Podcasts about novelists

Join us as Ocean House owner and award-winning author Deborah Goodrich Royce moderates a conversation with thriller authors Christa Carmen, Karen Dukess, Vanessa Lillie, Kristin Offiler, and Tessa Wegert. About the Authors: Christa Carmen lives in Rhode Island. She is the author of The Daughters of Block Island, winner of the Bram Stoker Award and a Shirley Jackson Award finalist, the Indie Horror Book Award-winning Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked, and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated "Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell" (Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror). She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Boston College, and an MFA from the University of Southern Maine. Karen Dukess is the USAToday bestselling author of  Welcome to Murder Week and The Last Book Party and is a contributor to the upcoming anthology (November 2025) Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters. She is also the host of The Castle Hill Author Talks, a series of virtual and in-person interviews with some of today's most exciting authors. Karen has been a tour guide in the former Soviet Union, a newspaper reporter in Florida, a magazine publisher in Russia and a speechwriter on gender equality for the United Nations. She has a degree in Russian Studies from Brown University and a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University. She lives with her family near New York City and spends as much time as possible in Truro on Cape Cod. Vanessa Lillie is the author of the USA Today bestselling suspense novel, Blood Sisters, which was a Target Book Club pick and GMA Book Club Buzz Pick as well as named one of the best mystery novel in 2023 by the Washington Post and Amazon. The sequel, The Bone Thief, was recently released, landing a spot on the USA Today Bestseller List. Her other bestselling thrillers are Little Voices, For the Best and she's the coauthor of the Young Rich Widows series. Originally from Oklahoma, Vanessa is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She has fifteen years of marketing and communications experience and enjoys organizing book events in and around Providence, RI where she lives now. She loves connecting with readers and hosts an Instagram Live show with crime fiction authors! Kristin Offiler is represented by Tia Ikemoto at Creative Artists Agency, and her fiction has been published in the Waccamaw Journal of Contemporary Literature, the Bookends Review, and The Raleigh Review. She has an MFA from Lesley University, but most of what she's learned about writing has come from reading and taking classes with some of her favorite authors. And, of course, through a lot of trial and error with her work. She writes novels and short fiction and also loves teaching creative writing. She's a big fan of summertime, clean sheets, and reading good books on the porch of my 130-year-old house. New England features prominently in most of her work. There's something special and magical about the region, and she is forever attempting to capture it in her stories. Tessa Wegert is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, as well as the North Country series, beginning with In the Bones. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).  For details on Deborah Goodrich Royce and the Ocean House Author Series, visit deborahgoodrichroyce.com  

“There is a reason why I'm writing her story. So, I gave myself permission to write her story to get all these feelings out of me. And once I gave myself permission to do that, I did not stop writing.” – Laura Frost Today's featured award-winning author is a wife, mom, wildlife biologist, amateur baker, and adventure seeker, Laura Frost. Laura and I had a fun on a bun chat about her book, “Seeking Sasha”, how personal experiences shaped her storytelling, baking metaphors, and more!!!Key Things You'll Learn:What inspired Laura to write and publish her first novelWhy a strong support system is important for someone pursuing a challenging creative careerThe importance of being open to inspiration from anywhere as a writerHow she balances life and writing. As well as her rituals for getting into the zone for creativityLaura's Site: https://laurafrostwrites.com/Laura's Book: https://a.co/d/0emfoImVThe opening track is titled, “Unknown From M.E. | Sonic Adventure 2 ~ City Pop Remix” by Iridium Beats. To listen to and download the full track, click the following link. https://www.patreon.com/posts/sonic-adventure-136084016 Please support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmonThe Going North Advancement Compass: https://a.co/d/bA9awotYou May Also Like…963 – Navigating Creative Doubt to Reach the Publishing Promised Land with J.F. Monroe: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-963-navigating-creative-doubt-to-reach-the-publishing-promised-land-with-jf-monroe/939 – Empathy, Hope, and the Power of Animal Connection with Melody Horrill: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-939-empathy-hope-and-the-power-of-animal-connection-with-melody-horrill/714 – Drink Wine and Be Beautiful with Kimberly Noel Sullivan (@KimberlyinRome): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-714-drink-wine-and-be-beautiful-with-kimberly-noel-sullivan-kimberlyinrome/847 – That Summer She Found Her Voice with Jean Burgess, PhD: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-847-that-summer-she-found-her-voice-with-jean-burgess-phd/332 – Her Perfect Life with Hank Phillippi Ryan (@HankPRyan): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-332-her-perfect-life-with-hank-phillippi-ryan-hankpryan/593 – The Perfect Neighborhood with Liz Alterman (@LizAlterman): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-593-the-perfect-neighborhood-with-liz-alterman-lizalterman/744 – How to Write a Novel in 20 Pies with Amy Wallen (@amylizwrites): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-744-how-to-write-a-novel-in-20-pies-with-amy-wallen-amylizwrites/#Holiday Bonus Ep. – Bird of Paradise with Emily Johnson (@elhughes01): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/holiday-bonus-ep-bird-of-paradise-with-emily-johnson-elhughes01/351 – The Gift Legacy with JP McLean (@jpmcleanauthor): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-351-the-gift-legacy-with-jp-mclean-jpmcleanauthor/949 – The Singer Sisters with Sarah Marian Seltzer (@sarahmseltzer): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-949-the-singer-sisters-with-sarah-marian-seltzer-sarahmseltzer/864 – From Ignoring Heart's Call to Embracing a New Life Chapter with Susan Glenney: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-864-from-ignoring-hearts-call-to-embracing-a-new-life-chapter-with-susan-glenney/992 – Why It's Never Too Late To Thrive & Write A Novel with Margie Zable Fisher (@mzfisher): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-992-why-its-never-too-late-to-thrive-write-a-novel-with-margie-zable-fisher-mzfisher/903 – Somewhere in Minnesota with Jayna Locke (@jaynalocke | @jaynatweets): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-903-somewhere-in-minnesota-with-jayna-locke-jaynalocke-jaynatweets/

