Podcasts about Next Generation Indie Book Awards

With Special Guests Laura Drake & Sharon DukettMarketing books is hard, but what if your book includes themes readers might consider sensitive or controversial?From political commentary and social issues, to serious medical topics like cancer, dementia or the right to die, how should you approach marketing books like that?Join us for a frank conversation about the challenges and opportunities presented when marketing controversial books.Laura Drake is a hybrid author of Women's Fiction and Romance. Her debut, THE SWEET SPOT, won the Romance Writers of America® RITA® award for Best First Book. She's since published 10 more romances and 4 Women's Fiction. Sharon Dukett is an award-winning author who writes thrillers and memoirs. Her memoir, No Rules, won a gold medal in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in Memoirs (Historical/Legacy). Her novel, The Shutdown List, won the 2025 Pencraft Winter Prize for Best Fiction – category Thriller.Lainey's novel! ⁠⁠The Exit Strategy is fun feminist fiction and a 15-time award-winner! A powerful, entertaining, and uplifting story of how even the smartest and strongest women fall victim to manipulation, and how, supporting one another, they can fight back, and find friendship.Winner of 15 book awards including Readers' Favorite, American Fiction Awards, National Indie Excellence.⁠⁠Join our newsletter⁠⁠⁠ and you'll always hear about new episodes and resources!Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode page⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for all resources and links featured in this episode.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Inkitt, Publishers Weekly, and Eric Smith. Then, stick around for a chat with Alan Lastufka!Alan Lastufka is a Hoffer Award-winning author and the owner of Shortwave, an independent small press. He writes horror, supernatural, and magical realism stories.His debut novel, Face the Night, received a starred Kirkus review, was a finalist for Best New Horror Novel at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and won the 2022 Hoffer Award for Best Commercial Fiction. It was also listed as one of the 100 Best Indie Books of the Year by Kirkus.When he's not writing, or recording with his band, The Caulden Road, Alan enjoys walking through Oregon's beautiful woods with his partner, Kris.

William Luvaas has published four novels: The Seductions of Natalie Bach (Little, Brown) Going Under (Putnam), Beneath The Coyote Hills (Spuyten Duyvil), and Welcome To Saint Angel (Anaphora Lit. Press); and three story collections: A Working Man's Apocrypha (Univ. Okla. Press) Ashes Rain Down: A Story Cycle (Spuyten Duyvil), The Huffington Post's 2013 Book of the Year and a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards – and his most recent, The Three Devils.  His new collection The Three Devils And Other Stories is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press at the Univ. of Wisconsin.  His honors include an NEA fellowship, first place in Glimmer Train's Fiction Open Contest, The Ledge Magazine's 2010 Fiction Awards Competition, and Fiction Network's Second National Fiction Competition.  Over one hundred of his stories, essays, and articles have appeared in many publications, including The Sun, North American Review, Epiphany, The Village Voice, The American Literary Review, Antioch Review, Cimarron Review, Short Story, and the American Fiction anthology.  He has taught creative writing at San Diego State University, U.C. Riverside, and The Writer's Voice in New York and has also worked as a carpenter, craftsman, community organizer, and freelance journalist.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lucinda, an artist and filmmaker.

Wellness expert and author Heather Grzych interviews Nina Schuyler, acclaimed author of the short story collection In This Ravishing World. Nina discusses her exploration of nature's voice in her latest work, delving into the idea of moving beyond a human-centric world to one where humans coexist with other-than-human beings. Nina reflects on the challenges and beauty of giving nature a more nuanced, deep-time voice, inspired by everything from the songs of humpback whales to the language of bats. She also shares insights into her creative process, the importance of fiction in moving people, and how stories can foster deeper connection and sustainability in the face of the climate crisis. With her impressive literary background, including novels like The Translator and Afterword, Nina offers a thought-provoking perspective on the power of words and storytelling in shaping our cultural and environmental future.    Heather Grzych, AD is an American author and expert in Ayurvedic medicine who was formerly the head of product development for a multi-billion-dollar health insurance company. She currently serves as the president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and is part of the faculty at Mount Madonna Institute College of Ayurveda. Heather's first book, The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, has sold thousands of copies worldwide, and her writing has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Yoga Journal, and the Sunday Independent. Her podcast, Wisdom of the Body, holds an average rating of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and is in the top 3% of podcasts globally. www.heathergrzych.com   Nina Schyuler is the author of 6 books – novels and books about craft. Nina Schuyler's short story collection, In This Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. Her novel, Afterword, won the 2024 PenCraft Book of the Year in Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction and Literary, and the PenCraft Spring Seasonal Book Award for Literary and Science Fiction. Her novel, The Translator, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her books, How to Write Stunning Sentences and Stunning Sentences: A Creative Writing Journal are bestsellers. Her short stories have been published by Zyzzyva, Chicago Quarterly Review, Fugue, Nashville Review, and elsewhere, and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, The Writing Salon, and Book Passage. www.Ninaschuyler.com     Connect with Heather: Learn more at www.heathergrzych.com   Instagram.com/heathergrzych Facebook.com/grzychheather   Read the first six pages of The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility for FREE: https://www.heathergrzych.com Connect with Heather to balance your health with Ayurveda: https://www.heathergrzych.com/book-online

Weekly shoutout: Read the latest literary releases from Punk Noir Magazine! -- Hi there, We're back! Today I am delighted to be arts calling author Theodora Ziolkowski! (www.theodoraziolkowski.com) ABOUT OUR GUEST: THEODORA ZIOLKOWSKI is the author of the novella, On the Rocks (2018 & 2020, The University Press of SHSU/Texas Review Press) and the short story chapbook, Mother Tongues (2016 & 2018, The Cupboard). On the Rocks, winner of a 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Award, is now available as an audiobook. Ziolkowski's debut collection of poems, Ghostlit (2025), is now available. Ziolkowski's work has received support from the Vermont Studio Center, the National Alumni Association (University of Alabama), and Inprint (Houston, Texas). Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in The Writer's Chronicle, Short Fiction (England), and Prairie Schooner, among over sixty other literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and exhibits. In the past, Ziolkowski has served as Poetry Editor for Gulf Coast, Fiction Editor for Big Fiction, and Assistant Poetry Editor for Black Warrior Review. She holds an MFA from the University of Alabama, where she was honored as a ‘30 Under 30' alum, and a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Houston, where she was the recipient of the Inprint Marion Barthelme Prize in Creative Writing. Currently, she teaches creative writing as an assistant professor of English at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. GHOSTLIT: A new poetry collection, is now available! BOOKSHOP.ORG | BARNES & NOBLE | POWELL'S BOOKS | AMAZON ABOUT GHOSTLIT: Intimate, urgent, and relentlessly inventive, the poems in Ghostlit reflect upon mythology and feminist pop culture and contemporary ideology as they may become embedded in the psyches and even the bodies of their inheritors. Through visceral and sometimes gothic-inspired images, mythological allusions, and the assemblage of strands of narrative, the poems in this collection chart the ways in which manipulative emotional strategies on individual and cultural levels inflict lingering harm upon minds and bodies. Throughout, the poems peel back the layers of what it means for an abuse survivor to reclaim a sense of self—long after the damage has been done. “It turns out that the years I believed myself lucky/were partly responsible for my thinking/there was something deeply wrong with me” could be understood as a refrain for the speaker in Ghostlit or as a shorthand for a cautionary tale about how many survivors may be encouraged to deny the reality of abuse. Thanks for this amazing conversation, Theodora! All the best! -- Arts Calling is produced by Jaime Alejandro. HOW TO SUPPORT ARTS CALLING: PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING A REVIEW, OR SHARING THIS EPISODE WITH A FRIEND! YOUR SUPPORT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN.

