crime or conspiracy. Which means you need an engaging writer who knows both worlds well enough and doesn't turn the financial combatants into caricatures.But there are surprises. During my recent trip, I churned through Master, Minion by Paul Podolsky who also writes the Things I Didn't Learn in School Substack. Master, Minion is a fast-paced and thought-provoking thriller at the intersection of financial markets, geopolitics, and intelligence agencies. Paul started his career in Russia, worked on Wall Street for 20+ years, most of that time at Bridgewater, and spent a lot of time in China as well. He brought all of that to bear in the book.The story weaves together hot spots from Moscow to Hong Kong and, yes, Boston, with a wonderful depth of detail and cultural observation. Paul's depiction of the “verbal kung fu” and politics in his fictional hedge fund is priceless. But his real strength is to paint compelling characters ensnared in their respective systems of money and power.After reading his book and Substack, I reached out to Paul and am excited to share our conversation.If you can just take one thought with you this Sunday, consider his metaphor for life, the flow and the eddies. The eddies being the loops in which can get stuck in without being aware of it. When I asked him about it, I realized he was the living embodiment of the lessons from Tim Urban's The Tail End:One of the reasons I left Bridgewater when I was 52, I calculated how many months I was gonna live. I literally looked at an actuarial table. I think when I left Bridgewater, I had 384 months to live, statistically speaking. And there's a pretty wide range around that, if it's an individual.I thought about that. These 384 months are gonna come. There's nothing I can do. That is just the flow. How do I stay in that for myself? It's very hard to see, at least it was very hard for me when I was young. You have to listen carefully. What is that real thing that works for you?There's a period of time where I had no money and I had a young family. Money really, really made a difference, to try to make a comfortable tent, if you will, to sort of shelter them. But a little bit like you, I was thinking inside, this isn't the primary thing that motivates me. If I've got a million bucks now, if next year I have a million dollars and a hundred thousand, and the year after that I have a million dollars and two hundred thousand, that does not actually motivate me. And those months are going by. It's going 383 and 382 and 381… There are eddies that you could get stuck at in life.We talked about Paul's journey to writing, his book, intrigue and investing in emerging markets, understanding Russia, and much more. You can find a few quotes below. I hope you'll enjoy the conversation. I certainly did and look forward to reading more of Paul's work in the future.You can listen to this conversation on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, anchor, and via RSS.The information in these posts and on this website is not and should not be construed as investment advice.The paradox of writing fictionThe strange thing about fiction is, there's a weird paradox. On the one hand, you're making stuff up. On the other hand, it's sometimes easier to say something true by making something up.In the real world, you never quite know what other people are thinking. You have a hypothesis. Fiction allows you to create a bunch of characters and imagine their interior world, which is where so much of the mystery and the richness of life is.A few quotes that stuck from the book (no spoilers):Working at a hedge fund:Everyone understood the Boss had money, they, the hangers-on, me included, wanted that money and we all tried to destroy each other to get it. If [the CIA] was a team, this was Lord of the Flies.The Boss said he liked disagreement, but almost everybody was too scared to disagree.Understanding certain emerging markets:The idea that the state itself was criminal was something Americans had trouble getting their mind around. But the Boss might understand. In the Boss's mind, there were predators and prey, and he had dedicated his life to joining the ranks of the predators. Wealth was a precondition.Institutions are people:But the Fed is people and people are wired the same everywhere—ambitious, striving for greatness, prone to error, guilt-ridden.Great investors understand impermanence:Most people tend to look at what they are growing up in and think that it is normal, he said. To them it is normal that the US is the richest country. Normal that China is poor. Normal that Black people are poor and white people are rich. But the reality is, things change. Nothing is stable.Magic in markets:The signaling felt like primates establishing hierarchy. While the central bankers had the magical power to make the economy expand or contract, the investors had the magical power to become rich.Some things I learned from Paul during our conversation:The magic of writingYou spend a lot of time alone trying to … write the b******t out of an idea. Then you put the story out there and you get what I describe as pings from the universe. The story connects with somebody and you get this response back. It's kind of a magical process that you've created something.The medieval is alive and well in RussiaThe final thing which helped me understand [Russia] is it is medieval, in all that sense. If you think about the picture in your mind about the way Europe was working in the 14th and 15th century. There is a king. You pay tithes. There is palace intrigue. People are poisoned. You could end up in prison for no reason. Rule of law grew out of all of that, but that world is still alive and well in parts of the world. It's a very bizarre thing that a place with a space station that could do complicated computer programs has the medieval in it, but it's there.And what you're looking at in Ukraine right now is exactly that. It's a land grab for disobeying the emperor or the czar or whatever you call it. And the punishment is death. The traps of lifeThere's a quote at the beginning of the book from Chekhov, I should grab the copy off my desk, but basically that ‘life is a vexatious trap.' And I thought that was actually unbelievably powerful. You see these traps recreated in many different forms. I just think they're more virulent in those other cultures.Wall Street has that. Money on Wall Street has an addictive character. And people are willing to put up with a lot to endure that. They have these jobs that pay huge amounts of money, but many of them don't involve that much talent. Being a person like the Boss is a different type of thing. You know, a sort of character who can see the future. That's slightly different. And so some of the characters I was trying to get out of the hedge fund are people that are getting these insanely big salaries. Like the chief trader there. And they have this constant insecurity and they're stuck in this system where they love the money, but they don't have the talent to do something outside of that. And so that's that master minion relationship.And then the secret police in places like Russia or China, they're so corrupt. And I saw this firsthand with families. It's unbelievable that there is no escape. One of the characters actually wants to be a reformer and non-corrupt. And there are people who you will meet in these places there. But corruption has sort of infected his family. He's basically on the payroll of his father-in-law who is tied to all these nefarious things. And that repeats again and again and again and again. You can't extract yourself from it.Great portfolio managers as artistsI think really exceptional portfolio managers can look at something that's today and imagine a radically different set of circumstances. And their mind works a little bit like a kaleidoscope. In other words, they're staring at the world and they keep shifting the kaleidoscope and it's literally changing every single day.And they're imagining what that future is. But some of those things are radically different than what we're living through right now. And those are the people that correctly call stock market bubble tops and crises and things. It's a weird thing. There is an element to it that I think is quite artistic. If you think about artists that create stuff that seems really out there initially, but then 10, 20, 30, 40 years later, people are like, this is the most beautiful thing ever done. They're doing the exact same thing. They're imagining a set of pictures in our head that are gonna resonate “If I can't understand something, I remove it from my portfolio.”I saw what was going on in Ukraine. I said, this seems crazy. But what do you do if all of a sudden, the risk of your position has expanded more than what you'd anticipated? You take less risk. I called up all my contacts in Russia and everybody said, he is bluffing. There's no way he's gonna do this. And then I took less risk. And then as we got closer to it, I said, listen, I cannot predict this. I just closed all my positions in ‘21. And the minute he invaded, I closed all my positions in China.My thought being, listen, if Putin is crazy enough to do this in Ukraine, who's to say that Xi can't do this in Taiwan. I certainly can't. From an investor standpoint, there's other ways of making money. If I can't understand something, I just remove it from my portfolio. And that's one of the reasons I love liquid markets.Stories and understanding peoplePeople think in stories. Numbers are really important for measuring stuff. But the way people think is in stories. And stories are about feelings and emotions. And the feelings and emotions are relatively limited in number. People have been telling stories for thousands of years and they revolve really around a couple of themes.Escape, which this book is about, is one of them, and a couple of primal emotions. So to make a story resonate with people, you need to be in that zone for it to work. And so when I'm writing either a non-fiction piece or a fiction piece, one of the things I really try to do, which has taken me years to get to, is just listen: what am I feeling right now? Where is that coming from?And when I was writing Master Minion, I was imagining, what is going to irritate each one of these people? What's gonna scare each one of them? What do they really want? And you have to be, to make the scenes come alive, you have to be very locked-in, just the way you would be in a business meeting. If you're somebody who's good in a corporation, you have a very rich understanding of everybody around the table, what they want. And when you're writing a book, you're doing the same thing. It's just all the characters are in your head.George Soros on PutinI had the occasion a few times in my life to speak with Soros. I spoke with him in, I believe it was January of 2000, two weeks after Putin. Putin came to power December 31st, 1999 if my memory's right. So I asked him, I said, you know, what do you make of Russia's new president?And he just looked at me and he said, ‘not to be trusted'.' That was all he said. And that was an example of somebody way out ahead. I mean, think of what came next.Too much money (or being around it) can make you crazyThere's a little bit of me in every single character, truth be told. Even the diabolical ones. They say, write what you know, and each one of those people draws on strains of yourself.I think that money can make you crazy. It's a very strange thing. We need money. I've been in very limited circumstances. It's unpleasant, But it's also true that money, too much money, is not good for you. It's a little bit like food.When you were asking those questions, I was imagining how different it is in another industry. Imagine you're sitting around the table with Tim Cook and he's making 80 million or whatever. And you're the guy that's making a million bucks. Now a million bucks puts you in the top 0.1% of salaries. And you're sitting next to him and you're like, but this guy's not that much smarter than me. He's earning 80 million. I guarantee you there's somebody in that room thinking that way, cause people are people. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alchemy.substack.com/subscribe