https://media.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/content.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/2026_02_16_WWW_Demon_Invasion.m4a February 16, 2026 Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, February 16, 2026, and this is episode #3 in Series 2026. This episode is titled, “The Demon Invasion.” Talk about demons elicits various types of responses, from “You’re crazy” to “You’re right.” In this week’s message, we’re going to explore briefly the topic of the current demon invasion and how the Christ-Follower should deal with it. We are going to focus only on what the Bible says because the Bible is Truth. But first, I want to tell you that my featured book for this week, THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES Trilogy, is on sale for only $21.00. This offer includes all three novels of the trilogy—The Madonna of Pisano, A Sicilian Farewell, and Return to Bella Terra. That’s a 42% discount off the regular price. This sale will last only until the end of February. So, get your copy now and follow the page-turning saga of Maria Landro as she faces losing her fortune, her family, and her faith. Click on the link below or in the show notes to get your copy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFJC4RM And now, on to this week’s message. For centuries in the Western world, the topic of demons was considered not only taboo but ridiculous and off limits. After all, we were far enough advanced on the civilization scale that we no longer needed the foolishness of believing in demons. Science had taken over the western mind, and science was king. Moreover, science, being observable and concrete, saw no indication of demons in the natural, material realm. And, if we couldn’t prove something scientifically, then it did not exist. If we could not see it, it wasn’t there. Anyone who still believed in demons, therefore, was considered backward, uneducated, and downright silly. But things have changed here in the West. Over the past half century, with the rising interest in Eastern mysticism and a renewed interest in paganism, the spiritual realm has become a topic of major focus and exploration. Why? Because science has failed to address the inner part of us that is intangible. In other words, the human heart. When God created you, He breathed into you a soul and you became a living being. Scripture says this in Genesis 2: 7: “The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” In other words, God breathed into you His own breath, and this is what distinguishes you from every other creature. Your soul is what gives you life, what enables you to breathe and walk around and act. Your soul is what enables you to think and choose, to love and experience emotions. Your soul embodies your personality and is what makes you uniquely YOU. God also gave you a spirit. Your spirit is the core of who you truly are. It is the real you, your essence, and the only part of you that can connect to God because God is Spirit (John 4: 24). Now, what does all of this have to do with demons? Plenty. WHAT ARE DEMONS? Demons also are spirits, but they are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim. The Nephilim were the offspring in human form of the union between fallen angels and human women. The purpose of this unholy union was to corrupt human DNA in order to prevent the Messiah from being born. These hybrid creatures called Nephilim were eventually destroyed in the great Flood of Noah. But their spirits still exist and are called demons. Moreover, there is much evidence today that the Nephilim have reappeared because fallen angels have re-entered the earthly sphere. You may be thinking, “Dr. MaryAnn, you’ve really lost it this time! Fallen angels impregnating women? Come on! You expect me to believe that?” If this is what you’re thinking, then I refer you to Genesis 6: 4: “Back then, and later, there were giants on the earth, who were born as a result of the unholy union of heavenly beings with the human daughters.” These “heavenly beings” were the fallen angels who had rebelled, together with Satan, against God and were evicted from Heaven. Now stay with me because it gets even more interesting. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DEMONS AND MENTAL ILLNESS The LORD God became so angry at sin and at this unholy union between fallen angels and earthly women that He destroyed the earth in Noah’s flood. In that flood, every single person on earth died except Noah and his family. Only Noah and his family still had pure DNA from which the future Messiah could be born. After the Nephilim died, along with the rest of sinful humanity, their spirits continued to exist, and these spirits are what we now call demons. Since demons are disembodied spirits—in other words spirits without a body—they are continually looking for a body to inhabit, whether a human body or an animal body. When a person, through sin, allows a demon access to his life, that demon will encroach upon that person to the degree that the person allows it, even to the point of total possession of the person. Today, because of blatant, brazen sin, we are witnessing an increasing invasion of demonic spirits into people’s lives. The results of this invasion are catastrophic, first to the person who has allowed the demons entrance, and second to society in general. One such very serious result of demon invasion is the increase in mental illness. While there are cases of mental illness rooted in physical causes such as brain chemistry issues or brain trauma, a good deal of mental illness is rooted in demonic oppression. Sadly, this fact is rarely, if ever, considered by mental health professionals. Patients are given all kinds of medication that may alleviate the symptoms but never cure the root cause of the problem because the root cause is spiritual, not physical. The incidence of mental illness in our culture has increased exponentially and continues to increase. Suicide is on the rise, especially among young teens. Nervous breakdowns, panic attacks, anxiety, and depression have become commonplace. Incidents of random shootings are growing at alarming rates. Has anyone asked why? I posit that much of mental illness today is the result of demonic invasion of the human soul. Statistics gathered in 2022 from the National Institute of Mental Health show that approximately 23.1% of the United States population suffers from mental health issues. This calculates to almost 60 million people in the United States with a mental illness of any type. Why such a high number? THE NEFARIOUS EFFECTS OF SIN A chief reason is that the incidence of sin has increased. Sin, my friend, opens the door to Satan. I’m going to say that again. Sin opens the door to Satan. Our culture today openly condones sin and even celebrates it. Evil is promoted as good and good as evil. In choosing evil, people have actually invited disembodied, demonic spirits to use their bodies as dwelling places. And when a demon attaches to your body or, worse yet, lives inside your body through demonic possession, it wreaks havoc to your entire life, especially your mental life. If you yourself have been suffering from mental illness and are having great difficulty getting better despite counseling and medication, consider the possibility that demons may be involved and that you need to deal with your problem spiritually and not just physically or mentally. If you don’t know where to turn, seek the counsel of a pastor who is experienced in dealing with demons. If you still need help, email me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com and I will direct you to a deliverance ministry that can help you. You see, my friend, the goal of Satan and his demons is to steal, kill, and destroy you. Always. His goal never changes, nor do his tactics. Most of the world is oblivious to what is really happening out there. Hordes of demons have invaded our earth through what are called portals, or openings, between the natural realm of earth and the spirit realm above the earth where fallen angels reside. The Bible calls this area “the Second Heaven.” It is the headquarters from which Satan plans and strategizes his attacks on humanity. Above the Second Heaven is the Third Heaven where God dwells with the good angels and the saints of God, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and lived for him while on the earth. Directly above the earth is the First Heaven, the heaven we know as current residents of this earth. This First Heaven is now witnessing the invasion of demonic spirits from the Second Heaven. They are coming in the form of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena or UAPs, formerly called UFOs. The media is telling us that these sightings are aliens from other planets. In a way, the media is right. But what they are not telling you because they do not know is that these sightings are not aliens from other planets but fallen angels from the Second Heaven invading the earth to prepare the world for the rise of the AntiChrist, the personification of Satan himself. I have much more to say on the topic, but I will end here for this week. Please subscribe to this podcast for upcoming messages on the truth about what is happening in our world today. It is all prophesied and explained in the Holy Bible. We are living in a time of great deception. (Listen to my podcast for February 9th titled The Great Deception for more information.) The world needs truth. Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus Christ. If you have not yet met Jesus Christ, I invite you to meet Him now. Pray this simple prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I want to know You because I want to know Truth. I've been living a lie, and it has gotten me to places where I don't want to be. So I choose now to turn away from the lie and to embrace You Who are Truth. I invite You into my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for revealing to me that You are Truth. In Your Name I pray. Amen. If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family of God! Write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com, and I will send you a free PDF e-booklet titled After You're Born Again. In closing, I want to remind you that my featured book for this week is my popular trilogy titled THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES. See what happens to a soul who allows Satan to invade him. All three novels are on sale in a single ebook volume for only $21.00. That’s a 42% discount off the regular price. This sale will last only until the end of February. So, get your copy now and follow the page-turning saga of Maria Landro as she faces losing her fortune, her family, and her faith. Click on the link below or in the show notes to purchase. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFJC4RM Winning with the Word is available on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast venues as well as on YouTube. Check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/drmaryanndiorio. Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are. Yet, He doesn't want you to stay there. As you walk with Him, He will help you to keep on winning with the Word. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO WINNING WITH THE WORD.________________________________ Copyright 2026 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved. Featured Book for This Week: Get your copy now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFJC4RM Visit my bookstore for a complete list of books at maryanndiorio.com/bookstore.