My book, Beyond Potential: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Re-Assess, Re-Define, and Re-Ignite Their Careers is coming out on March 25th, but you can preorder your copy today! Find it at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or Bookshop.org If you order early, you'll get access to an exclusive live bonus session—submit your info and purchase order HERE! This week, we're talking with Naomi Vladeck, a transformational Life Coach for Women Artists and Creators about how to expand your network in a more organic (and less ick-filled) way.  Naomi is an award-winning author and certified life coach who is devoted to advancing the work of women artists and creators through her company Creativity Matters Coaching. Naomi has been working with and around independent artists for thirty years. As a performing artist, writing coach, fundraising executive, and arts non-profit founder, she has helped hundreds of artists create something new from an empty stage, blank page and canvas in their work and lives. The experience of her husband's alcoholism and death led to her writing debut: "Braving Creativity, Artists Who Turn the Scary, Thrilling, Messy Path of Change into Courageous Transformation which was a #1 New Release on Amazon and received Silver Medal Award from the Non Fiction Authors Association in the category of Personal Transformation, a Finalist Medal in the Career category the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in both the Women's Category & the Art/Music/Performing Arts Category from the Independent Author Network (IAN). Download her free resource: Five Ways to Crush Resistance with Confidence and Courage  Links and Resources: Follow Kate on Instagram: @kkayaian Free Guide: 10 Habits of Successful Artists Free Guide: Quarterly Retreat Planning Guide Follow & Support the Podcast: Subscribe to Tales from The Lane on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review—it helps more creatives find the show! Want to work with me? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with me today. 

RuFF (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2024) is Rod Carley's highly-anticipated fourth novel. This historical fiction transports us to Elizabethan England, where we witness Shakespeare struggling through a midlife crisis while trying to win a national play competition to secure the King's business. Hilarious hijinks ensue, with whip-smart dialogue and a captivating tale that touches on salient social issues that persist today, including equality, justice, and censorship. Humour and incisive wit combine to create a compulsively readable and thought-provoking novel from this Leacock Award long-listed author. We know RuFF will be a favourite book of the year for many. More About RuFF: Rod Carley is back with another theatrical odyssey packed with an unforgettable cast of Elizabethan eccentrics. It's a madcap world more modern than tomorrow where gender is what a person makes of it (no matter the story beneath their petticoats or tights). Will Shakespeare is having a very bad year. Suffering from a mid-life crisis, a plague outbreak, and the death of the ancient Queen, Will's mettle is put to the test when the new King puts his witch-burning hobby aside to announce a national play competition that will determine which theatre company will secure his favour and remain in business. As he struggles to write a Scottish supernatural thriller, Will faces one ruff and puffy obstacle after another including a young rival punk poet and his activist-wife fighting for equality and a woman's right to tread the boards. Will and his band of misfits must ensure not only their own survival, but that of England as well. The stage is set for an outrageous and compelling tale of ghosts, ghostwriting, writer's block, and the chopping block. Ruffly based on a true story. About Rod Carley: Rod is the award-winning author of three previous works of literary fiction: GRIN REAPING (long listed for the 2023 Leacock Medal for Humour, 2022 Bronze Winner for Humour from Foreword Review INDIES, a Finalist for the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Humor/Comedy, and long listed for the ReLit Group Awards for Best Short Fiction of 2023); KINMOUNT (long listed for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour and Winner of the 2021 Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards); A Matter of Will (Finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction). His short stories and creative non-fiction have appeared in a variety of Canadian literary magazines including Broadview (winner of the 2022 Award of Excellence for Best Seasonal Article from the Associated Church Press), Cloud Lake Literary, Blank Spaces, Exile, HighGrader, and the anthology 150 Years Up North and More. He was a finalist for the 2021 Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction Prize. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer Competition for his lecture entitled “Adapting Shakespeare within a Modern Canadian Context. He is a proud alumnus of the Humber School for Writers and is represented by Carolyn Forde, Senior Literary Agent with The Transatlantic Agency. www.rodcarley.ca. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

RuFF (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2024) is Rod Carley's highly-anticipated fourth novel. This historical fiction transports us to Elizabethan England, where we witness Shakespeare struggling through a midlife crisis while trying to win a national play competition to secure the King's business. Hilarious hijinks ensue, with whip-smart dialogue and a captivating tale that touches on salient social issues that persist today, including equality, justice, and censorship. Humour and incisive wit combine to create a compulsively readable and thought-provoking novel from this Leacock Award long-listed author. We know RuFF will be a favourite book of the year for many. More About RuFF: Rod Carley is back with another theatrical odyssey packed with an unforgettable cast of Elizabethan eccentrics. It's a madcap world more modern than tomorrow where gender is what a person makes of it (no matter the story beneath their petticoats or tights). Will Shakespeare is having a very bad year. Suffering from a mid-life crisis, a plague outbreak, and the death of the ancient Queen, Will's mettle is put to the test when the new King puts his witch-burning hobby aside to announce a national play competition that will determine which theatre company will secure his favour and remain in business. As he struggles to write a Scottish supernatural thriller, Will faces one ruff and puffy obstacle after another including a young rival punk poet and his activist-wife fighting for equality and a woman's right to tread the boards. Will and his band of misfits must ensure not only their own survival, but that of England as well. The stage is set for an outrageous and compelling tale of ghosts, ghostwriting, writer's block, and the chopping block. Ruffly based on a true story. About Rod Carley: Rod is the award-winning author of three previous works of literary fiction: GRIN REAPING (long listed for the 2023 Leacock Medal for Humour, 2022 Bronze Winner for Humour from Foreword Review INDIES, a Finalist for the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Humor/Comedy, and long listed for the ReLit Group Awards for Best Short Fiction of 2023); KINMOUNT (long listed for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour and Winner of the 2021 Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards); A Matter of Will (Finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction). His short stories and creative non-fiction have appeared in a variety of Canadian literary magazines including Broadview (winner of the 2022 Award of Excellence for Best Seasonal Article from the Associated Church Press), Cloud Lake Literary, Blank Spaces, Exile, HighGrader, and the anthology 150 Years Up North and More. He was a finalist for the 2021 Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction Prize. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer Competition for his lecture entitled “Adapting Shakespeare within a Modern Canadian Context. He is a proud alumnus of the Humber School for Writers and is represented by Carolyn Forde, Senior Literary Agent with The Transatlantic Agency. www.rodcarley.ca. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

RuFF (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2024) is Rod Carley's highly-anticipated fourth novel. This historical fiction transports us to Elizabethan England, where we witness Shakespeare struggling through a midlife crisis while trying to win a national play competition to secure the King's business. Hilarious hijinks ensue, with whip-smart dialogue and a captivating tale that touches on salient social issues that persist today, including equality, justice, and censorship. Humour and incisive wit combine to create a compulsively readable and thought-provoking novel from this Leacock Award long-listed author. We know RuFF will be a favourite book of the year for many. More About RuFF: Rod Carley is back with another theatrical odyssey packed with an unforgettable cast of Elizabethan eccentrics. It's a madcap world more modern than tomorrow where gender is what a person makes of it (no matter the story beneath their petticoats or tights). Will Shakespeare is having a very bad year. Suffering from a mid-life crisis, a plague outbreak, and the death of the ancient Queen, Will's mettle is put to the test when the new King puts his witch-burning hobby aside to announce a national play competition that will determine which theatre company will secure his favour and remain in business. As he struggles to write a Scottish supernatural thriller, Will faces one ruff and puffy obstacle after another including a young rival punk poet and his activist-wife fighting for equality and a woman's right to tread the boards. Will and his band of misfits must ensure not only their own survival, but that of England as well. The stage is set for an outrageous and compelling tale of ghosts, ghostwriting, writer's block, and the chopping block. Ruffly based on a true story. About Rod Carley: Rod is the award-winning author of three previous works of literary fiction: GRIN REAPING (long listed for the 2023 Leacock Medal for Humour, 2022 Bronze Winner for Humour from Foreword Review INDIES, a Finalist for the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Humor/Comedy, and long listed for the ReLit Group Awards for Best Short Fiction of 2023); KINMOUNT (long listed for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour and Winner of the 2021 Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards); A Matter of Will (Finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction). His short stories and creative non-fiction have appeared in a variety of Canadian literary magazines including Broadview (winner of the 2022 Award of Excellence for Best Seasonal Article from the Associated Church Press), Cloud Lake Literary, Blank Spaces, Exile, HighGrader, and the anthology 150 Years Up North and More. He was a finalist for the 2021 Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction Prize. Rod was the 2009 winner of TVO's Big Ideas/Best Lecturer Competition for his lecture entitled “Adapting Shakespeare within a Modern Canadian Context. He is a proud alumnus of the Humber School for Writers and is represented by Carolyn Forde, Senior Literary Agent with The Transatlantic Agency. www.rodcarley.ca. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/historical-fiction