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR'S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION.​Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with ROCK PAPER SCISSORS; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with THE SENSE OF DEATH; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES. Matty is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime.​Matty lives with her husband, Wade Walton, and their dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.In this episode, you'll learn:How writing short fiction differs from writing novel length worksWays to market short fictionThe business of short fictionLinks:Matty's website The Indy Author podcast Stark Reflections on PublishingBooks discussed:Taking the Short Tack - Matty Dalrymple and Mark Leslie Lefebvre *Anne Kinnear Suspense Shorts - Matty Dalrymple *Anne Kinnear Suspense Novels - Matty Dalrymple *Lizzy Ballard Thrillers - Matty Dalrymple **Affiliate link

The Astronomy, Technology, and Space Science News Podcast.SpaceTime Series 24 Episode 99*Space junk destroys satelliteIt now looks like space junk from a 1996 Russian rocket may be behind the destruction of China's Yunhai 1-02 weather satellite earlier this year.*More delays could push Starliner's launch to next yearThe long awaited second orbital test flight of Boeing's new CST-100 Starliner to the International Space Station may be delayed until next year following discovery of a critical technical issue with the spacecraft while it was on the launch pad preparing to blast off.*New study says Warp drive to remain science fictionThe idea of faster than light travel has been a key feature of science fiction for decades. It's the “Given” needed to make most sci-fi stories work. After all, without warp drive Kirk and Picard could never boldly go where no one has gone before – and the Enterprise would take four and a half years just to reach Alpha Centauri.*Vega's second launch of the yearA Vega rocket has blasted off from the European Space Agency's Kourou Space Port in French Guiana carrying the new Pleiades Neo 4 Earth observation satellite.*The Science ReportNew study shows that 2 to 3 days after first symptoms is when you're most likely to pass on COVID.A new study warns that extreme El Niño and La Niña events will become more common.A new study has identified the 26 species of Australian frogs at greatest risk of extinction.Paleontologists have identified two new species of giant sauropod dinosaurs.*Skeptic's guide to how psychic crimes payFor more SpaceTime and show links: https://linktr.ee/biteszHQ Your support is needed...SpaceTime is an independently produced podcast (we are not funded by any government grants, big organisations or companies), and we're working towards becoming a completely listener supported show...meaning we can do away with the commercials and sponsors. We figure the time can be much better spent on researching and producing stories for you, rather than having to chase sponsors to help us pay the bills.That's where you come in....help us reach our first 1,000 subscribers...at that level the show becomes financially viable and bills can be paid without us breaking into a sweat every month. Every little bit helps...even if you could contribute just $1 per month. It all adds up.By signing up and becoming a supporter at the $5 or more level, you get immediate access to over 230 commercial-free, double, and triple episode editions of SpaceTime plus extended interview bonus content. You also receive all new episodes on a Monday rather than having to wait the week out. Subscribe via Patreon or Supercast....and share in the rewards. Details at Patreon www.patreon.com/spacetimewithstuartgary or Supercast - https://bitesznetwork.supercast.tech/ Details at https://spacetimewithstuartgary.com or www.bitesz.com Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of NameCheap…cheap domain names is just the beginning of your own online presence. We use them and we love them. Get our special deal…just visit: https://spacetimewithstuartgary.com/namecheap and help support the show.