Send a textCalling all budding espionage writers…In this solo episode, James sits down with one of the most respected names in modern spy writing, Charles Cumming, author of the critically acclaimed Box 88 series - novels celebrated for their psychological depth, moral tension and razor-sharp realism.But this isn't just a conversation about spy stories. It's about beginnings.How does a spy novelist actually get started? What sparks the first book? How do you land an agent, secure a publishing deal and sustain momentum in a fiercely competitive creative world? And why does it often take years - often decades - for stories to make it to the screen?James also explores Charles' extraordinary real-life brush with the intelligence services, including being approached by MI6 - and how that encounter reshaped his understanding of secrecy, power and responsibility.This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the craft of espionage writing — and a masterclass in longevity, discipline and producing work that stands the test of time.If you've ever wanted to write… or simply love the shadowy world of spies and secrets… this one's for you.https://charlescumming.co.uk/IBIZA RETREAT: https://themidlifementors.com/retreats/ Support the showPlease remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.comTik Tok: @themidlifementorsIG: @midlifementors

More than 99% of humanity lives in nation states. But nations are less than 200 years old, and today many countries are sliding into xenophobia, debt and a cost of living crisis. With the liberal ideas that underpinned the nation-state system -- human rights, dignity, security for all – in retreat, millions are feeling abandoned by the nation-state, and turning to cross-border migration in desperation. At the same time, nation states are proving ill-equipped to handle urgent planetary threats such as climate change and ecological collapse. Is the nation-state system in decline? Will it be, or can they be, replaced by a new system? Novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta explores these themes in ‘After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order', a fascinating historical and political analysis of the nation state. He spoke to The Mag about his new book, and what a ‘post-nation' future might look like. Host: G Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Producers: Shiksha Jural and Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Writer's Voice, Francesca speaks with D. Graham Burnett, Alyssa Loh, and Peter Schmidt about Attensity!, a manifesto for what they call the Attention Liberation Movement.

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Mark McCraw, acclaimed author of twelve children's books.0:00 Opening ThoughtsThere's still time to file a claim in the Anthorpic lawsuit.3:48 News1) Substack is Coming to Television2) "Autofiction" takes off in Scandinavia14:00 Craft CornerJD Caine, co-author of the Manifest Destiny series, explains how to scare your readers.17:58 Interview with Mark McCraw33:57 Parting WordsFINAL CALL for the WriterCon Cruise, March 7-15, Eastern Caribbena itinerary leaving from Ft. Lauderdale. Over twenty hours of writing instruction specifically tailored to the needs of the particpants. You'll have opporunities to interact, make friends, and meet individually with all the writers plus a top literary agent. Seas the Day!Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardt www.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com

In the spotlight is Melissa Fraterrigo, the author of the memoir-in-essays titled “The Perils of Girlhood.” She has also written the novel “Glory Days,” as well as the short story collection “The Longest Pregnancy.” Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies from Shenandoah and The Massachusetts Review to  storySouth and Notre Dame Review. She has been a finalist for awards from Glimmer Train on multiple occasions, twice nominated for Pushcart Awards, and was the winner of the Sam Adams/Zoetrope: All Story Short Fiction Contest.  She teaches creative writing at Purdue University and in the MFA program in creative writing at Butler University in Indianapolis and also offers instruction on the art and craft of writing at the Lafayette Writers' Studio in Lafayette, Indiana. Learn more about Melissa Fraterrigo here: https://www.melissafraterrigo.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no       Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

Haris Orkin is a prolific novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and game writer.  His play Dada premiered at The La Jolla Playhouse. His feature film, A Saintly Switch, was produced by Disney and directed by the great Peter Bogdanovich. Haris has written screenplays for Universal, Sony, Fox, and Paramount.  He's also has written numerous video games, many of which have been nominated for the WGA and BAFTA Film Awards. Games he's worked on include Call of Juarez, Red Alerts, Shadow Warrior, Black Hawk Down, and many others.Haris recently released the sixth book in his James Flynn Escapade series, called From Lompoc With Love. I've read the first book of the series, You Only Live Once, which is one of the cleverest, wittiest, and most fun takes on the superspy genre I've had the pleasure to read. I'm a huge James Bond fan, and I was thoroughly caught up in James Flynn's hilariously delusional and unexpected exploits. The book series has been optioned by producer Sherry Marsh and Will Arnett's company and is currently being shopped to streaming studios.  

A riotious comic novel of ideas, Seven tells the story of an unnamed philosopher plunged into the strange world of Theodoros Apostalakis: dentist, poet, pursuer of lost things, and obsessive player of 'Seven', a revered board game whose champions struggle to hold onto what is most valuable in human life in the face of Artificial Intelligence. Blending academic satire, travel writing, farce, and philosophy into a singular, intoxicating brew, Seven is a literary novel that stretches the boundaries of the form and cannot be adequately explained in a bilateral podcast interview with the author: nevertheless, we attempt to do so in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For decades, we were sold a lie: get good grades, be smart, keep climbing—and success will magically follow. But in a world of nonstop disruption, AI, political chaos, and careers that don't come with ladders anymore, IQ and EQ alone aren't cutting it. In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with Liz Tran, executive coach, former venture capitalist, and author of AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing, to unpack the intelligence that actually determines who thrives when everything keeps shifting: AQ (Agility Quotient). AQ isn't about being perfect, flexible to the point of burnout, or endlessly accommodating. It's about how well you adapt to change, uncertainty, and the unknown—without losing yourself in the process. Liz breaks down the four AQ archetypes (Firefighter, Novelist, Astronaut, Neurosurgeon), how proactive vs. reactive change impacts your life and career, and why adaptability is no longer optional—it's survival. This conversation will change how you think about intelligence, leadership, confidence, and what it really takes to succeed when the rules keep changing mid-game. Bottom line: Intelligence isn't just what you know—it's how you respond when what you know stops working. Thank you to our sponsors! Sex is a skill. Beducated is where you learn it. Visit https://beducate.me/bg2602-womanswork and use code womanswork for 50% off the annual pass. Connect with Liz Website: https://liz-tran.com/   Book: https://liz-tran.com/#aq  IG: https://www.instagram.com/liztranwrites/ Quiz: https://liz-tran.com/#quiz LI: linkedin.com/in/liztran1  Related Podcast Episodes: Unlocking Your Hidden Genius: How to Harness Your Innate Talents with Betsy Wills & Alex Ellison | Ep. 289 129 / 4 Truths of Radiant Change with Kristen Lisanti Diversity Isn't a Strategy - It's a Leadership Result with Aiko Bethea | 378 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