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon's Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemitism then and now. Michelle Cameron is the author of Jewish historical fiction, with her most recent being Napoleon's Mirage, the sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates. Previous work includes Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity, a finalist in religious fiction in the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the award-winning Beyond the Ghetto Gates and The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz. Michelle is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based creative writing program serving children, teens, and adults. She lives in Chatham, NJ, with her husband and has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud. Author's website: https://michelle-cameron.com/ Instagram: @michellecameronwriter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor Host Website: merylain.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MichelleCameron #NapoleonsMirage #Sequel #BeyondTheGhettoGates #HistoricalFiction #AntiWarNovel #RoleOfWomenInHistory #KetubahWorkshop #NapoleonicEra #ProclamationToJews #Research #Jews #JewishHistory #Christians #Muslims #ThreeMajorReligions #Egypt #RealityofWar #RuinedWoman #LongDistanceRelationship #MilitaryMistakes #Babylon #ShiraOfAshkinaze #HistoricalFiction #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon's Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemitism then and now. Michelle Cameron is the author of Jewish historical fiction, with her most recent being Napoleon's Mirage, the sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates. Previous work includes Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity, a finalist in religious fiction in the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the award-winning Beyond the Ghetto Gates and The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz.Michelle is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based creative writing program serving children, teens, and adults. She lives in Chatham, NJ, with her husband and has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud. Author's website: michelle-cameron.com/Instagram: @michellecameronwriterFacebook: www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor Host Website: merylain.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MichelleCameron #NapoleonsMirage #Sequel #BeyondTheGhettoGates #HistoricalFiction #AntiWarNovel #RoleOfWomenInHistory #KetubahWorkshop #NapoleonicEra #ProclamationToJews #Research #Jews #JewishHistory #Christians #Muslims #ThreeMajorReligions #Egypt #RealityofWar #RuinedWoman #LongDistanceRelationship #MilitaryMistakes #Babylon #ShiraOfAshkinaze #HistoricalFiction #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon's Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemitism then and now. Michelle Cameron is the author of Jewish historical fiction, with her most recent being Napoleon's Mirage, the sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates. Previous work includes Babylon: A Novel of Jewish Captivity, a finalist in religious fiction in the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the award-winning Beyond the Ghetto Gates and The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz. Michelle is a director of The Writers Circle, a NJ-based creative writing program serving children, teens, and adults. She lives in Chatham, NJ, with her husband and has two grown sons of whom she is inordinately proud. Author's website: https://michelle-cameron.com/ Instagram: @michellecameronwriter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellecameronauthor Host Website: merylain.com/ Copyright by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #AuthorsOnTheAir #AuthorsOnTheAirGlobalRadioNetwork #AOTA #MichelleCameron #NapoleonsMirage #Sequel #BeyondTheGhettoGates #HistoricalFiction #AntiWarNovel #RoleOfWomenInHistory #KetubahWorkshop #NapoleonicEra #ProclamationToJews #Research #Jews #JewishHistory #Christians #Muslims #ThreeMajorReligions #Egypt #RealityofWar #RuinedWoman #LongDistanceRelationship #MilitaryMistakes #Babylon #ShiraOfAshkinaze #HistoricalFiction #PeopleoftheBook #MerylAin #TheTakeawayMen #ShadowsWeCarry #LetsTalkJewishBooks #JewsLoveToRead!

Lawrence Kane has been studying and teaching martial arts since 1970, often putting what he learned into action while working stadium security part time. The bestselling author of 30 books, he earned a Beverly Hills Book Award and Presidential Prize, a USA Best Book Award, three National Indie Excellence Book Awards, two eLit Gold Medals, an Independent Press Award, a Next Generation Indie Book Award, and a Living Now Book Awards Gold Medal, among other honors. He has been interviewed by FOX News, The Jim Bohannon Show, Computerworld, Forbes, Art of Procurement, Le Matin, Sourcing Industry Landscape, Information Week, Police Magazine, Negotiations Ninja podcast, and more... Listen NOW to discover, "5 Martial Arts Secrets To UNLEASH Your Business Breakthrough." --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/30minutehour/support

Send us a textJeffrey M. Feingold is a writer in Boston. His award-winning debut collection of linked short stories, The Black Hole Pastrami, published in 2023, was followed shortly after by his next award-winning book of linked short stories, There Is No Death in Finding Nemo, an Amazon bestseller. Jeffrey's stories have been nominated for the Pen America Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, the Pushcart Prize, and The Best American Short Stories. His books have won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, a PenCraft Award, an Indie Reader Discovery Award, and have been finalists for the Eyelands Book Awards, the Wishing Shelf Awards, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the International Book Awards, and the Santa Fe Writers Project Awards.Jeffrey's work appears in magazines, such as the international Intrepid Times, and in The Bark. Jeffrey's work has also been published in anthologies, and by numerous literary reviews and journals, including The Pinch, Maudlin House, Wilderness House Literary Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal, and elsewhere. Learn more about Jeff at his website, https://jeffreymfeingold.com/Host: Tammy TakaishiAudio Engineer: Alex Repetti Visit the Self-Care Institute at https://www.selfcareinstitute.com/ Support the showVisit www.creativepeacemeal.com to leave a review, fan voicemail, and more!Insta @creative_peacemeal_podcastFB @creativepeacemealpodBonfire https://www.bonfire.com/store/creative-peacemeal/Redbubble CPPodcast.redbubble.comCreative Peacemeal READING list here Donate to AhHa!Broadway here! Donate Dachshund Rescue of Houston here Interested in the Self-Care Institute with Dr. Ami Kunimura? Click here Interested in Corrie Legge's content planner? Click here to order!

Rod is the award-winning author of four works of literary fiction: RUFF (September 2024), GRIN REAPING (long listed for the 2023 Leacock Medal for Humour, 2022 Bronze Winner for Humour from Foreword Review INDIES, a Finalist for the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Humor/Comedy, and long listed for the ReLit Group Awards for Best Short Fiction of 2023); KINMOUNT (long listed for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour and Winner of the 2021 Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards); A Matter of Will (Finalist for the 2018 Northern Lit Award for Fiction).

Youtube https://youtu.be/d8NHPntBYzo https://sharondukett.com Sharon Dukett is an award-winning author who writes thrillers and memoir. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. Sharon worked in information technology as a consultant, programmer, and project manager in the private sector, and as a deputy director in government. This taught her the infinite possibilities of how plans go awry, and the creativity needed to rescue them: a useful insight for writing thrillers. Sharon lives in central Connecticut with her husband, within driving distance of her children and grandchildren, whom she hopes will have long lives in a healthy world. Award Winner 2022 Memoir Prize for Books (Adventure) Award Winner 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Memoirs (Historical/Legacy) Bronze Award 25th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) for Autobiography III (Personal Struggle / Health Issues) Winner of the 2021 Sponsor's Choice Prize National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist Award 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards for Memoir. Finalist Award 2020 Chanticleer International Book Awards. Finalist Award 2020 International Book Awards in Autobiography / Memoir. Finalist Award 2020 Readers Favorite Book Awards in Non-fiction – Women's. Finalist Award 2020 Best Book Awards in Autobiography / Memoir. Finalist Award 2020 Best Book Awards in Women's Issues.