Sara Sue Hoklotubbe writes contemporary mysteries from a unique Cherokee Nation viewpoint. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation herself and so is her lead character, Sadie. Sadie is an independent-minded entrepreneur with a keen sense of justice that gets her caught up in all sorts of tricky situations. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and today Sara talks about her latest book, Betrayal at the Buffalo Ranch, the fourth in her Sadie Walela mystery series. She recounts how a book that started out being about how women got a bad rap in banking turned into a bank robbery mystery. And she recalls the day she got stopped at Heathrow for having an American Indian name, believe it or not. We've got three eBook copies of Betrayal at the Buffalo Ranch for three lucky readers in our Mysteries Alive Giveaway. Go to our Binge Reading website www.thejoysofbingereading.com, click Giveaway to enter, and you won't miss out. You will find links to Sara's website and books in the show notes for this week's episode there as well. ENTER DRAW FOR E BOOK Don't forget you can get exclusive Binge Reading bonus content by joining Binge Reading on Patreon. For as little as a cup of coffee a month you'll get Behind the Scenes about the podcast as well as more suggestions for books you won't want to put down, and the funny, quirky getting-to-know-you five quickfire questions we are asking our authors to reply to these days. Check it out www.patreon.com/thejoysofbingereading. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: The life change that freed Sara to writeGrowing up Cherokee in OklahomaA matriarchal society reflected in her fictionThe authors she admiresHow the pandemic has affected her creativityTurning her banking career into fiction Where to find Sara Sue Hoklotubbe:  Website: http://www.hoklotubbe.com/books.htmGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/520532.Sara_Sue_HoklotubbeAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Betrayal-Buffalo-Ranch-Walela-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0786M1Y5B/ To schedule an event with Sara contact: Publicity Manager, The University of Arizona Press 1510 E University Boulevard, P O Box 210055 Tucson, Arizona  85721 Tel: 520-621-3920 What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. But now, here's Sara. Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, Sara and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Sara Sue Hoklotubbe: I am delighted to be here. Thank you for the invitation. Introducing Cherokee nation author Sara Sue Hoklotubbe Jenny Wheeler: You have got a four-book mystery series and there is something very unique about them because they're set in the Cherokee Nation in Northeastern Oklahoma. You are a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation yourself and your heroine Sadie, the lead character in your stories, is as well. That must be a special thing for you. Sara Sue Hoklotubbe - mystery author Sara Sue Hoklotubbe: I am Cherokee from my mother's side of the family. In my book, my character Sadie is Cherokee through her father's side of the family. It is a unique setting in that I write from the Cherokee perspective where not every mystery writer can do that if they're not Cherokee. Jenny Wheeler: That's absolutely right. With this Western promotion we've been doing, I've been reading a few more Western books than I do normally. I have been quite surprised at how many pay homage in various ways to the native people, but they don't have the inside perspective. They're all outsiders looking in, so that gives you a unique perspective. Sara Sue Hoklotubbe: It certainly does. Jenny Wheeler: How do you think it makes your books different? How is it reflected in the writing? Sara Sue Hoklotubbe: When writers first start writing, they are told to write what they know. Of course, I'm Cherokee, so that's what I know. In the stories I write,

So you wanna write a book someday, but is all the time and effort really worth it?? It just feels way too hard, so it get put on the back burner. Join me on today's Unlocked Show with my special guest Vickie Helm, author of 39 books and counting as we unlock the secrets to writing your first of many books.#writeabook #becomeanauthor #howtowriteabookShow Notes:Why Write a book?Know what your audience wants to read3 Pieces of Advice if you are considering writing a bookWhat's holding you back from writing a book?Important Storyteller aspect to non fictionThe perfect length of a bookExpert to MentorBenefits for you writing a bookAre you looking to write a book? Vickie reveals her secrets to writing 39 books, from idea through publishing, join her in this 90 minute workshop:https://freedomseekhersway.com/purposetopublished/workshopNew to Vickie Helm? You can explore her other projects atVickieHelm.com

In this episode I talk with writer Katherine Standefer. Katherine's debut book, Lightning Flowers, published November 2020 from Little Brown, was shortlisted for the 2018 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Her work was featured in The Best American Essays 2016, won the 2015 Iowa Review Award in Nonfiction, and most recently appeared in Virginia Quarterly Review, Kenyon Review Online, New England Review, Crazyhorse, Quarterly West, and The Normal School. She was a Fall 2018 Logan Nonfiction Fellow at The Carey Institute for Global Good, and earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction at the University of Arizona. As a creative entrepreneur, she teaches intimate, electric writing classes that help people tell their stories about sexuality, illness, and trauma. She is also a professor in Ashland University's Low-Residency MFA.In the episode we talk about: Heartbreak and conflict mineralsIllness as a driver force for writing nonfictionOwning a story vs. disguising it in thinly veiled fictionThe need for narrative distance to craft nonfictionProcessing illness through writingResearch as a means of survival The personal is enough, a personal story well told can change livesKati’s book, Lighting Flowers, story of a complicated relationship with her ICD, the American healthcare system, and the global supply chain.Book forthcoming March 2020 - Nov 2020, Little BrownIG / Twitter: @girlmakesfire / FB: writewithkatistandefer / katherinestandefer.comVisit us online at moretothestorypodcast.com and visit Under the Gum Tree at underthegumtree.com. Follow Under the Gum Tree Twitter and Instagram @undergumtree. Follow me on Twitter @justjanna and @jannamarlies on Instagram. If you're looking for a place to find more support with writing your true personal story, join the More To The Story community!

Sarah Penner's debut novel The Lost Apothecary shot to the top of the New York Times best seller lists in its first week, and overnight became one of the most anticipated books of 2021, with everyone from CNN to Oprah giving it favorable mentions. Her lead character, Nella, is a skilled healer who uses poison for dark purposes. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and in Binge Reading today Sarah talks about writing a book that stands out from all the others, how Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic got her started, and the challenges of making a female serial killer a sympathetic lead. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: Sarah's "key" to writing a best seller while working fulltimeLooking for things not done beforeExploring ambiguity in fictionThe role Elizabeth Gilbert played in Sarah's creative lifeThe real life Roman poisonerWhere to find Sarah online Where to find Sarah Penner:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_penner_author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahPennerAuthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sl_penner Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53288434-the-lost- apothecary Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/sarahpenner  YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsKcEnxV6GS0C0XQL-te9xA What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. But now, here's Sarah.Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, Sarah and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Sarah Penner: Thank you so much, Jenny, for having me. I'm thrilled to be here talking with you today. Introducing author Sarah Penner Jenny Wheeler: The Lost Apothecary has had remarkable success as a debut novel, and it's surprising in one sense in that your protagonist is not necessarily a person people might automatically warm to, because she's a female serial killer. Did you feel you were taking a risk by choosing this sort of central character? Sarah Penner author Sarah Penner: You make a good point. When I began writing the story, I knew that I wanted Nella the apothecary to be somewhat morally gray. The book opens with her in her hidden apothecary shop and it's very dark and has a sinister feeling, and the reader quickly learns on page one that the apothecary is pulling together a poison. She's planning to poison someone for the purpose of killing them. I knew from the very early pages of the book that I was going to have to help the reader understand why she was doing this, and also show a softer side to the apothecary. What I aimed to do over the course of the novel is help the reader understand why the apothecary was so vengeful and the emotional wounds she had from her own betrayals in her life. But even more important than that, how she was setting out to help women who had also been betrayed and felt that they had no other resources available to them. Can revenge be 'pure and good?' So in a way, the motive behind her for killing is actually somewhat pure and good. I think you quickly see that when Eliza, her 12-year-old customer, arrives at the shop, and we learn why Eliza is purchasing poison from the apothecary. I hope, at that point, that the reader is able to see the perspective of another victim and how they're using this the shop of poisons as a last resort. It makes it feel less like murder and more like a way out of a bad situation. Jenny Wheeler: Yes, she's a serial killer with principle in the sense that she secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from men who have wronged or harmed or abused them. She draws the line at ever poisoning another woman. I wondered if you had any conflict about the idea of seeming to endorse revenge killings. Sarah Penner: Part of the intrigue about fiction, for both the author and the reader, is that we're able to suspend a few of our own principles. Of course, on the surface,

The Steves discuss the 2000 cult classic Bring It On, along with what they are binging on TV and what's making them happy.Topics DiscussedShameless Final Season (Showtime)- BingeGrace and Franke Season 5 (Netflix)- BingeBring It OnMovie background informationThe Bring It On movie-verseTorrance as cheer captain, protagnosit, and her relationship with CliffIsis and the story behind her character developmentMale Cheerleaders IRL vs fictionThe movie's them of cultural appropriationSpirit Fingers and good cheer vs. bad chereSecond Place feeling like firstEnding- Any music or audio clips were borrowed from the original source material.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/happylifepod)

L.B. Hathaway's Posie Parker mysteries are Amazon bestsellers and that's not surprising because they combine the charm of the classic Golden Age country house mystery – the Agatha Christie set – with the glamour and excitement of 1920s London. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and today L.B., or Lily as she's called, talks about her latest book, Murder on the White Cliffs – yes, that is the White Cliffs of Dover.  She tells why Noel Coward's favourite bay and beach house feature in the story and she lets us in on the secret of how she fits her writing career around being a mum to two small girls. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: How Lily pivoted from law to novelistThe attraction of 1920s LondonTime organization with a young familyLearning from other writersMixing fact with fictionThe books she goes to again and again Where to find L.B. Hathaway:  Website: http://www.lbhathaway.com/ Facebook: @LBHathawaybooks  Twitter: @LbHathaway What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. But now, here's Lily. Jenny Wheeler: Hi there Lily, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.  L.B. Hathaway: Thank you so much, Jenny, for having me on. It's such an honor to be on your show today. Introducing L.B. (Lily) Hathaway Jenny Wheeler: At the beginning, we'll clarify your author name. You write under the name of L.B. Hathaway, but you are Lily, so anybody who is looking for your books, it's under the name L.B. rather than Lily, isn't it? L.B. Hathaway: Yes, it is. It's L.B. Hathaway. Jenny Wheeler: How did you get started in this wonderful creation exercise that you've now embarked on. You've got the eighth book out soon. Was there a once upon a time moment when you thought, I've got to write fiction, and if so, was there a catalyst for it? Mystery author LB Hathaway L.B. Hathaway: That's a great question. I think storytelling has always been important to me, since I was a child. I always did write fiction, little bits here and there, poetry and short stories. I never thought I could be a fiction writer as my career to earn money, and so I studied hard and I became a lawyer, and I spent my twenties doing that. The once upon a time moment didn't happen. It was more of a catalyst in my own life. It was an odd time. I had met my husband and we moved to Switzerland. I had resigned from my job as a lawyer in the UK, in London, and I was starting to look for other jobs in Switzerland. I had this time, this period of time, this kind of bubble ahead of me. It was a real gift, actually. It was the first time I had not been working or studying pretty much my whole life, and I decided it was the time to write a book. I wrote two books one after the other and they became the first two Posie Parker novels, so it came out of a career break in a way. Career change made an opportunity What happened was that the Posie Parker series really took off and I never did have to look for that job as a lawyer again. I also had my first child about a year later so then I became a full-time mum as well and started to balance and juggle the two together.  Jenny Wheeler: That's a great story. It's funny how quite often a hiatus in life's flow like that can give people the opportunity to look at themselves and think, this is something I really want to do, so that's fantastic. As I've mentioned the eighth one is just out.  Posie Parker is a mystery series set in the 1920s and it's almost a classical Golden Age type of mystery, set in country houses and that kind of thing. What attracted you first of all to the mystery genre as your chosen genre? Success with first Posie Parker mystery L.B. Hathaway: I think that to be a good writer, or to enjoy writing, you need to love your subject. It's almost to live and to know your subject,

Lorrie Holmgren's Emily Swift Mystery series are cozy mysteries which break the conventions.  Instead of taking place in a small town community with a predictable set of friends – the convention for cozies – international travel writer Emily is in Hawaii in one book and the beautiful English Cotswolds in the next, and her armchair travelling readers love her for it. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and Lorrie talks about her second career as an author of fiction and the mystery in her own life that could be a plotline for one of her stories. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: How writing workshops got Lorrie startedWhy mysteries give her a thrillDiscovering the wonders of travelThe joys of blending fact and fictionThe writers she admires mostDefining writing 'success' Where to find Lorrie Holmgren:  Website: lorrieholmgren.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/lorrieholmgrenauthor Pinterest:   Lorrie Holmgren Cozy Mystery Writer (holmgren1501) on Pinterest Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LorrieHolmgren What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny Wheeler: But now, here's Lorrie. Hello there Lorrie, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Introducing Lorrie Holmgren Lorrie Holmgren: Thank you, Jenny. I'm so glad to be here. Jenny Wheeler: Beginning at the beginning as we like to do, how did you get into writing? Was there an epiphany that you suddenly thought one day, I've got to write fiction, a once upon a time moment, and if so, was there a catalyst for it? Lorrie Holmgren: There kind of was. I had always loved to read and even when I was a little girl, I would make up stories for my own amusement. When I was in college, I took a short story writing class and just loved it. We had to write a story every single week, which is pretty challenging, but I enjoyed it so much. Lorrie Holmgren - mystery author From then on, I had the idea that someday I would write a novel. It was kind of in the back of my head. I didn't start right in to do it, but all my jobs involved writing. I wrote ads, news articles, op-eds, column speeches, news releases, you name it, but still in the back of my head I thought someday I'll write a novel. Then the real catalyst. I took a week-long, very intensive novel writing workshop and it was taught by Will Weaver who wrote Red Earth, White Earth. From then on, I was serious about writing and really plunged into it. At that workshop I met other writers and we formed a writers group. We still meet, we still stay together and critique each other's work. It's very helpful. Jenny Wheeler: That's wonderful. I hadn't heard of Will Weaver actually. Lorrie Holmgren: Have you heard of the movie Sweet Land? Emily Swift - travel writer sleuth Jenny Wheeler: Yes, I think I have. Lorrie Holmgren: He wrote the story that is based on, A Gravestone Made of Wheat I believe it's called. Jenny Wheeler: You've now got three books published in your Emily Swift travel mysteries and the latest one that we're talking about particularly today is A Killing In the Cotswolds. Your central character is a travel writer and you pack lots of fabulous tourist information into every book, but particularly this Cotswolds one because it's such an amazing area to visit. Is that part of the appeal for you, that you get to go traveling? Murder on Madeline Island Lorrie Holmgren: It is a wonderful excuse to travel but the only time I planned a trip that was on purpose to collect information for a book was my trip to the Cotswolds. My first book, Murder on Madeline Island, I wrote about a place I knew very well because I had been there often with my writers group and I was familiar with it, so it was pretty easy for me to do the descriptions from that. Second book again, Homicide in Hawaii,

On the Shelf for January 2018 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 35 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly update on what the Lesbian Historic Motif Project has been doing. In this episode we talk about: Recent and upcoming publications covered on the blogThe Lesbian Premodern Announcing this month's author guest, Kathleen Knowles New and forthcoming fictionThe new and forthcoming books segment starts next month. I swear. Ask Sappho: Nina, from The Lesbian Review facebook group, asks “Can anyone recommend older literature with subtle (or not so subtle) sapphic undertones? I just read Cousin Bette and really enjoyed the little lesbian romance going on between Valerie and Bette. Apparently the Victorian era had lots of these covert lesbian romance narratives, and I need more!” Literary Studies: Castle, Terry (ed). 2003. The Literature of Lesbianism: A Historical Anthology from Ariosto to Stonewall.Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN 0-231-12510-0 Donoghue, Emma. 2010. Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. ISBN 978-0-307-27094-8 Faderman, Lillian. 1981. Surpassing the Love of Men. William Morrow and Company, Inc., New York. ISBN 0-688-00396-6 Faderman, Lillian (ed). 1994. Chloe Plus Olivia: An Anthology of Lesbian and Bisexual Literature from the 17th Century to the Present. Viking, xx. ISBN 978-0-670-84638-4 Foster, Jeannette. 1985. Sex Variant Women in Literature. The Naiad Press. ISBN 0-930044-65-7 Third edition of the original 1956 publication. Decadent Novels:de Balzac, Honoré. 1846. Cousin Bette. gutenberg.org, Librivox audiobook de Balzac, Honoré. 1833. The Girl with the Golden Eyes. gutenberg.org, Librivox audiobook Gautier, Théophile. 1835. Mademoiselle de Maupin. gutenberg.org LeFanu, Sheridan. 1872. Carmilla. gutenberg.org, Librivox audiobook Zola, Emile. 1880. Nana. gutenberg.org Novels of Romantic Friendship:Converse, Florence. 1897. Diana Victrix. gutenberg.org James, Henry. 1886. The Bostonians. gutenberg.org vol.1, gutenberg.org vol.2, Librivox audiobook Linton, Eliza Lynn. 1880. The Rebel of the Family. gutenberg.orgbook Scott, Sarah. 1762. A Description of Millennium Hall. gutenberg.orgbook Call for submissions for the 2018 LHMP audio short story series. See here for details. A transcript of this podcast is available here. Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online Website: http://alpennia.com/lhmp Blog: http://alpennia.com/blog RSS: http://alpennia.com/blog/feed/ Twitter: @LesbianMotif Discord: Contact Heather for an invitation to the Alpennia/LHMP Discord server The Lesbian Historic Motif Project Patreon Links to Heather Online Website: http://alpennia.com Email: Heather Rose Jones Twitter: @heatherosejones Facebook: Heather Rose Jones (author page)