February 9, 2026 Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, February 9, 2026, and this is episode #2 in Series 2026. This episode is titled, “The Great Deception.” Some of you may know that I am an author as well as a blogger. Recently in the publishing world, writers have reported a phenomenal increase in fraudulent offers promising wealth and fame for varying amounts of money. I myself have received several of these offers. All of them were generated by people using Artificial Intelligence. All of these offers were deceptive. Deception has taken over the world. But to the Christ-follower, this is not a surprise. Jesus Himself predicted that deception would abound in the last days. While Jesus was on the Mount of Olives with His disciples one day, they asked Him what would be the signs of the last days. Listen to His reply, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 24, verse 4. Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” I find it quite interesting that the very first sign of the last days that Jesus mentioned was deception. He warned His disciples not to be deceived. In other words, Jesus foretold that deception would be the major signpost of the closing age of human history. In case you don’t know, my friend, we are living in that closing age today, and, just as Jesus predicted, deception is rampant. Fake videos depict fake images of celebrities speaking things they never said. These fakes, called deepfakes, clone human voices, alter human faces, and change written content to serve purposes that are deceptive, if not downright sinister. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between the truth and the lie. So, what are we to do? Let me answer by telling you a story. Years ago, I spoke with a friend of the family who was an executive at a local bank. I asked him how bank tellers recognize counterfeit money. His response surprised me. He said that in their training program, bank tellers never handle counterfeit money. They handle only real money. And they handle real money so well and so thoroughly that when a counterfeit bill passes through their hands, they immediately recognize it as counterfeit. Bottomline, the bank tellers first had to recognize real money in order to recognize counterfeit money. They had to know the truth in order to recognize the lie. The same principle applies regarding deception. In order for us to recognize deception—or the counterfeit to the truth—we first need to be able to know and recognize the truth. The problem is that today, few people know the truth, although most think they do. You may be asking, “So, Dr. MaryAnn, what is the truth?” Contrary to popular opinion, the truth is a Person, and His Name is Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 6, Jesus made this profound statement: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus identified Himself as the Truth. From this it logically follows that to know the Truth, one must know Jesus, and unless one knows Jesus, one cannot know the Truth. Sadly, most of the world today does not know Jesus. Hence, they do not know the Truth. When one does not know the Truth, one ends up, by default, believing and embracing the Lie. The Lie is what Satan peddles in order to steal, kill, and destroy you. When one believes the Lie, one loses his ability to think straight. The Bible tells us as much in Romans 1: 28: “. . . since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind . . . .” A debased mind is a mind that has lost its ability to think logically and truthfully. A mind that easily succumbs to deception. “Well,” you might say, “I have my truth. You have yours. What’s the problem?” Consider this. Suppose you hired two men to build you a tool shed. One man believed that a foot was twelve inches long while the other man believed that a foot was nine inches long. Each man was adamant that he was right. Do you think they’d get very far in building your shed? Moreover, logically speaking, both of the men could not be right. If you yourself did not know for sure that a foot consists of twelve inches, you wouldn’t know which man was right. You would not be able to determine who was telling the truth and who was not. Building a shed may not be a life-or-death matter, but knowing the truth is a life-or-death matter when it comes to your eternal destiny. For if you do not know the truth about what happens after death, you could spend forever in Hell instead of Heaven. So, “What is the Truth?” Simply put, the Truth is what God has said it is. And what God has said is the Truth is found in the Bible. Plain and simple. Because God alone is God, He alone has the right, the authority, and the wisdom to determine what is true and what is not true. We humans do not have that right. Nor do we have the authority and the wisdom to determine what is true and what is not true because we are not as smart as God. He is the Creator; we are the created ones. The created ones are not smarter than the One who created them. Now, most people don’t want to hear this. Why? Because they don’t want to be subject to a higher authority than themselves. Most people don’t want anyone telling them what truth is because most people don’t want anyone telling them what to do. Most people want to make up their own rules and live by them. Why? Because they want to continue in their sin. They want to set their own standards for right and wrong so that when they do wrong, they won’t feel guilty and condemned. But God has set the standards for right and wrong, and those standards will never change, no matter how much man tampers with them. Why won’t they ever change? Because they are the Truth, and Truth never changes. You see, my friend, we can reject the Truth, we can rebel against the Truth, we can mock the Truth, but we can never change the Truth. A foot will always equal twelve inches. Two plus two will always equal four. Good will always win out over evil. And Truth will always overcome the Lie. You can try to change this until you are blue in the face, but it will never work. Oh, it may look as though it’s working for a while, but in the end, Truth will overpower the Lie because God, Who is Truth, is more powerful than Satan, who is the Lie. Perhaps you’ve been living in your own self-made concept of truth. How is that working for you? You may say, “It’s working great.” But, friend, I will tell you that one day, you will discover it no longer works. At some point, the foundation of your life will crumble because it is built on a lie. Only a life built on the Truth will last. Only a life built on Jesus Christ will bring you true life. If you have never had an encounter with Jesus Christ, Truth Himself, I invite you to meet Him now. Pray this simple prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I want to know You because I want to know Truth. I’ve been living a lie, and it has gotten me into places where I don’t want to be. So I choose now to turn away from the lie and to embrace You. I invite You into my life and receive You as Truth, as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for revealing to me that You are Truth. In Your Name I pray. Amen. If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family of God! Write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com, and I will send you a free PDF e-booklet titled After You're Born Again. In case you are not aware, I write heart-mending fiction that deals with the deepest issues of life. In my stories, you will find characters just like you who struggle with what seem like impossible problems and situations. Check out my books at my online bookstore at https://maryanndiorio.com/bookstore. That's https://maryanndiorio.com/bookstore.My featured book for this week is a story about the overcoming power of truth titled In Black and White. It is the love story of a young white woman and a young black man trying to sustain their love in the whirlwind of racism, prejudice, and family tradition. First Place Winner in Historical Fiction in the 2020 Christian Indie Book Awards Contest, In Black and White reveals the power of truth in overcoming the lie. Get your copy at one of the links in the show notes. Winning with the Word is available on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast venues as well as on YouTube. Check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/drmaryanndiorio. Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are. Yet He doesn't want to keep you there. As you live in Him, He will help you to keep on winning with the Word.________________________________ Copyright 2026 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved. Featured Book for This Week:IN BLACK AND WHITE – A Gripping Christian Historical Romance First Place Winner in Historical Fiction – 2020 Christian Indie Awards A Forbidden Love. A Divided World. A Redeeming God. In Black and White is a poignant and powerful Christian historical romance that dares to explore the depth of love between two souls separated by culture, color, and the crushing weight of racial prejudice. Set against the backdrop of academic life and ancestral heritage, this award-winning novel weaves faith, endurance, and restoration into a story that transcends time and speaks to the heart of humanity's greatest struggles—and God's greatest triumphs. PRINT EBOOK _____________________________________________SUBSCRIBE HERE to Winning with the Word VISIT MARYANN'S ONLINE BOOKSTORE « Older Entries

We're delighted to chat with Andrew Rubin, a filmmaker and author whose debut novel is Hell or High Winter. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Andrew's websitehttps://www.hellorhighwinter.com/ Hell or High Winterhttps://rarebirdlit.com/hell-or-high-winter-book-one-in-a-holy-trinity-by-andrew-rubin/ Symptom Mediahttps://symptommedia.com/ Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

  John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. Photo: Richard Wolinsky John Sayles, author of the novel “Crucible” and director of eighteen independent films, including “Lone Star,” Eight Men Out” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. They are joined by Maggie Renzi, John Sayles' producer on fourteen of his eighteen films. John Sayles is best known for his work as a director, screenwriter and actor, though this is his sixth novel. Among the films he directed are Lone Star, Sunshine State, Eight Men Out, Matewan, The Brother from Another Planet, Baby It's You and Passion Fish. His acting credits include small roles in several films, and he wrote the screenplay for the films he directed. Maggie Renzi, his wife, produced fourteen of his eighteen films, and acted in several of them. She is currently producing John's upcoming western film, to be shot in Spain in Summer, 2026. In the first part of the interview, John Sayles discusses the real-life events behind his novel, “Crucible,” set between the 1920s and 1940s in Detroit  and Brazil and focusing on Henry Ford, and the workers at his plants, and his attempt to create a rubber plantation and city in the jungles of Brazil. In the second part, he and Maggie Renzi talk about the making of his films, from his early days as a screenwriter to some of his later work, including the three films mentioned above and “Matewan,” along with difficulties in streaming rights. The post John Sayles, Film-maker and Novelist, “Crucible,” 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Historian Andrew Burstein joins us to talk about his biography, Being Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History.