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.About the guest author:Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her latest book, a short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature. Her last novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books and illuminates the power and dangers of AI. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes. You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community.If you're interested in a book about female resilience, click here to get a FREE E-BOOK of my latest novel, Rose Girl! And if you have read the book, please leave a review! Thank you for your support! Be well and keep reading. ~Holly~ Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast, where master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles behind the critical first page of their books. If you liked this episode, please share it on social, leave a review on your favorite podcast players and tell your friends! I hope you enjoy this labor of love as much as I love hosting, producing, and editing it. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my newsletter at www.hollylynnpayne.com with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynewww.hollylynnpayne.com

THIS NON FICTION NOVEL, "EXODAI" IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ! PLEASE JOIN IN THIS LATEST EPISODE OF MISTRESS MIA'S DUNGEON WHERE ELIZABETH HENDRICK SITS DOWN AT THE MIC WITH US.. https://a.co/d/4G76HiB “Brave, compelling, remarkable.” Richard Moriarty – The Sun“Brutal, vivid, electrifying.” Chris Riches – Daily Express ◆ WINNER of the NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS for SEXUALITY category◆ FINALIST in the NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS for LGBTQIA NON-FICTION category◆ FINALIST in the INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS for LGBTQ+ NON-FICTION category◆ FINALIST in the NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS for BEST BOOK COVER DESIGN (NON-FICTION) https://a.co/d/4G76HiB --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mistress-mia8/support

Award winning author and retired COO from Bunn Coffee, Mark Watson returns to the show! When Mark visited us in 2021, he was leading Bunn through the changing tides of Covid-19 while preparing to publish his book: Joyous Leadership. Now three years later, he has recently retired and seen his book win the Next Generation Indie Book Award. We talked about life in retirement, how to lead in creative decision making and adapting to changing times, as well as an appreciation of diversity due to the many places he has lived.

Matt interviews Leah Rampy, the author of Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos.In her book, she leads her readers on a soul journey into grief and loss to also claim the beauty, joy and possibilities available when we reconnect with Earth. The book highlights the intersection of spirituality, ecology, and storytelling to discuss nature's connection to our collective souls.Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos is the 2024 winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Award and National Indie Excellence Awards.Make sure to check out our sponsor for today's episode at Vala Alta using this link for 15% off. .

Tammy Cohen, brand messaging consultant and founder of the Women Beyond the Table Business Network is the author of Text Messages To My Kids, a book brimming with inspiration for how you (or your partner) can begin, renew or truly uplevel your connection with kids - especially those who don't live with you or who are in a phase of life where they don't seem open to hearing from you. By going where they are - ie., on their phones - you can meet them in familiar territory and get their attention in a new way. In our conversation, I highlight 10 different strategies Tammy used that any dad (or stepmom) can copy or adapt to suit their own family situation and fill a communication gap with love, attention, security and trust. Text Messages To My Sons: Connecting Deeply In A World of Devices is a BookFest award winner and Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist. It's a must read for anyone looking to build a deeper connection with their loved ones! Contact Tammy at: www.tcbrandconsulting.com Instagram: @textmessagestomysons Facebook.com/Textmessagestomysons Facebook.com@tammyjcohen www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-cohen-915815143 tammy@tcbrandconsulting.com

Tammy Cohen, brand messaging consultant and founder of the Women Beyond the Table Business Network is the author of Text Messages To My Kids, a book brimming with inspiration for how you (or your partner) can begin, renew or truly uplevel your connection with kids - especially those who don't live with you or who are in a phase of life where they don't seem open to hearing from you. By going where they are - ie., on their phones - you can meet them in familiar territory and get their attention in a new way. In our conversation, I highlight 10 different strategies Tammy used that any dad (or stepmom) can copy or adapt to suit their own family situation and fill a communication gap with love, attention, security and trust. Text Messages To My Sons: Connecting Deeply In A World of Devices is a BookFest award winner and Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist. It's a must read for anyone looking to build a deeper connection with their loved ones! Contact Tammy at: www.tcbrandconsulting.com Instagram: @textmessagestomysons Facebook.com/Textmessagestomysons Facebook.com@tammyjcohen www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-cohen-915815143 tammy@tcbrandconsulting.com

Our dear John Renesch, a renowned futurist and visionary, passed away September 22, 2022. For several decades John shared his perspectives about a brilliant future of the world. He also saw the trajectory as tenuous - but not hopeless. He saw the slippery slope that the U.S. and the world were traveling toward complete disruption, long before most did. He noted that this was easily apparent in the behavior of individuals in a society, which then created norms of that society. The breakdown though began long before the behavior showed itself. John was a proponent of taking responsibility - for self, for the well-being of community, for one's part in the shaping of culture and society and the political landscape. Twenty years ago he said it was time for our culture to grow up, out of what he characterized as a rebellious teenage stage. It was past time to stand up and take responsibility for contributing to the whole. (Seems like we are regressing…) For John, it was “humanity first.” He said there must be love and compassion and caring for the individual and the whole of humanity for the system to shift trajectory. So, maybe if we start there. Humanity first. If I see everything through humanity first, how does that change my thoughts, actions, and behaviors? It's worth a try. Rest peacefully John. Cheryl Esposito welcomes John Renesch, global futurist, humanitarian, & author, passionate about business, human consciousness & possible scenarios for our future. His latest book The Great Growing Up: Being Responsible for Humanity's Future is Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2013 Grand Prize winner. A businessperson & CEO who started, ran, & sold enterprises, John says commerce is key in shifting human consciousness to create a future of possibility that will allow humanity to transcend the inevitable future being projected from current trends. We are future shapers. We play a role in how the world will be tomorrow, next year & coming generations. John's challenge: give conscious thought to what we want, rather than passively sitting around while a random or even “accidental future” reveals itself. And, while we're at it, stop pretending that what we are doing has no impact on the future. (Note to self: no excuses!) Join Cheryl Esposito & John Renesch to explore Future Shaping!

Dani Nichols is an award-winning writer from Central Oregon. Her essays have been published in The Other Journal, RANGE Magazine, 1859 Oregon's Magazine, Fathom Magazine, Reckon Review, Barren Magazine, Oregon Humanities, and more. Her children's book, BUZZ THE NOT-SO-BRAVE, is in its second printing and still selling strong. “BUZZ” is award-winning, placing in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, 2023 Best Book Awards from American Book Fest, and Western Writers of America Spur Awards. “BUZZ” also won a silver medallion in the Will Rogers Medallion Awards, celebrating excellence in Western literature. She lives with her husband, Adam, and their three children, Adelay, Isaiah, and Jesse, plus various animals, on a small ranch in Central Oregon. She works as a certified adaptive horsemanship instructor when she's not writing. She is also a passionate cook, an easy laugher, and a lover of country music, good wine, open water, and strong coffee. She writes about adoption, horses, marriage, friendship, and, above all, the relentless nature of redemption. You can read her work and learn more at www.wranglerdani.com Learn more about your host, Kim Lengling: www.kimlenglingauthor.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letfearbouncepodcast/message

https://youtu.be/WYmfoqhr9_8  Youtube Version  https://www.breathethechange.com Laurie Ellis-Young and George T. Ellis. PsyD, received Two Silver Benjamin Franklin IBPA Awards in the categories for their book, Breath Is Life, at the 35th Annual 2023 Independent Book Publishers Association conference in San Diego, CA on May 5th. Additionally, Breath Is Life is a finalist in the largest international awards competition Next Generation INDIE Book Awards in the two categories of Overall Book Design (nonfiction) and Mind, Body, Spirit. And (MIPA) Midwest Independent Publishers Association Award has selected Breath Is Life for a Silver Award in the category of HEALTH and is nominated for a GOLD award on June 17, 2023 at the MIPA Gala at Open Book in Minneapolis.

Lisa is joined by Donald Altman, a psychotherapist, international mindfulness trainer, former Buddhist monk and award-winning author of over 20 books to talk about his book, Clearing Emotional Clutter: Mindfulness Practices for Letting Go of What's Blocking Your Fulfillment and Transformation.He is profiled in "The Living Spiritual Teachers Project" and featured in "The Mindfulness Movie." He also writes the Psychology Today Mindful Practices blog, which has been read by over 1 millions viewers. in 2023, Donald's spiritual suspense novel Travelers was named a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Out of thousands of submissions worldwide, Travelers was chosen as a Finalist in two categories--"First Novel" and "General Fiction." In addition, Donald's Award-winning non-fiction spirituality and mindfulness books include "The Mindfulness Toolbox"--winner of two Gold IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards as best book in the "Psychology" and "Body-Mind-Spirit" categories, "Clearing Emotional Clutter"--selected "One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2016" and "The Mindfulness Code"--chosen "One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2010." Other popular books include "Simply Mindful," "One Minute Mindfulness," "The Mindfulness Code," "Living Kindness," and "Reflect: Awaken to the Wisdom of the Here and Now."Donald has served as past vice-president of The Center for Mindful Eating, and has taught at both Portland State University and Lewis and Clark College Graduate School of Education and Counseling. He travels internationally as a keynote speaker and mindfulness workshop leader. His books have been translated word-wide. Visit: www.MindfulPractices.com and the Reflect Community: www.facebook.com/mndfulpracticesBOOK DESCRIPTION: Is emotional clutter blocking success in your personal and professional life? You've likely heard about the psychological benefits of clearing out the clutter in your surroundings, but how do you handle your emotional clutter the psychological version of the jam-packed closet or impenetrable garage? Shutting away and trying to hide old pains and traumas creates toxic patterns that can keep you from having the life of your dreams. Integrating mindfulness and cutting-edge neuroscience, international mindfulness expert Donald Altman teaches how to modify entrenched habits and patterns with only a few minutes of attention daily.Altman first helps you realize what your baggage consists of and how to transform or jettison it. He then shows how to avoid the daily danger of accumulating new emotional clutter. No matter how fraught your life or relationships may be, you can cleanse, heal, or accept the old wounds, mistakes, and disappointments. With Altman's lifestyle tools, you'll discover how to address your past, better deal with the present, and cultivate the best possible future. Start fresh with Clearing Emotional Clutter.