On the Shelf for October 2017 The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 22 with Heather Rose Jones Your monthly update on what the Lesbian Historic Motif Project has been doing. In this episode we talk about: Recent and upcoming publications covered on the blogBooks on the queer history of Boston and on the concept of the Boston Marriage in modern psychology Medieval penitential manuals that address same-sex relations Works on sexuality and same-sex relations in medieval Europe Announcing this month's author guest, Caren Werlinger New and forthcoming fictionThe new and forthcoming fiction segment was added later Ask Sappho:Where did I get the music that introduces and closes the podcast? What did people think about queens who had same-sex relations? Did it affect what the common people and the people of the court thought of them? This topic is discussed in one or more entries of the Lesbian Historic Motif Project here:Donoghue, Emma. 1995. Passions Between Women: British Lesbian Culture 1668-1801. Harper Perennial, New York. ISBN 0-06-017261-4 Hutcheson, Gregory S. “Leonor López de Córdoba and the Configuration of Female-Female Desire” in Same Sex Love and Desire Among Women in the Middle Ages (ed. by Francesca Canadé Sautman & Pamela Sheingorn), Palgrave, New York, 2001. anser, Susan S. 2014. The Sexuality of History: Modernity and the Sapphic, 1565-1830. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 978-0-226-18773-0 Merrick, Jeffrey & Bryant T. Ragan, Jr. 2001. Homosexuality in Early Modern France: A Documentary Collection. Oxford University Press, New York. ISBN 0-19-510257-6 Velasco, Sherry. 2011. Lesbians in Early Modern Spain. Vanderbilt University Press, Nashville. ISBN 978-0-8265-1750-0 A transcript of this podcast is available here. Links to the Lesbian Historic Motif Project Online Website: http://alpennia.com/lhmp Blog: http://alpennia.com/blog RSS: http://alpennia.com/blog/feed/ Twitter: @LesbianMotif Discord: Contact Heather for an invitation to the Alpennia/LHMP Discord server The Lesbian Historic Motif Project Patreon Links to Heather Online Website: http://alpennia.com Email: Heather Rose Jones Twitter: @heatherosejones Facebook: Heather Rose Jones (author page)

Award winning author Lucinda Brant fell in love with the 18th century as an 11 year old who picked up a dusty historical tome and started reading about a world she felt she'd once lived in. Hello there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and in todays Binge Reading episode Lucinda talks about her career as a best selling author of Georgian romance,  and the international following who adore the aristocratic families she writes about almost as much as she does. You can download the first book in the Roxton series, Midnight Marriage, for free on her website,  but we've got three audiobook copies to give away to three lucky readers.  Enter the draw on the website at The Joys of Binge Reading.com or on our Binge Reading Facebook page. ENTER AUDIOBOOK DRAW Links to the free Midnight Marriage e-Book and everything else we've talked about in the shownotes for this episode on the website too. While you're there, subscribe so you won't be short of a great book you can't put down.  And leave us a comment.  We love to hear from you. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: Lucinda's early - and mysterious - 18th century passionHow truth sometimes is stranger than fictionThe remarkable real life story that launched the RoxtonsLady Diana - The villain everyone delights inOn commissioning amazing coversWhy she loves Mary Balogh Where to find Lucinda Brant:  Website: https://www.lucindabrant.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucindaBrantBooks/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lucindabrant/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/LucindaBrantauthor What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, Lucinda and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Romance writer Lucinda Brant Lucinda Brant: Thanks, Jenny. It's very nice of you to invite me on your show. I think this is probably only the second podcast I've ever done. Jenny Wheeler: That's wonderful. Thank you. There will probably be many more in the future. Was there a Once Upon a Time moment when you decided that you had to write fiction as distinct from any other writing you might have been doing, and if so, was there a catalyst for it? Lucinda Brant Romance author Lucinda Brant:  I don't know if there was a Once Upon a Time moment. I've always liked creative writing. I've enjoyed it since school. Probably around seven or eight, I remember thinking, I really enjoy writing stories. Then it would have been high school when I started writing for myself. I thought I'd try my hand at fiction. We had a creative writing class in English but it wasn't enough for me, so I started writing stories and I would take them into class because I didn't like Maths very much and I'd pass them around. I realized I had an audience because they'd say, when are we getting the next chapter? Creative writing? Or Maths? Jenny Wheeler: You passed them around in Maths? Lucinda Brant: I did. I didn't do much Maths.  Jenny Wheeler: You're another one like me, I used to read something under the desk while the teacher was talking. I was bored with what they were saying but I couldn't leave a book alone. Lucinda Brant: That sounds about right. That's how I got into writing fiction and then I put it down when I went to university because writing essays is a whole different kettle of fish as far as writing goes. I picked it up again once I started work after I'd finished university. Jenny Wheeler: You've made your name with 18th century historical romance, and that in itself is interesting because Regency is the hot period for romance and there are millions of Regency books. What made you settle on the Georgians, the 1700's, and what attracted you to them? Falling in love with the 18th century Lucinda Brant: I've always loved history since primary school.

Anne Hillerman had some very big shoes to fill when she stepped up to continue her father Tony Hillerman's much loved Joe and Jim Navajo mysteries, an 18-book series adored by fans as well as admired by critics. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and in Binge Reading this week Anne talks about how she came to assume her father's mantle and write five more Navajo mysteries which are all New York Times best sellers. And we've got three E book copies of her latest, The Tale Teller, to giveaway to three lucky readers. A mysterious anonymous donation . . . a precious artifact stolen, linked by a seemingly random murder. .  .  Enter the draw on the Joys of Binge Reading website Giveaway page at the joys of binge reading.com or on the Binge Reading Facebook page. Draw closes June 6, 2020. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: How Anne came to take on her father's mantleWhy writing non fiction led to fictionThe tragic strength of the Navajo peopleHow a fine dress became a holy relicPlaces to go in Navajo countryWhat she wishes she'd asked her Dad Tony Hillerman Where to find Anne Hillerman:  Website: https://annehillerman.com/ Facebook: @authotannehillerman What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny Wheeler: But now here's Anne. Hello there Anne and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Anne Hillerman: Hello Jenny. Thank you so much for asking me. Introducing author Anne Hillerman Anne Hillerman - Navajo country mysteries carried on from her Dad Tony Hillerman Jenny Wheeler: We're both in a global pandemic at the opposite sides of the world and I wonder how you are managing with social distancing. Has it made much of an impact on your life? Anne Hillerman: Yes and no.  I think anyone who's a writer tends to have some pretty strong introverted genes and so in some ways I have been glad to have an excuse to say, no, I can't go to lunch, no, I can't talk to your Kiwanis group, to your Rotary group because of social distancing, and to have more quiet time to focus on my writing. But the downside of that is I write about real places, and part of my process always has been going to the places that are in the book and then trying to talk to people who live there to get a real sense of what the community is like.   Getting through a pandemic whole With the book I'm working on now, I had two big interviews set up right before New Mexico, the state where I live, went on not exactly lockdown, but pretty darn close to it.  One of the interviews was at a school and of course they were all closed and the other was at a scientific facility and the person I was talking to did the public tours so those were all closed.  That's been a downside of it.  But I think once things open up again, I'll be able to put those pieces together. I miss my friends and I miss being able to go out to dinner but all in all, I think we just have to all do what we can, so we'll be done with this.  I guess that's a long answer to your short question. Summertime is coming soon... Jenny Wheeler:  That's absolutely right.  If we all do our bit, then hopefully.  I heard somebody on the TV this morning say, well, it's going to be like this for the next two years or until we get a vaccine and I guess none of us really wants to think of it that way, but it might be a little bit of a long journey. Anne Hillerman: I had some really sweet invitations to do talks this Spring and of course they were all canceled and so I missed that.  But it's worth it.  I have so many friends who are in the high risk group and I wouldn't have ever wanted to take a chance on anything happening to them, so I think we all have to do our part to get through this.  Jenny Wheeler:  Yes.  You've got a unique story as a novelist because you've continued your father, Tony Hillerman's,

Fiona Barton's first crime thriller The Widow was a best seller on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and she hasn't dropped her pace in the few years since.  Her third novel – The Suspect –newly released in the US – continues to show her a crime thriller breakout star – with a tale of two teens who go to Thailand for Gap year partying and find themselves in all sorts of trouble. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and Fiona describes what it was like living in the rural reaches of Myanmar while publishing houses bid at a hot auction for book rights, and how her remarkable career in journalism has feed into her fiction. And we've got three paperback copies of The Suspect to giveaway to three lucky readers.  Enter theThriller Giveaway draw at the Joys of Binge Reading website or on our Binge Reading Facebook page. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: How 30 years in journalism helped her fictionThe pain of a 'lost child' a personal themeBecoming an international best-seller on debut On creating a controversial protagonistWorking with exiled journalists What's next in Book four Where to find Fiona Barton:  Website:  https://fionabartonauthor.com/ Facebook: @fionabartonauthor Twitter and Instagram: @figbarton What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny Wheeler: But now here's Fiona. Hello, there Fiona, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Fiona Barton: Hi. Thanks so much for inviting me. Fiona Barton - award winning journalist and breakthrough thriller author Jenny Wheeler: Fiona, you've had a remarkable career in journalism, and we will refer to that a little bit later on, but what was it that made you want to make that switch from nonfiction to fiction? I know some people say that journalists, what they write is fiction, but we both know that that's not true. Was there a catalyst for that change? Finding time to write fiction Fiona Barton: Well, I suppose the catalyst was suddenly having the time to do it. I've written professionally for 30 odd years as a journalist, and so I'd written every day. So, but as a journalist, you're so busy, it's a full on job. I had a family. I've got two children. I commuted, so there was no space in my life for anything more. It was cracking at the seams as it was. So, it was when I stopped being a reporter, in, Oh gosh, 2008. I stepped away from journalism from being a reporter, I carried on in journalism, but I was training journalists then, and we moved to Sri Lanka as volunteers, and I suddenly had time.  I could lift my head - I don't want to say from the daily grind, because I loved my job, but from that full on immersion in my job and my family and all of that. And so suddenly there were hours of the day that were not accounted for. It was wonderful. A debut best-seller I could walk to work, so I wasn't commuting and I'd had an idea buzzing around in my head for a while. A voice, really, the voice of Jean in The Widow. And, I just sat down and one evening I thought, well, why don't I give it a go? I'm not doing anything else. And so, I did. And that was the moment, the Eureka moment, I suppose, when I thought, "I think I can do this and I'm really enjoying it." So yes, it was only when I stopped being a reporter, that I could write fiction. Despite what people say. Jenny Wheeler: Yes. Now you've published three crime thrillers in the last four years, and the first of those that you've referred to, The Widow was very hotly sought after the publishing houses when it went for auction. It was published in 36 countries. The Widow - Fiona Barton's breakthrough best-selling debut novel In Burma with a hit on your hands It made the UK Sunday Times best seller list and the New York Times best seller lists, so both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Scott Graham's National Park mysteries combine murder, mayhem and mysticism in spectacular landscapes while embracing a keen awareness of environmental and social justice issues - a heady brew that's winning him a growing audience. Hi there I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and in today's Binge Reading podcast Scott talks about why he chose to set his five book series around an archaeologist sleuth Chuck and his Latina wife Janelle. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: An exciting new field of environmental fictionThe long road to publicationAn archaeologist sleuth leads the wayLiving in the tri-cultural South WestRocky Mountain writersBeing the 'luckiest writer on the planet' Where to find Scott Graham:  Website: http://scottfranklingraham.com/ Facebook: @scottgrahammysteryseries  Twitter: @sgrahamauthor What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny Wheeler: But now here's Scott. Hello Scott, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Scott Graham: Hi Jenny, I'm happy to be here. Scott Graham - Author Entertainment-focused environmental mysteries Jenny Wheeler: You made a reputation for yourself as a journalist and a nonfiction writer before you started on the fiction. I'm just interested on what made you switch to fiction and was there something that like a Once Upon A Time moment where you felt that urge to change to writing fiction? Long road to publication Scott Graham:  Well, the truth is, I was a failed a fiction writer for a long time before I was finally a successful, published fiction author.   I've had the dream of being a fictional storyteller pretty much my entire adult life. And I've also enjoyed the writing process my entire life as well. I could make a living as a journalist, as a business writer, and I was able to then publish some nonfiction books. I was always getting up early in the morning and doing some fiction writing just for myself because I loved that idea of being a storyteller so much. It took me, probably like many fiction authors, four or five manuscripts that didn't go anywhere. That came close, came closer and closer before I got what I feel like I'm good enough to find a true publisher and get rolling with my actual published fiction. Canyon Sacrifice #1 Scott Graham National Park series The National Park series Jenny Wheeler: That's fantastic. So you've now got five books in your National Park series and these starring an archeologist called Chuck Bender and his Latina paramedic wife Janelle.  What made you decide on that theme and setting? Scott Graham: I'm from a small town that's named Durango in the far Southwest corner of Colorado in the Southwestern United States, and that area is a hotbed of archeological discovery and old civilizations that are around here. I was raised here in Durango. I'm familiar with all the archeological discoveries that have been made here and throughout the Southwest of the United States. And I'm fascinated by it, to be honest. I thought readers are probably going to be fascinated by that as well. I just built that in as one of the themes or the key aspects of the series; that there is always an archeological discovery.   There is an archeological dig or an archeological survey that is ongoing as part of the plot for each of the books. An archaelogist sleuth Jenny Wheeler: You're a self-proclaimed outdoorsman and your love of the natural environment comes through very strongly. Lots of reviewers comment on it.  Each of the books features one particular national park, doesn't it? It might be Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone. . .  the most recent one is set in Utah in Arches National Park and as titled Arches Enemy. What draws you to the landscape? Scott Graham: Again, I'm so fortunate that I've been raised in a family by my

Bart Casey discovered the Monica Lewinsky of the Elizabethan age and turned her already incredible true story into an enthralling dual time line tale of historic intrigue and contemporary greed. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and today Bart talks about his passion for forgotten stories, explains why Will Shakespeare continues to fascinate movie makers, and reveals how a mystery involving three famous Romantic poets is his work in progress. Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: How adman Bart researched his fiction in his lunch breaksWhy Shakespeare's life fascinates himHow sexual predation hasn't changed over the centuriesWhy he values historical accuracy in his workWhen facts are stranger than fictionThe appeal of dual timeline tales Where to find Bart Casey: Website: http://www.bartcasey.com/index.htm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bart.casey  Twitter: @bibliomad Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/bart_casey What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. And now, here's Bart.  Hello there Bart and welcome to the show, it's great to have you with us. Bart: Very happy to be here. Very exciting. Jenny: Was there a “Once Upon A Time' moment when you decided you must write fiction or you would have somehow let yourself down, or not completed something you were meant to do?  And if so, what was the catalyst for it Bart Casey - historical mysteries Bart: Well it was actually more than just fiction, because it was about stories- coming across stories - especially in college and graduate school. They just seemingly needed to be told, things that I didn't think people would know about or that had been forgotten. Those stories then became the motivation I had to start writing. Sometimes, the non fiction ones are just as good. Once you find somebody like a Laurence Oliphant, the character I wrote a book about, who seemed to be like Forrest Gump - he sort of did everything. The fiction I write has a lot of non fiction in it. Anything I put in my upcoming book about Shakespeare or the Elizabethan characters is pretty much real. So it's fiction, but it's also pretty much non fiction. But to get to your real question; it's the story. You come across a story, you think 'I don't know that, I don't think anybody else knows that-' and you really have to tell them. That's the motivation. Jenny: You seem to have real talent for finding these stories that have been forgotten or ignored - your non fiction books perfectly demonstrate that. Bart:You just have an "aha" moment when you come across some of thee wacky combinations, and you just think that's so out of the ordinary and so compelling that it writes itself. The advantage of non fiction is of course it's real, so you can tell it chronologically from the people's birth to their death and not make anything up. When you get into fiction, you have to improvise a little. But I try to always be plausible, I don't try to make up anything crazy. Shedding light on forgotten history Jenny: You've made a specialty of blending dual time lines – contemporary and Elizabethan – to shed new light on forgotten history.  How did this passion first get sparked off? Bart: Sometimes I think if the historical characters like Shakespeare, or Elizabethan people you read about them in school and you see anthologies of their poetry, and they don't seem real. You don't see them as people who have a cup of coffee, they didn't have a stomach ache - they weren't real. By putting them in the same type of treatment as the modern characters we can identify personally, they come alive more because they were real people. What do we really know of Shakespeare? So in this in this story I do have sections that talk about the Elizabethans but they're always talking about their actual lives.