Today I sit down with my incredible friend Del James. Del is a man of man hats in the art world Song Writer, Tour Manager and now a graphic Novelist. He has just released a brand new Graphic Novel called Consensual Violence that is available on Amazon. This man loves Rock n Roll, Wrestling and Horror Films and we dive into all of it. Tune in and enjoy my friends. thank you  DDR Follow Del on Instagram @deljamesgang  My tour dates can be found here - https://www.deandelray.com/tourdates  My Stand Up Special is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbeaApu4OP0  Join My Patreon here - https://www.deandelray.com/patreon 

Acclaimed debut novelist Rosie Storey spoke with us about her rejection advice for writers, chasing personal authenticity, and the "accidental catfishing" at the heart of DANDELION IS DEAD. Rosie Storey left her corporate career to finish her hotly anticipated debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. The book received significant buzz in early 2026, including a January 2026 Indie Next selection, an exclusive excerpt on Today.com, an NPR interview, coverage from Reader's Digest, being long listed for the Bath Novel Award, and optioned for TV, among many others. Described as a “... witty, heart-wrenching debut that follows a woman who starts dating under her late sister's online profile,” and a “... ‘messy millennial' story that's Fleabag meets P.S. I Love You.”  Booklist said of the book, “Storey's debut novel is striking, with staggeringly complex characters and messy situations reminiscent of real life…. filled with intimacy and kindness….Fast-paced but never hurried.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it “... the perfect book club book.” Rosie Storey holds a master's in creative writing, and lives in East London, where she works as a writing coach. She is working on her second book. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Rosie Storey, Milena and I discussed: How it feels to be compared to your heroes The many opportunities she had to give up the writing life Getting support and much-needed advice from her editors early on The importance of pacing for the novel Writing about grief and the societal pressures on men and women Dancing at Studio 54 with Miranda July And a lot more! Show Notes: Rosie Storey on Instagram Dandelion Is Dead: A Novel About Life by Rosie Storey (Amazon) Rosie Storey's Rejection Advice for Writers TheNovelry.com Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UK writer Zadie Smith became a world-wide sensation with the publication of her first novel White Teeth when she was 24. Now aged 50, she's bringing her trademark intelligence and wit to the subject of midlife.Her latest work is Dead and Alive, a new book of essays, where she writes about black British history, paintings, politics, our online lives and getting older.She also talks about up growing in North West London and where she's returned to live with her own family.Zadie will be in Australia next month as part of the All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 8th and at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne on March 10th.Further InformationAll About Women at Sydney Opera HouseZadie Smith at The Wheeler CentreThis episode explores growing up in North West London, immigrants, black British history, the internet, smart phones, social media, the technology of the book, mid life, being 50, free university, Cambridge, diversity, academia, tap dancing, painting, politics, being a writer, non-fiction, young novelists, find success at young age.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you'll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When the thriller writer Harriet Tyce appeared on The Traitors, her book sales skyrocketed by over 500%...So, could novelists be marketed in this way going forward and have they been missing a trick up to now? Sean was Eithne Shortall, Novelist and author of 5 books, including ‘The Lodgers'.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   John Sayles: Novelist and Director, author “Crucible,” 2026 John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. Photo: Richard Wolinsky John Sayles, author of the novel “Crucible” and director of eighteen independent films, including “Lone Star,” Eight Men Out” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. They are joined by Maggie Renzi, John Sayles' producer on fourteen of his eighteen films. John Sayles is best known for his work as a director, screenwriter and actor, though this is his sixth novel. Among the films he directed are Lone Star, Sunshine State, Eight Men Out, Matewan, The Brother from Another Planet, Baby It's You and Passion Fish. His acting credits include small roles in several films, and he wrote the screenplay for the films he directed. Maggie Renzi, his wife, produced fourteen of his eighteen films, and acted in several of them. She is currently producing John's upcoming western film, to be shot in Spain in Summer, 2026. In the first part of the interview, John Sayles discusses the real-life events behind his novel, “Crucible,” set between the 1920s and 1940s in Detroit  and Brazil and focusing on Henry Ford, and the workers at his plants, and his attempt to create a rubber plantation and city in the jungles of Brazil. In the second part, he and Maggie Renzi talk about the making of his films, from his early days as a screenwriter to some of his later work, including the three films mentioned above and “Matewan,” along with difficulties in streaming rights.   Review of “How Shakespeare Saved My Life at ACT Berkeley Rep's Peets Theatre through March 1, 2026.       The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – February 5, 2026: Filmmaker and Novelist John Sayles, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

HT2522 - When the Image Takes Charge Over the years I've noticed a curiosity that pops up from time to time. I'll have in my mind's eye an idea of what I want an image to look like, but when I start processing it imposes an alternative I'd never thought about. Novelists will talk about their fictional character taking on a momentum of its own. I think the same thing can happen with photographs. Show your appreciation for our free weekly Podcast and our free daily Here's a Thought… with a donation Thanks!

This edition of KVC-Arts welcomes back Cassie MacDuff in conversation with Susan Straight about her latest novel, Sacrament. Sacrament is set during the height of Covid in 2020, and follows the lives of a small group of nurses in a makeshift RV camp close to the hospital where they work.Once again set in and around The Inland Empire, this book will connect for many people through experiences, people, and locations to say the least. Some poignant moments without a doubt, some lighthearted moments which will bring smiles as well.

Playwright and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Moira Buffini on moving between theatre, film, and fiction, writing for yourself instead of the market, and shaping structure by rewriting toward the ending you want readers to feel.    You'll learn:Why “you are the audience” can be a practical rule for cutting through market noise and writing with conviction. A useful way to handle reviews and outside opinions without letting them steer the work. How to build story momentum when you can't fully plot ahead, and why not knowing the next move can be a strength. A structure approach based on “writing toward a feeling” at the end, then layering drafts until the story clicks. What discipline looks like when you're writing big worlds in prose, and how constraints can keep you from getting lost. How a dramatist's instincts (plot, structure, obstacles) can transfer into long-form fiction and help sustain narrative drive.   A grounded reminder about the “mundane” day-to-day of being a professional writer, and why that doesn't cancel the magic. The practical foundations she names for keeping your mind working (sleep, movement, and treating the body as part of the instrument). What it can take to keep writing alongside caring responsibilities, and why persistence is often the hardest part.   The simplest career advice she returns to: don't accept the story that you “can't,” and keep putting in the hours. Resources & Links:

In this episode of Writer's Voice, Francesca Rheannon speaks with biographer Robert M. Dowling about his biography, Coyote: The Dramatic Lives of Sam Shepard.

Liz Moore's bestselling book, ‘Long Bright River,' was set in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood where she'd worked on a photo essay. “My own family has a long history of addiction. I was kind of emotionally drawn back to the neighborhood over and over again because of that,” she tells Dave Davies. The resulting thriller about a policewoman searching for her missing sister was made into a series on Peacock. Moore's latest book, ‘The God of the Woods,' where a child goes missing from a remote children's camp, will be adapted to a Netflix series.Also, we hear from one of England's most acclaimed writers, Julian Barnes. He has a new book, which he says will be his last. It's called ‘Departures.' He spoke with Terry Gross. Maureen Corrigan reviews George Saunders' new novel, ‘Vigil.'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Liz Moore's bestselling book, ‘Long Bright River,' was set in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood where she'd worked on a photo essay. “My own family has a long history of addiction. I was kind of emotionally drawn back to the neighborhood over and over again because of that,” she tells Dave Davies. The resulting thriller about a policewoman searching for her missing sister was made into a series on Peacock. Moore's latest book, ‘The God of the Woods,' where a child goes missing from a remote children's camp, will be adapted to a Netflix series.Also, we hear from one of England's most acclaimed writers, Julian Barnes. He has a new book, which he says will be his last. It's called ‘Departures.' He spoke with Terry Gross. Maureen Corrigan reviews George Saunders' new novel, ‘Vigil.'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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:Janet Rich Edwards is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University and works in the Division of Women's Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital. A graduate of Grub Street's Novel Incubator program, she lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her bestselling debut novel of historical fiction, Canticle, follows a spirited young woman's explorations of faith, agency, and love in thirteenth-century Bruges and was named Editor's Choice for best fiction on Amazon, a REAL SIMPLE BEST BOOKS OF 2025, a SPOTIFY BEST DEBUTS OF 2025, a GOODREADS READERS' MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS and People magazine called it “Atmospheric and unforgettable.”  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. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.Tune in and reach out:If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.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 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! Be well and keep reading.~Holly~ Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. Tell your friends. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynehost, author, writing coachwww.hollylynnpayne.com

In advance of his appearance in Helena at MT Book Co. on Monday, February 2, 2026, novelist David Guterson, author of ‘Snow Falling on Cedars' (Vintage Books), discusses his latest book, ‘Evelyn in Transit' (W. W. Norton & Company).