We tend to live by a set of unconscious rules that we've inherited—from our families, our culture, the media and more. But when they keep you tethered to a way of life that isn't serving your highest good? Award-winning author, speaker and podcast host Heather Whelpley says it's time to make your own rules.Together, we unpack:The four types of rules we have “inherited” from outside forces and how they play out in our lives.How to become conscious of the rules you've internalized and adopted—and start testing whether they are actually true.The relationship between culturally expected perfection and imposter syndrome.The role of “breaks”—big and small—in creating opportunities to understand, challenge and change the rules you've been living by.How to start—and stick with—making your own rules to expand your business and your life.LINKSHeather Whelpley Website | Email List | Grounded Wildness | LinkedInRochelle Moulton Email List | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram BIOHeather Whelpley is a speaker, award-winning author of Grounded Wildness: Break Free From Performing Your Life and Start Living It and An Overachiever's Guide To Breaking The Rules, and host of the Grounded Wildness podcast. She works with women to break free from perfect and create their own rules for life.Heather has spoken to thousands of people across the US and internationally on topics like discovering your authentic voice, creating your own rules for success, and imposter syndrome. Prior to starting her business, she spent over a decade in human resources and managing leadership development programs for high-achieving women at Fortune 500 companies in the US, Australia, and Latin America.Her first book, An Overachiever's Guide To Breaking The Rules, has won multiple awards, including gold medals from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and Living Now Book Awards as well as being named a finalist for the First Horizon Book Award for first-time authors. Her second book, Grounded Wildness, was published in October 2023 and was an instant Amazon bestseller. Heather lives in Colorado where she spends as much time hiking and exploring as possible.BOOK A STRATEGY CALL WITH ROCHELLERESOURCES FOR SOLOISTSThe Soloist Women Mastermind (Apply January 2024) A structured eight-month mastermind with an intentionally small group of hand-picked women soloists grappling with—and solving—the same kinds of challenges. 10 Ways To Grow Revenue As A Soloist (Without Working More Hours): most of us have been conditioned to work more when we want to grow revenue—but what if we just worked differently?The

Ever wonder how an economist turned lawyer found her true calling in the world of creative writing? We embark on a fascinating exploration of Nina Schuyler's journey, her love for incorporating Japanese culture in her novels and the intriguing blend of mathematics and Japanese culture that blossoms in her latest novel, AFTERWORD.Does beauty have the power to transcend suffering? We engage in an in-depth discussion about Schuyler's characters Haru and Virginia in AFTERWORD. Their journey unveils how their intellectual bond empowers Virginia to overcome societal barriers and kindle her love for math. We also touch upon the themes of loneliness, grief, identity, and longing that are woven throughout their story. In an age of technological reliance, we also explore the intricate relationships between humans and machines that Schuyler beautifully crafts in her narrative.Are we ready for a future governed by artificial intelligence? Schuyler's fascination with AI and its implications on language forms a captivating part of our conversation. We uncover the power of opening paragraphs in a novel, exploring the emotional engagement of readers, the lure of precise imprecision, and the enormous impact artificial intelligence can have on language. We also delve into Schuyler's teaching experiences, her current reading list, and her unique substack where she dissects mesmerizing sentences from published works. Nina Schuyler's short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, and will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024. Her novel, The Translator, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022.She teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and for the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons, where she hikes, bodysurfs, and writes in a small room, looking out at a tall palm tree.Nina SchuylerAFTERWORD, Nina SchuylerThe Painting, Nina SchuylerHow to Write Stunning Sentences, Nina SchuylerIn This Ravishing World, Nina SchuylerThe Translator, Nina SchuylerBook Passage and Elaine Petrocelli on The Bookshop PodcastThe Face of Another, Kobo AbeHow to Read Lacan, Slavoj ZizekSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

About Heather Whelpley: Heather Whelpley is a speaker and author of the award-winning book An Overachiever's Guide To Breaking The Rules: How To Let Go Of Perfect and Live Your Truth and host of the podcast, Grounded Wildness. Her work galvanizes women to break the rules with purpose, reclaim their bold voice, and unleash their authentic leadership—and life. Heather has spoken to thousands of people across the US and internationally, including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, universities, and associations. Prior to starting her business, Heather spent over a decade in human resources and managing development programs for high-achieving women at Fortune 500 companies in the US, Australia, and Latin America. Her first book, An Overachiever's Guide To Breaking The Rules: How To Let Go Of Perfect and Live Your Truth, has won multiple awards, including the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Living Now Book Awards, and the Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Heather second book, Grounded Wildness, was just published. Heather lives in Colorado where she spends as much time hiking and exploring as possible.   What We Discuss In This Episode: Body image and weight were a big part of Heather's journey. She shares more about her story and journey, and more importantly, how it connects to proving, pleasing, and perfecting. Heather shares how she broke free to live life to the fullest? We talk about proving, pleasing, perfecting, and rebelling. Where does this come from and how do they show up? What are the rules Heather talks about? She shares just that, as well as how we start to recognize them in our own lives? Heather shares how we stay true to ourself and follow our own rules when other people don't like it. What are the first steps we can take to break the rules and start the journey towards what Heather calls, grounded wildness.   Resource from Heather Whelpley: Heather's brand new book, Grounded Wildness” is available on her Website here: https://grouper-red-wjrf.squarespace.com/an-overachievers-guide-to-breaking-the-rules-/p/grounded-wildness?inventory-product-preview=true and also on Amazon. Connect With Heather Whelpley: Website:  https://www.heatherwhelpley.com   LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherwhelpley/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.whelpley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.whelpley/

The Witches of Pitches are Aileen Weintraub and Megan Margulies here to share their advice about slowing scenes down, remembering that dialogue gives your memoir depth and flavor, finding the other story in your story, creative querying, what building a platform can mean, the power in companion pieces, honing your pitch, and stalking editors. Also in this episode: -kvetch sessions -writing as a business -being patient   Books mentioned in this episode: The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Magie Smith   Aileen Weintraub and Megan Margulies have formed a partnership from the modern love story playbook of online writing sessions. They have workshopped numerous articles, essays, and book proposals, helping writers produce top-notch material and are the Witches of Pitches. Aileen Weintraub is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor. She began her career as a copy editor and then as a developmental editor working for both children's and adult publishing companies. As a freelance editor she has worked with clients to help develop their books, proposals, pitches, articles, and essays. She has written for The Washington Post, BBC, Oprah Daily, Parents, NBC, Al Jazeera, AARP, Glamour, InStyle, and other publications. Aileen is also the author of over fifty children's books including the middle-grade social justice book WE GOT GAME! 35 Female Athletes Who Changed the World, which was honored as A Mighty Girl's Best Book of the Year, and the best-selling Never Too Young: 50 Unstoppable Kids Who Made a Difference, a Parents' Choice Award recipient. Her latest book Knocked Down: A High-Risk Memoir, is about marriage, motherhood, and the risks we take. The Erma Bombeck Workshop named Aileen Humor Writer of the Month for Knocked Down and Publishers Weekly says, “…there's beauty on every page.” Aileen has also created a series on marketing and platform building in collaboration with Writers' Digest. She lives in New York but her heart is in Seville. You can learn more at www.aileenweintraub.com.   Megan Margulies is an MFA recipient, memoirist, journalist, and a 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist for her book, My Captain America. Her essays and reported articles focus on motherhood and navigating life and healthcare as a woman. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Vogue Magazine, The Cut, Good Housekeeping, Elle Magazine, Parent's Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Before entering the world of journalism, Megan worked for almost ten years as an editorial assistant at Harvard University where she edited countless articles, profiles, and promotional materials for various departments and professors. It's where she first fell in love with the Chicago Manual of Style. She's a native New Yorker, but splits her time between Boston and Vermont with her husband and two daughters. You can learn more at www.meganmargulies.com. – Ronit Plank is a writer, teacher, and editor whose work has been featured in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Writer's Digest, The Rumpus, American Literary Review, Hippocampus, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named a 2021 Best True Crime Book by Book Riot and was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, the Housatonic Book Awards, and the Book of the Year Awards. Her fiction and creative nonfiction have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, the Best of the Net, and the Best Microfiction Anthology, and her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' Eludia Award. She is creative nonfiction editor at The Citron Review and lives in Seattle with her family where she is working on her next book.   More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ More about WHEN SHE COMES BACK, a memoir: https://ronitplank.com/book/ More about HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE, a short story collection: https://ronitplank.com/home-is-a-made-up-place/ Connect with Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank   Background photo: Canva Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