In advance of his appearance in Helena at MT Book Co. on Monday, February 2, 2026, novelist David Guterson, author of ‘Snow Falling on Cedars' (Vintage Books), discusses his latest book, ‘Evelyn in Transit' (W. W. Norton & Company).

Former CIA analyst and bestselling spy novelist David McCloskey returns to Spymasters to talk to Antonia Senior about his new thriller The Persian — a razor-sharp spy story set inside the Israel–Iran shadow war. We discuss how real-world covert operations (from sabotage to targeted assassinations) have shaped modern espionage, and how spy fiction can capture the human cost of clandestine conflict: fear, tradecraft, loyalty, identity, and moral compromise. McCloskey breaks down how he researches intelligence operations using open-source reporting and conversations with former practitioners — and why he chose to write a spy novel with no Americans at the center of the story. We also explore the culture and risk tolerance differences between intelligence services, the evolution of surveillance and remote warfare, and the perennial question: should writers “stay in their lane,” or is imagining other lives the whole point of fiction? What the Israel–Iran covert conflict looks like — and why it's perfect terrain for a spy novel The premise of The Persian: a Persian Jewish dentist recruited as a Mossad asset Researching espionage through open-source intelligence (OSINT), reporting, and real tradecraft insight Mossad vs CIA: risk tolerance, bureaucracy, operational style, and culture Remote and tech-enabled killing — drones, distance, and the changing nature of modern war Writing morally complex characters (and why the book isn't a “morality play”) Representation in fiction: writing characters outside your own experience A teaser for McCloskey's next novel: CIA and MI6 under strain — and spying on each other again David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst and the author of multiple acclaimed spy novels including Damascus Station, Moscow X, and The Seventh Floor. His work is known for its operational authenticity and insider-level realism — without losing sight of the human story. The Persian is out now (publication-day episode). Available wherever you buy books, or here: https://amzn.eu/d/5DzqbwC If you enjoy deep-dive conversations on espionage, intelligence history, covert action, tradecraft, and spy fiction, hit Follow on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and leave a rating — it helps more listeners find the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale speak with Jay Tolson, editor of The Hedgehog Review and author of Pilgrim in the Ruins: A Life of Walker Percy. Tolson delves into the literary legacy of Walker Percy, the celebrated 20th-century Southern Catholic novelist. He […]

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Heather Snidgrass about her new book, A Love Letter to Reading, a thriller that incorporates music throughout. She also discusses how listening to music improves her writing.Opening ThoughtsBill, Lara, and Jesse make their predictions for 2026 and the world of writing.News1) Spotify is Producing Dramatized Audiobooks Based on Original Material2) Publishers Are Using AI to Review Submissions and Pick Books to PublishCraft CornerMarty Ludlum (At First I Was Afraid) talks about words to avoid.Interview with Heather SnodgrassClosing WordsDon't forget the WriterCon Cruise, March 7-17. We leave from Ft. Lauderdale and cruise through beautiful locations, plus you get over 20 hours of writing instruction, personalized to meet the needs of the group, while the boat is at sea (we won't bother you when the boat is in port). Have some fun and take your writing skills to the next level. For more info, visit www.writercon.com.Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardt www.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com

In the spotlight is Jesse Kavadlo, author of “Rock of Pages,” a book inspired by his decades of work as a professor of literature and as a musician. In “Rock of Pages,” Kavadlo analyzes the ways in which 1980s heavy metal aligns with and develops many of the themes prevalent in the canon of literature. In doing so, the book examines some of the contexts of 1980s heavy metal, including the Cold War, the rise of MTV, and the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center and subsequent congressional hearings.  Learn more about Jesse Kavaldo and his books and teaching here: https://jessekavadlo.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com  

Nell Bernstein tells us about her book In Our Future We Are Free. It traces the grassroots movement that helped dismantle youth prisons across the United States. Then, Tamar Adler talks about her book Feast On Your Life, a month-by-month meditation on cooking, gratitude, and finding meaning in the everyday.

On 12 January 1976, author Agatha Christie died peacefully, aged 85.She created the detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.By the time of her death, Christie had written more than 80 books. Most of her works were detective novels but she also wrote romances, short stories, poetry and plays.In 2015, Louise Hidalgo spoke to her grandson, Mathew Prichard.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from the death of Adolf Hitler, the first spacewalk and the making of the movie Jaws, to celebrity tortoise Lonesome George, the Kobe earthquake and the invention of superglue. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: Eva Peron – Argentina's Evita; President Ronald Reagan and his famous ‘tear down this wall' speech; Thomas Keneally on why he wrote Schindler's List; and Jacques Derrida, France's ‘rock star' philosopher. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the civil rights swimming protest; the disastrous D-Day rehearsal; and the death of one of the world's oldest languages.(Photo: English detective novelist, Agatha Christie. Credit: Bettman/Getty Images)

When an aspiring novelist moves into an apartment above a famous author, the younger writer thinks it's a sign that literary stardom is right around the corner.He's partly right. But his luck is about to turn in ways he can't expect.Matthew Pearl, himself an award-winning author, writes what he knows in his new novel, “The Award” — which is why the book swerves into some wildly dark places. He returns to Big Books and Bold Ideas this week to talk with Kerri Miller about the absurdity of the publishing industry today (without naming names, of course) and the inspiration behind “The Award.”