In today's episode I speak with novelist, author, and professor Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Ph.D. Our conversation focuses on her coming of age young adult debut novel Big Girl. Mecca is the author of the novel Big Girl, a New York Times Editors' Choice and winner of the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Award for First Novel, Blue Talk and Love, winner of the Judith Markowitz Award from Lambda Literary, and The Poetics of Difference: Queer Feminist Forms in the African Diaspora, winner of the William Sanders Scarborough Prize from the MLA. She has earned honors from Bread Loaf, the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, the Mellon Foundation, the Center for Fiction, the NEA and others. Originally from Harlem, NY, she is an Associate Professor of English at Georgetown University and lives in Washington DC.

Yvette Walker is the creator and host of the Positively Joy podcast and the Positively Joy Christian website. Her brand is centered around the podcast but she writes a blog and is working on a devotional to be published in 2021. She writes Christian song lyrics and is a Bible journaler. Walker has worked in media for most of her career. Currently, she is Assistant Dean at Gaylord College at the University of Oklahoma. She is the chair of the Education Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. She has been a newspaper and online editor. She is the author of "Whispering in His Ear," a devotional that is a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She also is publisher of "Hair Goddess," an anthology of essays about natural hair, and two mystery/thriller Kindle Vellas: "Sixty" and "Doe."Walker has degrees from the University of Missouri and Northwestern University. http://positivelyjoy.com/https://www.facebook.com/positivelyjoypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/positivelyjoypodcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvettebwalker/ https://www.twitter.com/ywalker https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgracW4NIbvcEBpaLrJdNZg

My special guest tonight is Dr. Harry Milman, here to discuss his second installment of a series of books detailing the death of the famous and, this time, the infamous.  Get his book Forensics Ii: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous and Infamous People on Amazon. George Washington, the former first president of the United States, lay in his bed suffering from a high fever, a raw throat, and labored breathing. His three physicians milled around his bed, treating Washington with blisters of cantharides, tartar emetic, and bloodletting, removing nearly 40 percent of his total blood volume and causing excruciating pain. When Washington was finally relieved of his misery and died, the three doctors could not agree on what caused his death. Forensics II: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous and Infamous People reads like a mystery novel, presenting biographical and scientific information that helps readers understand how medical examiners-coroners utilized forensic analysis to determine the causes and manners of death of thirty-six famous and infamous people, including Napoleon Bonaparte, a French military leader, and politician; Charles Whitman, the University of Texas tower shooter; Bruce Lee, an actor, and martial artist; Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana; Jim Jones, a key figure in the Jonestown massacre; Aretha Franklin, a singer-songwriter; Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service; Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender; and many more. The book is based on a review of publicly available autopsy and toxicology reports, published lay articles, and the scientific literature. Of the deaths reviewed, 39 percent were due to natural causes, 19 percent were accidental, and 6 (17 percent) were suicides. The remaining deaths comprise three cases each of homicide and justifiable homicide by police, one case of court-mandated execution, and three cases in which the manner of death was undetermined.   About the Author Harry A. Milman, Ph.D., is a consulting pharmacologist, toxicologist, and expert witness with over forty years of experience at the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Health, and the US Public Health Service. Dr. Milman has assisted in over three hundred civil, criminal, and high-profile legal cases and testified at trials and depositions. He authored over seventy scientific articles and has edited five science books, including the highly acclaimed Handbook of Carcinogen Testing. Often quoted in newspapers and magazines, Dr. Milman appeared as a toxicology expert on the History Channel, the Oxygen Channel, TV and radio news programs, and true-crime television shows. Dr. Milman is the author of FORENSICS: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People and two novels—A Death at Camp David, winner of the Best Mystery Novel in the 2018 Book Talk Radio Club Awards, and SOYUZ: The Final Flight, a finalist for Best Second Novel in the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel in the 2018 Book Talk Radio Club Awards.   It's super easy to access our archives!   Here's how:   iPhone Users: Access Mysterious Radio from Apple Podcasts and become a subscriber there, or if you want access to even more exclusive content, join us on Patreon.   Android Users: Enjoy over 800 exclusive member-only posts to include ad-free episodes, case files, and more when you join us on Patreon.    Please copy and Paste our link in a text message to all your family members and friends! We'll love you forever! (Check out Mysterious Radio!)  

LEADERSHIP TRAPSCONGRATULATIONS – you're a manager now.If you secretly feel like the cat who finally caught the mouse and are not quite sure how to avoid common management leadership traps, you're not alone. Today's guest, HR pro Barbara Mitchell has years of experience helping new and seasoned managers side-step leadership traps and can help you maximize your impact and influence as well as build trust and and high performance teams.What You'll Learn About Leadership Traps:The 2 biggest challenges new managers face.Why thinking your positional power means you have all the answers is a huge leadership trap.The 3 management behaviors that are leadership traps.How employee engagement starts well before you hire someone.Why onboarding employees is not solely an HR department responsibility.What to do when you feel your job is threatened by a super star who reports to you.An easy way to side-step the leadership trap inherent in managing remote employees.And much more.Guest: Barbara MitchellBarbara Mitchell an acclaimed expert in human resources management and award winning co-author of The Manager's Answer Book: Powerful Tools to Maximize Your Impact and Influence, Build Trust and Teams, and Respond to Challenges – a 2020 winner of the prestigious Next Generation Indie Book Award.Barbara is enthusiastic about helping organizations find, hire, engage and retain the best available talent. That's why she founded The Mitchell Group, a management consulting practice that helps clients with people and talent management issues. She also maintains an active blog. Prior to her consulting, she spent much of her business career with Marriott International.You might already be familiar with some of Barbara's other work. In 2012, together with Cornelia Gamlem she wrote The Big Book of HR because managing people is the most challenging part of any leader's day. The dynamic writing duo has since drilled down even further with their latest timeless release, The Manager's Answer Book.Related Resources:If you liked this interview, you might also enjoy our other Leadership and Management episodes.Contact Barbara and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Big Book of HR Twitter, as well as the Got Work Conflict Twitter.Don't forget to check out her book:

In this episode of the Thriving Authors Podcast, it was such a treat to talk with Nina Schuyler, author of the new book Afterword – a stunning novel with powerful echoes of our current state with Artificial Intelligence.  I loved the book and was especially impressed by these characters she created who were profoundly intelligent in the world of science and AI and math. It was so interesting to talk to her about how this story germinated inside of her, how she researched technology and really followed her curiosity while creating these characters and this love story. I think you'll enjoy our conversation where Nina shared: How she was able to characterize a non-human since she needed to eliminate gestures and facial expressions. The way she used the concept of tunneling to structure the novel. Her desire to bring attention to women in math and the sciences. And SO much more! I just loved Nina's energy and I can't wait to hear what gems you take away from our conversation! About Nina: Nina Schuyler's short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024. Her novel, The Translator, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. She teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and for the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons, where she hikes, bodysurfs, and writes in a small room, looking out at a tall palm tree. Find her at ninaschuyler.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dallas-woodburn/support