In this solo episode, Mark reads a new article entitled: The Published Novelist Saves Schrödinger's Cat! How to Improve the Odds Before You Open the Box—OR—What Writers Can Control While Their Book's Fate Remains Uncertain Links of Interest: Substack Article Link The Dialogue Doctor Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises     The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Running Grave, book Seven of the ten novel Cormoran Strike murder mystery series by Joanne Murray (‘J. K. Rowling') writing as ‘Robert Galbraith,' is what the author described as her “cult novel.” The cult in question is the Universal Humanitarian Church led by Jonathan Wace; the Strike-Ellacott Agency is hired by a father to rescue his youngest son who has disappeared into the UHC's Chapman Farm property. Robin Ellacott successfully infiltrates the compound and she and the young man escape.Soon after Robin's near-thing deliverance and return to London, Strike attends a UHC rally in that city with hopes that he will be spotted by Wace and invited to meet back-stage. ‘Papa J' takes the bait and he and Strike square off in the cult leader's dressing room. Strike reveals much of what Robin and he have learned about the UHC's criminal past and present in that verbal confrontation. Strike exits only after delivering a warning; stay away from his partner or “I will burn your church to the f*****g ground” (Part 8, chapter 112, 808; italics in original).In the midst of this tense back-and-forth between private detective and religious guru, Strike thrice mentions a book published in 1930, Who Moved the Stone?, a relatively short work of popular Christian apologetics:‘I see you're one of those who prides themselves on disrespecting rites, mysteries, and religious observance,' said Wace, smiling again. ‘I shall pray for you, Cormoran. I mean that sincerely.'‘I'll tell you one book I've read, that's right up your street,' said Strike. ‘Came across it in a Christian mission where I was spending a night, just outside Nairobi. This was when I was still in the army. I'd drunk too much coffee, and there were only two books in the room, and it was late, and I didn't think I'd be able to make much of a dent in the Bible, so I went for Who Moved the Stone? by Frank Morison. Have you read it?'‘I've heard of it,' said Wace, sitting back in his chair, still smiling. ‘We recognise Jesus Christ as an important emissary of the Blessed Divinity, though, of course, he's not the only one.'‘Oh, he had nothing on you, obviously,' said Strike. ‘Anyway, Morison was a non-believer who set out to prove the resurrection never happened. He did an in-depth investigation into the events surrounding Jesus' death, drawing on as many historical sources as he could find, and as a direct result, was converted to Christianity. You see what I'm driving at?'‘I'm afraid not,' said Wace.‘What questions d'you think Morison would've wanted answered, if he set out to disprove the legend of the Drowned Prophet?' (805)This calling into question of the UHC's historical claim to other-worldly power causes those of Wace's inner-circle minions to chafe and counter with traditional Oriental wisdom about wrestling with pigs. Strike again alludes to Morison's book:‘Is that from the I Ching?' asked Strike, looking from Zhou to Mazu. ‘Funnily enough, I've got a few questions on the subject of degradation, if you'd rather hear those? No?' he said, when nobody answered. ‘Back to what I was saying, then.'‘Let's suppose I fancy writing the new Who Moved the Stone? – working title, “Why Paddle in the North Sea at Five a.m.?” As a sceptical investigator of the miraculous ascension into heaven of Daiyu, I think I'd start with how Cherie knew Jordan Reaney would oversleep that morning. Then I'd be finding out why Daiyu was wearing a dress that made her as visible as possible in the dark, why she drowned off exactly the same stretch of beach as your first wife and – parallels with Who Moved the Stone? here – I'd want to know where the body went. But unlike Morison, I might include a chapter on Birmingham' (805-806).John Granger and Nick Jeffery, as part of their Kanreki celebration of Rowling-Galbraith's 60th birthday last July, discussed Texts-Within-the-Text as a Golden Thread that runs through all of the author's work. Most of those embedded texts, though, are of Rowling's invention, e.g., Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog Card, Tales of Beedle the Bard, Bombyx Mori, The Predictions of Tycho Dodonus, Wace's The Answer, etc. It's fairly rare for Rowling-Galbraith to drop a reference to a real world book even in the relatively non-magical Strike series.In addition to the I Ching, however, Running Grave has Prudence Donleavy recommend two psychology texts to Robin (Lifton's Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brain Washing in China and Hassan's Combatting Cult Mind Control: Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults) in addition to Strike's weaponization of Morison's Who Moved the Stone?John and Nick chose to discuss Who Moved the Stone? this week rather than an embedded text that works as a template (cf., Aurora Leigh) or a Rowling favorite-book that shaped her perspective (e.g., I Capture the Castle) or a real-world book tied to the plot of Hallmarked Man (Bridge to Light, Pike's Morals and Dogma) because it seemed to connect the dots of several recent Rowling revelations:* the “God-shaped vacuum” tweet; * the unforced admission that she suffers from VWD, a blood-clotting disorder; * the search for the coming Big Twist in the final books of the Strike series;* the Psalter charm on the Strike9 Christmas gift bracelet-of-clues; * the Church of St Giles in the Fields' existence and its incredible absence from the first eight Strike books despite its overshadowing Denmark Street; and* the absence of Strike-series parallels to the Christian content and meaning of the Potter series, especially with respect to the Struggle to Believe in Deathly Hallows.For reasons the two discuss, all the above are pointers to possible Christian content of Strike books nine and ten, even that this content will be a substantial part of the mind-bending surprise finish to the series, namely, Strike's transformation from a skeptic with respect to all things religious to believer. What bigger clue has Rowling presented in the series for that possibility than Strike's confronting a religious “fraud and hypocrite” (799) with a book by an English skeptic about the evidence for belief in Christ's Resurrection from the dead?Nick and John discuss both Who Moved the Stone? itself, its use in Running Grave in the Strike-Wace confrontation, and its possible meaning as a pointer to revelations and transformations to come:1. Why is a Rowling Reader interested in Frank Morison's Who Moved the Stone? ? 2. Who was ‘Frank Morison‘? What is the story behind the writing of Who Moved the Stone? ? What place does it have, if any, in UK Christian apologetics?3. Do you think there are echoes of ‘Morison's conclusions in the Passion parts of Dorothy Sayers' Man Born to be King series for the BBC (1941)? 4. Chesterton per Wikipedia wrote in his review of Stone that he had been “under the impression it was a detective story” when he picked it up; how much does it read like a murder mystery, something akin to how Strike might sift through the evidence of a case?5. Five instances of deductive insights Ross-Morison offers by reasoning that even most Christian believers would have considered —6. A compare-and-contrast exercise of different perspectives -- John, believer, familiar with passion gospels; Nick, seeker, not so much -- how did their reading experiences differ?7. Why would Rowling-Galbraith have Strike mention this book, one that fosters conversions to Christian faith, in his face-to-face meeting with a religious charlatan? Shouldn't he be belittling faith at that point?8. If there is a single ‘keyword' in Stone, John believes it is “vacancy.” Nick and John discuss (1) the possibility that Rowling may have read this book as a young person and been struck by the God-shaped “vacancy” or “Vacuum” in her own life and (2) whether it could have been an influence on the Casual Vacancy title. They review Rowling comments about “the light of God shining from every soul” in her Vacancy interviews.9 - John expresses his bewilderment that Robin and Cormoran have never discussed their faith backgrounds or lack of one in the course of their relationship, especially in light of their UHC cult experiences and Talbot's True Book with its occult and Christian content. Nick explains the fall out of the English Civil War to John.10. Could Strike's familiarity with and seeming sympathy with the arguments of Stone a place-marker for future conversations about faith, not to mention revelations of why both Strike and Robin are so casual about the vacancy of a spiritual dimension in their lives?The remarkable take-away from this conversation was a discussion of the possibility that Rowling's tweeted ‘Psyche Ascendant' suggests the imminent death of Robin Ellacott in Strike 9 with Strike 10 being fallout of that death in the life of Cormoran Strike. ‘Fall out' meaning Strike will learn the truth about all the questions to which he mistakenly thought he knew the answers — the suicides of his mother and Charlotte Campbell-Ross, the character of Jonny Rokeby, Ryan Murphy's real motivation for pursuing Robin Ellacott, Cormoran's relationships with his half-sister Lucy and “oldest mate” Dave Polworth — as well as ‘Who Killed the Better Half of the Strike Ellacott Detective Agency?'John thinks the revelations coupled with Strike's grief may drive him to his knees in St Giles in the Fields Church, a ‘Digging Dobby's Grave on Easter morning' parallel. Make your case in the comment boxes below if you think that he has lost his mind somewhere on the drive east from Oklahoma to the Carolinas.The Granger family is now well settled in their South Carolina bungalow and Hogwarts Professor will be posting with regularity. Nick and John thank you for your patience and for your support!Links to Sources and Subjects Mentioned in Conversation:‘A Ring Reading of Running Grave, Part Eight' (John Granger)Who Moved the Stone? by Frank Morison (Amazon)‘Albert Henry Ross' aka ‘Frank Morison' (Wikipedia)‘Frank Morison and Who Moved the Stone? Advertiser, Novelist, Apologist, Spy' (Philip Johnson, Lecturer, Morling College, New South Wales, 2018)* Most of the information that Nick and John shared about Ross/Morison and his book Who Moved the Stone? came from this carefully researched paper.‘Philip Johnson' UC Berkeley Law Professor, author Darwin on Trial (Wikipedia)Darwin Retried: An Appeal to Reason (Norman MacBeth)Dorothy Sayers' Man Born to be King series for the BBC (1941)?G. K. Chesterton review of Who Moved the Stone? in The Illustrated London News (5 April 1930)‘Reading Troubled Blood as a Medieval Moral Play and Allegory:' Roy Phipps the “bloody bleeder” as King Philip of Spain (John Granger)‘Justin Martyr and the Fourth Gospel' (Fr John Romanides, 1958, on the relationship of the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel According to St John)An examination of the Biblical sources reveals the fact that underlying the New Testament is the catechetical principle that one is able to discern the will and acts of God only according to the measure and degree in which he has been liberated from demonic influences and by spiritual exercise learns to distinguish between divine and satanic energies. This liberation is accomplished in Christ by the power of the Spirit but its effect on man is not automatic. Where it does begin its process is generally gradual as is evident in the tardy way in which the Apostles came to a full understanding of the way the kingdom of God had come upon them. Failure to understand and partake of the mysteries of the kingdom is attributed to continuance in the ways of Satan (e.g., Mtth. 13, 1-23; Mk. 4, 1-20; Lk. 8, 4-15; II Cor. 4, 3-4).Before a person was admitted to baptism, he had to be instructed in the old Testament revelations of the divine activities as well as in the ways of satan. Otherwise, he would continue being blinded by the devil and would be in danger of confounding divine and satanic activities as happened in the case of the Jews who went so far as to say that Jesus cast out demons by the power of Belzebub (Mtth. 12, 22-37; Mk. 3, 22-30; Lk. 11, 14-23). This is the blasphemy against the Spirit which cannot be forgiven. Those who are not able to recognize the energies of God are those who by hearing hear but do not understand and seeing see but do not discern (Is. 6, 9; Mtth. 13, 14; Mk. 4,12; Lk. 8, 10; John 12, 40; Acts 28, 26 ff.). The fourth gospel is a continuous play on the divinity of Christ as witnessed to by the divine activities which He shares in common with the Father and the Spirit and which are eventually understood by those who are defeating the devil but continuously misunderstood by those blinded by the prince of darkness. The fourth gospel is understood only by those who have been previously exercised in the discernment of the saving and sanctifying acts of God in both the Old Testament and Synoptic tradition, apart from whose soteriological presuppositions it is totally meaningless.Contemporary Case for Religious Belief in General:Believe: Why Everyone Should Be ReligiousAdvice to the Serious SeekerWhy Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of DisbeliefThe Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New AtheismAtheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable EnemiesSeven Christian Apologetics ClassicsThe Case for Christ (Movie version!)Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Life Changing Truth for a Skeptical WorldMere Christianity (C. S. Lewis)Handbook of Christian ApologeticsExposing Myths about ChristianityDid the Resurrection Happen?Elements of Faith: An Introduction to Orthodox TheologyHogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe

The Man Booker Prize-winning writer says his new book, ‘Departure(s),' will be his last. He spoke with Terry Gross about blending genres, moving through grief after his wife died, and the fallibility of memory. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new series ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.' Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Willy was joined by David Ignatius, renowned American journalist, associate editor and columnist at The Washington Post, and bestselling novelist. With decades of experience covering global intelligence, diplomacy, and conflict, David brings a rare insider's perspective on the dynamics shaping U.S. foreign policy.   Together, he and Willy examined ongoing international conflicts, how the U.S. is faring from a geopolitical standpoint, the global effects of the current administration, outcomes to expect over the next year, and David's pulse on worldwide power shifts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Free Video Tutorial for ScreenwritingWhat makes the stakes in a story truly matter?In this episode of The Storyteller's Mission, Zena Dell Lowe explains how to raise the stakes in your story without relying on gimmicks, artificial tension, or repetitive plot devices. This episode explores why high stakes are always tied to character, relationship, and consequence—and how meaningful escalation creates pressure that drives transformation.From moral weight to relational cost to progressively harder choices, this conversation reframes how writers should think about stakes at every level of storytelling. Whether you're working on a novel, screenplay, or short story, this episode provides a practical and timeless approach to making your story resonate more deeply with an audience.Watch this episode on YouTube Sign up for The Storyteller's Digest, my exclusive bi-monthly newsletter for writers and storytellers. Each edition delivers an insightful article or practical writing tip straight from me, designed to help you master your craft and tell compelling stories.The Storyteller's Mission Podcast is now on YouTube.  Subscribe to our channel and never miss a new episode or announcement.Support the Show!Contact us for anything else!Send us a textSupport the show

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview John Phillips, author of the Vietnam-era historical fiction, Dress Whites.Opening ThoughtsThe crew re-examines their predictions for 2025—and didn't do half bad.News1) Readers Rebel Against Titles with Excessive SEO Keywords2) Harlequin Uses AI Translation ServiceCraft CornerBetsey Kulakowski (The Veritas Codex) discusses why you should write the book only you can write.Interview with John PhillipsParting WordsDon't forget to register for the WriterCon Cruise! This time, we're leaving from Ft Lauderdale for an eight-day voyage. So beautiful tropical vistas plus over twenty hours of writing instruction from Lara and I, plus Betsey Kulakowski and an onboard agent (Katherine Sands) who will happily talk to every participant. Don't miss out. Plan now to be with us March 7-15. Visit the WriterCon website for more info.Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com

Adam works with a client to help them fully align with an identity of being a novelist, and accessing flow states to create their best work and have the world read across the world. To access a subscriber-only version with no intro, outro, explanation, or ad breaks and 24 hours earlier than everyone else, tap 'Subscribe' nearby or click the following link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/adam-cox858/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Debut novelist and 2023 Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow Allison King on blending history with magical realism, and what it takes to build a writing life while navigating the modern publishing landscape.We discuss:Allison's early relationship with stories and the role her grandmother played in shaping it.The path from fan fiction and short stories to publishing a debut novel.The dual timeline and braided structure of The Phoenix Pencil Company, moving between WWII-era Shanghai and contemporary Cambridge.Building a magic system at the heart of the novel, and why its consequences matter more than its mechanics.Pragmatic outlining and structural tools (including reverse outlining) for managing timeline-heavy drafts.Researching family history without turning the book into an autobiography.Writing about Alzheimer's with care, and what Allison learned in revision about emotional precision.Resources and Links:Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi ThorpeRedwall by Brian JacquesThe Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia LitUp FellowshipOnce Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan My Brilliant Friend by Elena FerranteA Tale For the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki About Allison KingAllison King is an Asian American writer and software engineer based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In technology, her work has ranged from semiconductors to platforms for community conversations to data privacy. Her short stories have appeared in Fantasy Magazine, Diabolical Plots, and LeVar Burton Reads, among others. She is also a 2023 Reese's Book Club LitUp fellow. The Phoenix Pencil Company is her first novel. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

The present American political moment is defined by one word: Disillusion. All over the country, ordinary people have realized that the bureaucrats, professors, and other elites who dominated their lives were never acting in good faith and declined long ago. Novelist and thinker Walter Kirn examines the great turning point in American life in the 21st century, and ponders — what's next? Trump’s 2024 win, Kirn argues, wasn’t just political, but a reckoning for every institution in American life. Watch every episode ad-free on members.charliekirk.com! Get new merch at charliekirkstore.com!Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.