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.About the guest author:Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her new novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina Schuyler's short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, and will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024.Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes.If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and get a copy of my new book Rose Girl for FREE! You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! And remember to get your FREE COPY of my new book, Rose Girl! Be well and keep reading. ~Holly~

The sparks that ignite story ideas are almost always rooted in experience, emotion, and curiosity. Today's guest on Uncorking a Story, award winning author Cheryl A. Head, discusses how the murder of George Floyd served as the flashpoint for her latest novel, Time's Undoing. Along the way she discusses how the murder of her own grandfather had her following her own curiosity back in time and inspired her to write a dual timeline story. Meet Cheryl A Head Cheryl A. Head is a writer, television producer, and broadcast executive. She is an Anthony Award nominee, a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist, a three-time Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist, and winner of the Golden Crown Literary Society's Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award. Her books are included in the Detroit Public Library's African American Booklist and in the Special Collections of the Library of Michigan.   Key Topics: Why the murder of George Floyd was the flashpoint to starting Time's Undoing. How Cheryl tapped into her own family's tragic mystery when writing this novel. The challenges of writing dual timelines. The importance of knowing your history. Why write what you know isn't always the best advice. Buy Time's Undoing: A Novel  Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jOvrjJ Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593471821 Connect With Cheryl Personal Website: https://www.cherylhead.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.head.104 Twitter: https://twitter.com/cheaddc?s=11&t=hoTffK7Tu163IR_DvTNzRg Book Website: https://megstafford.com/who-will-accompany-you/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheadwrites/?hl=en Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Nothing Special" is writer Desiree Cooper's first children's book created in collaboration with the illustrator Bec Sloane. It is a story of family connection across generations through the simple things of life and a return to the essentials that bring back true joy. Our conversation introduces the book, the story's significance to Des and her audience, the intricate and impressive work Sloane put into the illustrations, and how the book has a life of its own. Des Cooper is a former attorney turned Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and an author of fiction, poetry, and essays who won numerous awards, including the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award. Her work has appeared in Flash Fiction America 2023, The Best Small Fictions 2018, Callaloo, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Best American Essays 2019, and many more publications. Bec Sloane, is a visual artist and Agricultural Research Technician working in and around farming communities in Central New Jersey who has worked in the arts and film industries in New York and abroad. She specializes in stop-motion animation and large-scale fabrication work for TV, theatre, and film. She has worked for clients ranging from the Jim Henson Company to Macy's iconic flagship, and has implemented arts-driven curricula for grades K-12. "Nothing Special" was named one of the New York Public Library's Top 10 Best Children's Books of 2022! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thestolenhourspodcast/message

Debra Thomas is the author of Luz, winner of the 2020 Sarton Award for Contemporary Fiction and the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Multicultural Fiction. Originally from Binghamton, New York, she has lived in Southern California most of her adult life. A writer, teacher, and immigrant rights advocate, Debra is a former Los Angeles public high school literature and writing teacher and English as a Second Language instructor to adults from all over the world. She currently lives with her husband and dog in Simi Valley, California, just minutes away from her two horses. Her second novel, Josie and Vic, will be published in April 2023. For more information, visit her website: http://www.debrathomasauthor.com The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. Each episode engages guests and listeners in the story behind the story of authors, artists, reporters and others who leave a legacy of storytelling. Applying her years of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, author, and storyteller herself, Grace brings to listeners an intimate one-on-one experience with her guests. Visit Grace at her website www.gracesammon.net. Contact Grace about being a guest on the show, email her at grace@gracesammon.net Follow Grace: On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GraceSammonWrites/ On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/GraceSammonWrites/ On Twitter https://www.twitter.com/GSammonWrites On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-sammon-84389153/ #TheStorytellers #Storyteller #Storytellers # Storytelling #AuhtorInterview #LetsTalkBooks #LeaveYourMark #AuthorLife #StorytellerLife #migration #immigration #luz #mexico #novel #advocacy #migrantworkers #americanstory #mexico The Storytellers is a copyrighted work © of Grace Sammon and Authors on The Air Global Radio Network.

Guys, today we have a treat for you. I'm interviewing Susan Pohlman author of: Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home. It's a story of a fractured marriage on the brink of divorce and how a move to Europe brought redemption and hope to the entire family.Podcast Points: 1. Tell us about your book and how your journey moving to Italy unfolded.2. What was the scripture you clung to in the midst of the storm?3. What were the top 3 lessons you gained from this experience?4. What advice would you give to your younger self with kids still in school. 5. Talk about raising our kids as Global Citizens and what they learn.6. Any other advice, favorite books or quotes you'd like to add in final thoughts?Susan Pohlman Bio:Susan Pohlman is an editor, writing coach/instructor, freelance writer, and the founder of the Phoenix Writers Network. She is the author of two travel memoirs: Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home (winner of the Relationships category and runner-up in the Memoir category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards) and A Time to Seek: Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality at Midlife. She has written six short films for the 48 Hour Film Project. The Misadventures of Matilda Mench won the best screenplay in 2010 and the CINE Golden Eagle Award for the best Independent Fiction Short. Her essays have been published in a variety of print and online magazines and journals. She has served as the Writer-In-Residence for the State Arizona Library and has taught creative writing at Arizona State University's Emeritus College. She is a frequent presenter and speaker at writing workshops and conferences. To learn more, visit www.susanpohlman.comStephanie's Bio: Stephanie Pletka is a mom of 4, a motivational speaker, author of Living Your Best Life and host of Motherhood Mindset. She produces a weekly podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood. From Tweens to Teens and Beyond, we've got ya covered. Get ready for entertaining stories and 3...

Humanity first. Our dear John Renesch, a renowned futurist and visionary, passed away September 22, 2022. For several decades John shared his perspectives about a brilliant future of the world. He also saw the trajectory as tenuous - but not hopeless. He saw the slippery slope that the U.S. and the world were traveling toward complete disruption, long before most did. He noted that this was easily apparent in the behavior of individuals in a society, which then created norms of that society. The breakdown though began long before the behavior showed itself. John was a proponent of taking responsibility - for self, for the well-being of community, for one's part in the shaping of culture and society and the political landscape. Twenty years ago he said it was time for our culture to grow up, out of what he characterized as a rebellious teenage stage. It was past time to stand up and take responsibility for contributing to the whole. (Seems like we are regressing…) For John, it was “humanity first.” He said there must be love and compassion and caring for the individual and the whole of humanity for the system to shift trajectory. So, maybe if we start there. Humanity first. If I see everything through humanity first, how does that change my thoughts, actions, and behaviors? It's worth a try. Rest peacefully John. Cheryl Esposito welcomes John Renesch, global futurist, humanitarian, & author, passionate about business, human consciousness & possible scenarios for our future. His latest book The Great Growing Up: Being Responsible for Humanity's Future is Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2013 Grand Prize winner. A businessperson & CEO who started, ran, & sold enterprises, John says commerce is key in shifting human consciousness to create a future of possibility that will allow humanity to transcend the inevitable future being projected from current trends. We are future shapers. We play a role in how the world will be tomorrow, next year & coming generations. John's challenge: give conscious thought to what we want, rather than passively sitting around while a random or even “accidental future” reveals itself. And, while we're at it, stop pretending that what we are doing has no impact on the future. (Note to self: no excuses!) Join Cheryl Esposito & John Renesch to explore Future Shaping!

Welcome to Mysteries to Die For and this Toe Tag. I am TG Wolff and am here with Jack, my piano player and producer. This is normally a podcast where we combine storytelling with original music to put you at the heart of mystery, murder, and mayhem. Today is a bonus episode we call a Toe Tag. It is the first chapter from a fresh release in the mystery, crime, and thriller genre. Today's featured release is The Perfect Brother by Chris Patchell. The Perfect Brother was released September 27, 2022 from Chris Patchell Ink and is available from Amazon and other book retailers. About Chris Patchell Chris Patchell is an award-winning USA Today Bestselling Author who started writing to curb the homicidal tendencies she experienced during her daily Seattle commute. Over the years, she has written numerous popular books and series, including bestsellers Deadly Lies, In the Dark, and her most recent collection of small-town crime novellas, the Lacey James Series. Along the way, her writing has won several awards, including a 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award, an IndieReader Discovery Award, and a Pacific Northwest Literary Award. Connect with Chris through her newsletter to learn more about her latest works and author happenings. Newsletter sign up can be found on her website: https://www.chrispatchell.com/newsletter/ (https://www.chrispatchell.com/newsletter/) From September 26 thru October 21, 2022, The Perfect Brother is on tour with Partners in Crime. Check out the tour link for more content and information. https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/the-perfect-brother-by-chris-patchell/ (https://www.partnersincrimetours.net/the-perfect-brother-by-chris-patchell/ ) TG Wolff Review This story is made up of two parts. The first part is suspense; the second part is amateur sleuth. This one is hard to summarize without giving too much away. Suspense: In a university area of Vancouver, a college co-ed Katie Lord disappeared during a run. Flyers are up everywhere and the cops like her fiancé for it. Mallory Riggins isn't thinking about Katie when she discovers her driver's side window shattered. She's not thinking about anything except how to pay for the repair. Which is too bad. She really should. Mystery: Amar Saraf is the college professor his students call Dr. Hottie. His is admired by his students and is the apple of his parents' eye. Indira is his brilliant, younger sister who bucks tradition and her parents at every turn. But even she admits, Amar is the perfect brother. Which is why, when Amar is arrested for the murder of his lover, Indira puts her software engineering skills to work to catch a killer. Bottom line: The Perfect Brother is for you if you like suspense, dynamic amateur sleuths, and technology as an integral part of detecting. Let's compare The Perfect Brother to the “perfect suspense” and the “perfect amateur sleuth” Strengths of the story. In the first half of the book, the element of suspense is driven by seeing snippets of characters' lives, uncomfortable and imperfect, but not knowing how they all fit together. Ms. Patchell does an excellent job of ensuring you bite your fingernails. Once the victim is dead and the perfect brother arrested (not a spoiler because it's on the back cover), the story is taken over by Indira Saraf, a talented software engineer who has mad IT skills. While the first half of the story evolves, Indira drives the second half. She is the catalyst that moves her brother's case forward and in unexpected directions. The array of characters are all well done. Indira is the hero of this story. She is not only easy to like, she is easy to respect. Like any good detective, she has her supporting cast, each of whom plays a role in the outcome. I have not read other stories set in the Indian-Canadian culture, making this a nice departure from the usual. The role of family and pressure on both males and females added to the complexity of the story in a way that was natural and...

Cheryl Head (she/her) writes the award-winning, Charlie Mack Motown Mysteries whose female PI protagonist is queer and black. Head is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist, and winner of the Golden Crown Literary Society's Ann Bannon Popular Choice award. Her books have been shortlisted for the Next Generation Indie Book Award, and are listed in the Detroit Public Library's African American Book List.In 2019, Head was named to the Hall of Fame of the New Orleans Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, and this year she was awarded the Alice B Reader Award. Cheryl is a current member of the national Bouchercon Board of Directors. She lives in Washington, DC with her partner and Abby & Frisby who provide canine supervision.Discussed on the podcast:Long Way Home: A World War II Novel by Cheryl A HeadDru Ann Love's blog: https://drusbookmusing.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.head.104Twitter: @cheaddcInstagram: @cheadwritesWebsite: www.cherylhead.com*******************Sisters in Crime was founded in 1986 to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. Through advocacy, programming and leadership, SinC empowers and supports all crime writers regardless of genre or place on their career trajectory.www.SistersinCrime.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sincnational/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SINCnationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersincrime

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Leslie Johansen Nack.  Leslie's newest book, The Blue Butterfly, A Novel of Marion Davies, comes out next week and it's what we are going to be discussing today. Her debut is a memoir titled Fourteen, A Daughter's Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival. It received five indie awards, including the 2016 Finalist in Memoir at the Next Generation Indie Book Award. Leslie says she did everything late in life, including getting her degree in English Literature from UCLA at age thirty-one. Before she started writing, she raised two children, ran a mechanical engineering business with her husband, took care of her aging mother, and dreamed of retirement when she could write full-time. She currently lives in San Diego and—in addition to writing—she enjoys sailing, hiking, and reading.   In this episode Leslie Johansen Nack and I discuss: Why she leaned into fiction for this project as opposed to writing a biography. Her research process and how she chose which scenes to fictionalize. How she balanced writing about the public and private personas of her characters.   Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: diymfa.com/407

Jeannine Ouellette joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about the power of literary constraints, why the how can be just as important as the what, writing about childhood sexual abuse, believing in your project when publishing gatekeepers don't seem to, and why sad stories can make us happy,    Also in this episode: -poetic technique -mother wounds -finding your voice   Memoirs/Books mentioned in this episode: We the Animals by Justin Torres Safekeeping by Abigail Thomas Heavy by Kiese Laymon Blow Your House Down by Gina Frangello Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Alison Jeannine Ouellette's memoir, The Part That Burns, was a 2021 Kirkus Best 100 Indie Book and a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award, with starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.  Her work appears widely in literary journals and anthologies, including Ms. Aligned: Women Writing About Men; Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives;  and Passed On: Daughters Write About Father Loss, Lack, and Legacy. She teaches through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, The University of Minnesota, and Elephant Rock, a writing program she founded in 2012. She is working on her first novel.   Connect with Jeannine: https://www.jeannineouellette.com https://www.instagram.com/msjeannineouellette/ Essay on craft by Jeannine Ouellette in Cleaver:   Ronit's essays and fiction have been featured in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, The Iowa Review, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in both the 2021 Best Book Awards and the 2021 Book of the Year Award and a 2021 Best True Crime Book by Book Riot. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and will be published in 2022. She is host and producer of the podcasts And Then Everything Changed and The Body Myth. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com More about WHEN SHE COMES BACK, a memoir: https://ronitplank.com/book/ Sign up for monthly podcast and writing updates: https://bit.ly/33nyTKd   Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://twitter.com/RonitPlank https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

Author-illustrator Amalia Hoffman is back with her three-day old book, Masha Munching (Yeehoo Press, 2022), a hilarious tale about a goat with an insatiable appetite and her journey to finding the best meal ever! When Masha discovers The Bistro Magnifique, where waiters serve fancy meals in bow ties, Masha thinks it's her lucky day! But at a proper restaurant, can Masha satisfy her desire for wonderful food while staying true to herself?With colorful, intricate paper-cut art to amuse readers on every page, this timeless tale follows a young goat discovering that the best meal is the one shared with good friends. Amalia was previously on NBN with her recent book, My Monsterpiece, which was a 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award gold medal winner. Mel Rosenberg is a professor of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is also the founder of Ourboox, a web platform that allows anyone to create and share awesome flipbooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Flash fiction, slashing word counts, and obliterating genre, oh my!Nancy Stohlman's latest book, Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction, was a 2021 Reader Views Gold Award winner, a Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist, an International Book Award finalist, and is forthcoming as an audiobook with Blackstone Publishing. She is the author of multiple flash fiction collections and flash novels including Madam Velvet's Cabaret of Oddities, The Monster Opera, and The Vixen Scream and Other Bible Stories. Her work has been anthologized widely, appearing in the W.W. Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction, Macmillan's The Practice of Fiction, and The Best Small Fictions 2019, as well as adapted for both the stage and screen. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder and around the world.Follow Nancy:FacebookTwitterYouTube***$upport the $how (Patreon)$upport the $how (Anchor)@SituationStoryInstagramFacebook--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/situationandstory/support Get full access to situation / story at situationstory.substack.com/subscribe

Nicole's book is a finalist of the Christian Fiction category in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world's largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. Nicole Thomas says: Every day we are offered two paths, we have to make a choice about what we do and who we will be. That is what I hope my readers see here, beside an adventure that they enjoy. I hope they see light in the darkness.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lucia-matuonto/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lucia-matuonto/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nigerian writer, Bunye Ngene, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria surrounded by books and laughter. His works (fiction and non-fiction) are inspired by the uniqueness of everyday life and the interaction between different social groups. His debut novel “The Bodies That Move” - a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards - tells the riveting story of Nosa, a young man who embarks on a journey in search of greener pastures. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lucia-matuonto/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lucia-matuonto/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices