The Storytellers Radio Show and Podcast, 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.The Storytellers is heard in over 150 countries and is available on your favorite podcast platforms. Episodes are copyrighted by Grace Sammon and the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. Episodes are available at the links below and on Authors on the Air Global Radio Network.To contact Grace about being a guest on the show, email her here.
Episode 94 - Laura Whitfield is Untethered - 2023-06-19
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Joy Ross Davis is of Irish descent and a student of the lore and magic found in the back hills of Tennessee where many of her Irish ancestors settled upon coming to America. After a twenty-five-year career as a college English professor, she retired from teaching and followed her dream of going to Ireland. As it happened, she was offered a “summer of work” as a writer and photographer at an Irish travel agency where she wrote and published numerous articles and photos designed for first-time American visitors to Ireland. She has been a contributing feature writer for a local newspaper and has published articles in Southern literary magazines. She lives in Alabama with her sons and beloved rescue dogs. She loves to speak at conferences, book club meetings, and events to share the stories behind her books.
Beginning her career at the William Morris Agency, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas rose in spite of the boys club of the late 1980’s to become one of the top agents in the entertainment industry, guiding the careers of actors such as JULIA ROBERTS, JENNIFER LOPEZ, NICHOLAS CAGE, TIM ROBBINS, MADONNA, SUSAN SARANDON, GEENA DAVIS, PATRICK DEMPSEY, JENNIFER CONNELLY, ANDIE MACDOWELL, MATT DILLON, and working with filmmakers such as, JOHN HUGHES, ROBERT ALTMAN, JONATHAN LYNN, ROGER MICHELE, CURTIS HANSON, DARREN STAR, SPIKE LEE among many others. She left agenting in 2000 and became a studio head and later a writer and producer overseeing, and or producing such successful films as 13 GOING ON 30, MAID IN MANHATTAN, BLACK HAWK DOWN, MONA LISA SMILE, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, PERFECT STRANGER, KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL, LITTLE BLACK BOOK, BANDSLAM, THE BOY NEXT DOOR, KIDNAP, SECOND ACT, HUSTLERS, MARRY ME, SHOTGUN WEDDING and the upcoming films, THE MOTHER due out May 2023 and ATLAS due out 2024, along with several highly acclaimed and award-winning television series such as THE FOSTERS, GOOD TROUBLE, SHADES OF BLUE, EXTANT, POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, EMILY IN PARIS, and WORLD OF DANCE.
She is JENNIFER LOPEZ’S producing partner overseeing a diverse slate of films and television projects servicing their groundbreaking overall deal at NETFLIX.
Episode 89 - Linda Rosen and The Emerald Necklace - 2023-05-15
Fitness Professional turned novelist, Linda Rosen’s books are set in the “not-too-distant past” and examine how women reinvent themselves despite obstacles thrown their way. A central theme is that blood is not all that makes a family– and they always feature a piece of jewelry! Her novels, The Disharmony of Silence, Sisters of the Vine and The Emerald Necklace are published by Black Rose Writing. In addition to writing novels, Linda was a contributor to Women in the Literary Landscape: A WNBA Centennial Publication for the Women's National Book Association and the craft book, Launch Pad The Countdown to Writing Your Book. She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and co-founder of the South Florida chapter of the Women’s National Book Association. In addition, she is a founding member of The Author Talk Network and an administrator of the Facebook Group, Bookish Road Trip and editor of their newsletter, Wanderlust. Linda lives with her husband in New Jersey, but when the leaves fall and she has to swap sandals for shoes and socks, they move to their home in Florida.
Episode 88 - Meryl Ain and The Shadows We Carry - 2023-05-08
Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her new novel, Shadows We Carry is the sequel to The Takeaway Men, her award-winning debut novel, which was published in 2020. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications and she is the author of two nonfiction books. A member of The International Advisory Board for Holocaust Survivor Day, she is the host of the podcast “People of the Book”, and the founder of the Facebook group “Jews Love To Read!” She holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Columbia University, and a doctorate in education from Hofstra University. She and her husband, Stewart, a journalist, live in New York. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.
Episode 87 - Jody Feagan and Katie Rountree and 100 Women Who Care - 2023-05-01
Episode 86 - Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman are The Thread Collectors - 2023-04-24
Episode 85 - Jeff Arch: Screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle, Novelist of Attachments, Human - 2023-04-17
Jeff Arch grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent two of his high school years at a boarding school much like the one depicted in ‘Attachments.’ In the 70s, Jeff studied film/tv/theater production at Emerson College in Boston and then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a concert lighting designer and toured the country with national rock and reggae acts while teaching himself to write screenplays on the side. When a comedy he wrote opened and closed off-Broadway in the same week, Jeff went into a rebuilding period where he studied tae kwon do with a Grand Master, while teaching English electives in a local alternative high school. In 1989, he sold his business, rented a small office, and gave himself one year to write three screenplays. The second of those – a quirky romantic comedy where the two lovers don’t even meet until the very last page – sold almost immediately, and “Sleepless in Seattle” became a surprise megahit worldwide. For his screenplay, Jeff was nominated for an Oscar, as well as for Writers Guild and BAFTA Awards, among others. His other credits include the Disney adventure film “Iron Will,” New Line’s romantic comedy “Sealed With a Kiss,” and the independent comedy “Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys.” Jeff’s script for “Saving Milly,” based on Mort Kondracke’s searing memoir, earned the 2005 Humanitas Nomination, an honor Jeff treasures.
Jeff has taught master classes and seminars at film festivals, screenwriting conferences, and solo presentations in the U.S., England, Finland, Sweden, Chile, and Australia. He is currently a board member of The Story Summit, an organization for writers, with two annual conferences and an online Story School.
“Attachments” is Jeff’s first novel. He is currently working on “Tiny Houses,” a romantic comedy series for television, about a ghostwriter and her childhood sweetheart, whose heart she can’t seem to keep from breaking.
Episode 84 - Beth Broday Executive Producer, Pioneer of Music Television, Mentor, and Memoirist - 2023-04-10
Beth Broday is an award-winning executive producer with over thirty-five years of experience in identifying, developing, and selling content that results in millions of dollars in sales and revenue. Creative leadership and an innate ability to recognize advantageous opportunities ahead of the curve, Ms. Broday successfully married top entertainment brands and properties with digital media. Ms. Broday specializes in business development, production, original content development, executing brand strategy and spearheading long-term, cross-platform initiatives. Ms. Broday is currently writing a memoir and continues as a career consultant to young women entering the entertainment business.
Widely known as a pioneer of music television, Ms. Broday was the founder of two of the first, top-tier international music video production companies providing a decade of content to MTV in its early years.
Ms. Broday has produced and directed award-winning TV specials, and original web series for artists such as STING, Yanni, and Alanis Morissette.
A-list client roster includes Disney, CBS, FOX, IPG, Warner Horizon, PBS, MTV, FuseTV, A&E Networks, Televisa, Turner, Comcast, Nickelodeon, VH1, MSN, AOL, Maker Studios, Warner Records, and Interscope Records/Universal. Artist clients include (partial list) PRINCE, STING, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Cindy Lauper, Barry Gordy, Alanis Morissette, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jane Fonda. Episode 83 - Marta Kauffman: Creator, Writer, Producer, and American Legend for “Friends,” “Grace and Frankie” and so much more! - 2023-04-03
Marta Kauffman is an American television writer and producer. She is best known as the co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends and as the creator of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie but her credits and awards fill pages. From creator to documentarian of Seeing Allred, Kauffman is a Hollywood legend.
Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and Spark Press, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press. She currently sits on the boards of the Book Industry Study Group, the Bay Area Book Festival, and the National Association of Memoir Writers. She writes a monthly column for Publishers Weekly.
Episode 80 - Landis Wade Recovering Trial Lawyer with Deadly Declarations- 2023-03-13
Episode 79 - Lisa Rosenberg and Embers on the Wind - 2023-03-06
Lisa Williamson Rosenberg is an author and psychotherapist specializing in developmental trauma and racial identity. She is also a former ballet dancer with the Pacific Northwest and Pennsylvania Ballet companies. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Lisa’s short fiction has appeared in Literary Mama and The Piltdown Review; essays in Lithub, Longreads, Narrative.ly, The Common, Grok Nation, Oldster, and Mamalode. Lisa’s debut novel, EMBERS ON THE WIND, about an Underground Railroad safehouse turned 21st Century Airbnb, was released on August 1, 2022 by Little A Books. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Lisa now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and dog. Lisa is the mother of two college kids. Find out more about Lisa here.
Anna Quinn is the author of The Night Child, (Blackstone) listed as #1 Best Real Psychological Fiction on Goodreads, and Ingram’s 2018 Best Book Club Book. Her second novel, Angeline, (Blackstone) will be released Feb 7th, 2023. Quinn’s writing has also appeared in Psychology Today, Writer’s Digest, Washington 129 Anthology, and Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19. She is the founder of The Writers’ Workshoppe in Port Townsend, WA., and has thirty years of experience teaching and leading writing workshops across the country. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, biking or hiking somewhere on this beautiful planet. To learn more about Anna explore here.
Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there.
Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. To learn more about Michelle and her books click here.
Georgia Court retired from teaching English Composition and Writing for HealthCare at the University of Cincinnati. Her career path included writing about healthcare for the Cincinnati Post (a
daily newspaper), publishing a weekly newspaper for healthcare professionals, owning a PR-event management company and working as a systems engineer for IBM (go figure). She moved to
Sarasota in 2009 and opened Bookstore1Sarasota in March 2011. Find out more about Bookstore1 here.
Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. She is the founder of Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. The three divisions include Zibby Books, a publishing house for fiction and memoir, Zcast, a podcast network powered by Acast including Zibby’s award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and Moms Don’t Have Time To, a new content and community site including Zibby’s Virtual Book Club, events, and the former Moms Don’t Have Time to Write.
Zibby is a regular columnist for Good Morning America and a frequent guest on morning news shows recommending books. Editor of two anthologies (Moms Don’t Have Time to Have Kids and Moms Don’t Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology), a children’s book Princess Charming, and now a memoir Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, Zibby loves to write. She regularly pens personal essays, starting with her first one in Seventeen magazine in 1992. Zibby lives in New York with her husband, Kyle Owens of Morning Moon Productions, and her four children. For more information, visit her website and follow her on Instagram @zibbyowens.
Everything started in 5th grade when Hallie Balogh and Auttie Grace first met. They quickly became known for always being together. You never only saw one of them. That 5th grade school year didn’t only spark their friendship, but it set the foundation of the Auttie and Hallie writing power duo. From 5th grade and all through middle school, they spent their lunches, free time, etc. writing stories together. Once Covid-19 hit, they took it as an advantage to write their first novel, Empire: To Earth and Back. Honestly, it started as a joke, but here they are, two teenagers with a published YA sci-fi adventure novel and many more to come. As young teenage girls, they want to inspire others that no dream is “too big” when you’re passionate about something.
Episode 71 - Debra Thomas Enlightens Us with Her Novel Luz - 2023-01-09
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 here.
Lisa Lucca is the author of the award-winning memoir, Ashes to Ink, released in October 2021, a story of forgiveness that shines a light on the challenges of living true to who we are. She was recently awarded the 2022 Literary Legacy Award from El Paso Community College and named an Outstanding Woman of Mesilla Valley for her contributions to the Borderland community in literature and media. Lisa was a #Blogher Voice of the Year Honoree and her work has been published in several anthologies, including the collection, Crone Rising. She is the co-author of the epistolary memoir, You Are Loved, with her partner, Mark Mathias.
She shares a home with Mark in the high desert of southern New Mexico where she continues her work as a life coach, and hosts a weekly public radio show, Live True, bringing insightful and engaging interviews to her listeners about living a creative life. Find out more about Lisa here.
Suzanne Simonetti is a USA Today bestselling author who grew up in the New York suburbs just outside of the city. After earning a BS in marketing, she spent several years writing press releases, until she left her corporate job to focus on her passion for crafting fiction. She lives on Cape May Harbor with her husband. When not on her paddle board or yoga mat, she can be found at the beach trailing the shoreline for seashells, scribbling in her notebook, and channeling dolphins for meaningful conversation. The Sound of Wings is her first book. Find out more about Suzanne here.
Meg Nocero is the award-winning author of the Butterflies & Bliss Trilogy: The Magical Guide to Bliss: Daily Keys to Unlock Your Dreams, Spirit & Inner Bliss is the book of insights that empowered and paved the way for her inspirational journey in Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. Her book of affirmations Sparkle & Shine: 108 M.A.N.T.R.A.s to Brighten Your Day and Lighten Your Way keeps the reader moving forward on their own hero’s journey through a meditative mantra practice to further come alive to the beauty of their life.
In addition to writing, Nocero is a TEDx inspirational speaker and a certified happiness coach. She has appeared on CNN Español, BookCon live, and podcasts and online media, such as MSNBC, CBS, Boston Herald, Chicago Tribune. She hosts a YouTube channel and a podcast called Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People and an IG Live called Amazing Authors. Nocero is a proud Italian-American who lives in Miami, Fl. with her husband, shelties and children. Visit her site for more information.
Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author, publisher, and founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. Her courses and training focus on author platform growth and fun, creative ways to market books. The membership program she created for authors, WIP School, focuses on mentoring and training authors through the process of growing their author businesses and developing savvy book marketers. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit, a conference and community dedicated to empowering and educating authors and professionals in the publishing industry. Alexa owns three hybrid publishing houses, Kat Biggie Press, Chrysalis Press, and Purple Butterfly Press. Learn more about Alexa’s work here and here.
Christine Kloser is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author and founder of the Get Your Book Done® program and podcast as well as the creator of the Transformational Author Experience®. An author coach since 2004, Christine’s programs have proved extremely successful, reaching 127 countries and impacting 90,000 authors from every walk of life. Hitting the Top 100 overall best-seller list on Amazon, she uses her expertise as an award-winning author and publisher to help others fulfill their call to write. https://getyourbookdone.com/about/. Christine is also the owner of Capucia Publishing https://www.capuciapublishing.com/. She is the editor of a new anthology launched in June 2022,"Turning Point Moments: True Inspirational Stories about Creating a Life that Works for You" Seeing a challenge through the prism of change is exactly how 41 authors from 8 countries have emerged stronger and happier from what could have been devastating circumstances. How they turned job loss into a new business, relationship betrayal into deeper self-love, adrenal collapse into renewed health, loss of a spouse into a hope filled future, and so much more. Find out more about Christine and her work here.
After twelve years in the jewelry business, Barbara finally surrendered to the muse, leaving the corporate world in order to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. She was born in New Jersey and grew up in Florida, but her work in the jewelry business led to a series of moves. She’s lived in Charleston, Raleigh, and Dover, New Hampshire, and loved them all, but she and her husband, Tom, recently built a new house in Florida, where they have returned for good.
When she’s not writing, Barbara is an avid reader, a lover of music, a devoted foodie, and a rabid college football fan. She also enjoys travel with her hubby. She is the author of eight bestselling women’s fiction novels, including her recently released The Keeper of Happy Endings. Her next book, The Echo of Old Books, releases in March of 2023. For more about Barbara’s books, you can visit her website at: www.barbaradavis-author.com or find her on Facebook: Barbara Davis, author of women’s fiction.
Barbara Linn Probst is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of contemporary women’s fiction. She lives on an historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton Award for Women’s Fiction and the Nautilus Book Award. The Sound Between the Notes was also the recipient of a Kirkus starred review and was selected as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has published nearly sixty essays on the craft of writing for sites such as Jane Friedman and Writer Unboxed, and gives frequent workshops and webinars for writing organizations and conferences. The Color of Ice is her third novel. Learn more on her here.
J.C. Sands grew up in rural North Florida where she cultivated a passion for writing. She is an author, freelance journalist, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcaster, and serves on several nonprofit boards.
Barbara Conrey is the USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, her debut, published on August 4, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Liza Fleissig represents her at the Liza Royce Agency. Her sophomore novel, My Secret to Keep, released on August 23, 2022.
Episode 59 - A Mother’s Journey with Maralee McLean - 2022-10-10
MARALEE MCLEAN is a child advocate, domestic violence expert, national professional speaker, and author of PROSECUTED BUT NOT SILENCED: Courtroom Reform for Sexually Abused Children. Maralee has written several articles for the ABA Child Law Journal, Women’s E-News, Ms. Magazine and many other publications on the problems of family courts not protecting abused children. Maralee is with Women’s Media Center (WMC), SheSourceExpert, NPEIV (National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence) and is with APB Speakers and RAINN speaker bureau, Child USA Ambassador, and the APSAC (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children) and the Executive Director MFB (Moms Fight Back). She speaks at conferences, law schools and is a spokesperson for protective mothers. Her passion for advocacy developed through living a mother’s worst nightmare. Fighting the system with body and soul, she gained the insight that this was not her nightmare alone. She organized a National Rally of Mothers at the Colorado State Capitol and has been involved in legislative work that spans over two decades. Passed Julie’s Law in Colorado named after her daughter HB21-1228. She testified before Congress to promote judicial accountability to better protect sexually abused children’s rights in our courts. Maralee’s story has been covered by many media outlets and internationally CNN and on Insider Exclusive Justice in America. Learn moree here.
Donation Support for Those Impacted by Hurricane Ian
We are not posting a Storyteller episode this week in support of all those who were so severely impacted by the hurricane. We are so grateful that we were spared and are horrified at all we see around us. If you are so moved, please consider a donation at one of the following:
Global Giving
World Central Kitchen
Direct Relief
Convoy of Hope
Florida Grassroots Hurricane Community Recovery Fund
Reyna Marder Gentin grew up in Great Neck, New York. She attended college and law school at Yale. For many years, she practiced as an appellate attorney with a public defender's office before turning to writing full time. Reyna has studied at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, and her work has been published widely online and in print. Her debut novel, Unreasonable Doubts, was named a finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award in 2019. Her first middle grade novel, My Name Is Layla, came out in January, 2021, and School Library Journal noted that "Layla's struggles at school and home are authentically depicted, and readers who face their own challenges will relate." Layla won the 2021 gold medal in the Moonbeam Children's Awards in pre-teen fiction. Reyna's latest novel, Both Are True, was published in October, 2021. Nicola Krauss, co-author of THE NANNY DIARIES, called Both Are True a "moving novel that examines what it means to start over – with surprising consequences." Reyna lives with her family in Scarsdale, New York. To learn more, please visit her site.
Mandy Haynes spent hours on barstools and riding in vans listening to outrageous tales from some of the best songwriters and storytellers in Nashville, Tennessee. She traded a stressful career as a pediatric cardiac sonographer for a happy one and now lives in Fernandina Beach, Florida with her three dogs, and one turtle. She is a contributing writer for Amelia Islander Magazine. She is the editor of one of the fasted growing, reader-focused, on-line magazines, Reading Nation Magazine. Mandy writes literary fiction with a southern drawl. She is the author of two award-winning short story collections, Walking the Wrong Way Home and Sharp as a Serpent’s Tooth Eva and Other Stories and she is the editor of the anthology, Works in Progress, and author of the novella, Oliver. As head of Three Dog Night Press, she leads a book publishing company. Find out more about Mandy here.
Episode 55 - A storyteller for storytellers with guest Kerry Anne King - 2022-09-12
Kerry Anne King is a firm believer in writing what she loves and has gleefully reveled in fantasy, paranormal mystery, magical realism, and women’s fiction (written as Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author Kerry Anne King). To date, she has published twelve books, and her work has been translated into four different languages.
Born and raised in Canada, Kerry has been successfully transplanted into US soil and has lived in Washington for twenty-five years. She earned a BA in English from York University in Toronto, and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Washington State University. She is a retired RN, a licensed mental health counselor, and a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach.
In addition to writing, Kerry is the founder of “Author Genie,” through which she provides writer mindset coaching, online classes, and virtual assistant services. She has also been active in the podcasting community and is currently the host of Taming the TBR. When not absorbed in creative pursuits, you’ll find Kerry hanging out with her real-life Viking on their little piece of heaven just outside Colville, Washington. Find out more about Kerry here.
Julie Blacklow is an Emmy award-winning journalist with more than 40 years in the television news business. Among the first generation of women in TV news in the United States, she encountered the entire spectrum of humanity from movie stars to murderers and everyday folks overcoming amazing challenges. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Blacklow migrated to Seattle in her early 20's, married to a man who wanted to escape his Jewish mother. Hers is a life writ large, a roller-coaster ride with a remarkable number of wonderful highs and terrifying lows. At the age of 60, she gradually left television and began managing a horse ranch, a dramatic change of careers where she learned animals are often far more sane than humans. She's owned 5 dogs, 4 cats, one horse, and a wonderful son, Jeremy. Her friends describe her as tenacious, decisive, bossy, opinionated, loving, loyal, and brave. Now 75 years old, she has started painting again...something she hadn't done in 50 years, started a podcast, published her first book, "Fearless: Diary of a Badass Reporter," and is starting to write her second book which she describes as a 'non-fiction novel.'
Find out more about Julie here.
Patricia Sands lives two hours north of Toronto, but her heart's other home is the South of France. An avid traveler, she spends part of each year on the Cote d'Azur and once a year co-leads a 16-women, 12-day tour of the Riviera and Provence. Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book club favorite. The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part Love in Provence series was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance.
Drawing Lessons, Sands’ fifth novel, also set in the south of France, was released by Lake Union Publishing in 2017 and was a Finalist in the Somerset Literary Book Award 2019. The Villa des Violettes miniseries released in 2019/20 and Book 4 is anticipated in 2023.
Her just released novel is The Secrets We Hide. She is also busy writing a novella, Lost At Sea, to be included in the nine-book Sail Away series that will publish in January 2023.
Find out more about Patricia here.
Laura is a teacher who loves to write about her home state of Michigan. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University where she studied under Stuart Dybek. Her multiple short fictions have been widely published as has her poetry. These works, in connection to her impressive number of combine into dually- demanding careers and a wealth of things to talk about. Her work has won numerous awards including an IPPY and an IAN.
When not writing, Laura enjoys musical theatre, hiking, swimming, reading and performing with her Celtic band. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and children as well as her dog, two hamsters, two gerbils, ten chickens, two horses and eight (and counting) cats. Find out more about Laura and her work here.
Stephanie Larkin is the founder and president of Red Penguin Books and Web Solutions. Her passion is helping people to “unleash their inner author” through book coaching and development.
An author herself, Stephanie has written Write That Book!, 365 Reasons to Celebrate! and SCORE with Social Media. She teaches courses ranging from small business management to sales and advertising in the Marketing Department at Nassau Community College, where she enjoys working with future entrepreneurs and marketing professionals. She is also the host of television’s The Author Corner, as well as two podcasts - Between the Covers and Once and Future Authors. Beginning next spring, she will also be the host of a new show—sponsored by the Ahmedabad Book Club in India—which will feature writers and book lovers from around the globe!
Stephanie's motto is: “Changing lives … one book at a time!”
Elizabeth Sumner Wafler is the author of four novels, each one in the evocative women’s fiction genre. She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association, where she previously served as Director of Craft Education. She also leads Evocative Publishing, LLC. She enjoys working with other writers through her editorial side hustle “Four Eyes Editorial.” Elizabeth lives with her husband and a pair of puppers in the sweet spot of South Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and some of the country's most beautiful beaches. She can be found working at her blue desk, at a farmer’s market in search of the perfect heirloom tomato, practicing yoga, or enjoying a pretty cocktail. Find our more about Elizabeth here.
Sharon Dukett is an award-winning author who has been a computer programmer, project manager, and deputy director in state government. In her memoir, No Rules, Sharon writes about her journey of awakening to feminism and discovering her own strength after running away from home to join the hippies in 1971. Sharon lives in central Connecticut with her husband, within driving distance of her three children and four grandchildren. She is currently seeking representation on a thriller about when climate, corruption, and betrayal converge as one woman struggles to find and rescue her husband who has disappeared after being arrested while protesting. Find out more about Sharon here.
Episode 48 - "Building People One Book at a Time" with Jennifer Milius - 2022-06-27
Episode 47 - There’s a lot about "Fake" with Erica Katz - 2022-06-20
Erica Katz is the pseudonym for a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Columbia Law School who began her career at a major Manhattan law firm. A native of Tenafly, New Jersey, she now lives in New York City, where she's employed at another large law firm. The Boys' Club was her first novel and Fake, released in February of ’22 is her second.
Leigh Newman grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and Baltimore, Maryland, traveling between the homes of her two parents. Her childhood and remote wilderness experiences were the basis of her award-winning memoir Still Points North. She received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1993 and her MFA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2006. Her newest collection Nobody Gets Out Alive is about women navigating the male-dominated wilds of Alaska. It was released by Scribner in April 2022 and includes stories that have appeared in the Paris Review, Harper’s, Best American Short Stories 2020, Tin House, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and Electric Literature. Her story “Howl Palace” was awarded both a Pushcart prize and an American Society of Magazine Editors’ fiction prize. In 2020, she received the Paris Review’s Terry Southern Prize for “humor, wit, and sprezzatura.”
Find out more Leigh here: Leigh Newman.
Episode 45 - “Hunting For Beauty” with Janyre Tromp - 2022-06-06
Janyre Tromp is a historical novelist whose loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of the just released Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas. She’s also a book editor, published children’s book author, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. Learn more about Janyre here.
Linda Ulleseit has an MFA in writing from Lindenwood University and is a member of the Hawaii Writers Guild, Women Writing the West, and Paper Lantern Writers. Linda is the award-winning author of two novels, Under the Almond Trees and The Aloha Spirit. Her books are the stories of women in her family who were extraordinary but unsung. She recently retired from teaching elementary school and now enjoys writing full time as well as cooking, leatherworking, reading, gardening, walking her dog, and spending time with her new grandson. Learn more about Linda here.
Margaret Lowman Ph.D., is known affectionately throughout the world as “Canopy Meg.” She is a global pioneer in forest canopy ecology. She is one of the world’s foremost “arbornauts” — someone who explores and studies the vast forest canopies that make up what Meg has termed the Earth’s “eighth continent.” A tireless educator, strong advocate for girls, women, and minorities in science, Meg has published numerous books, is a sustainability advisor, contributes to boards, and speaks widely and frequently to diverse groups, schools, and international symposiums and conferences. In her own words, Meg describes her passion for the treetops this way, "Saving trees and all that lives in them" is what causes me to leap out of bed each morning.” Meg is passionate about the opportunity to explore, research, and conserve global forests; mentor the next generation (especially women and minorities) in sustainability and forest stewardship; and educate diverse audiences through advising and storytelling. Learn more about Meg here.
Episode 42 - Changing the World and Sending Love One Book and Film at a Time” with Amy Ferris - 2022-05-16
Amy Ferris is an author, editor, screenwriter and playwright. Her screen adaptation of J. California Cooper's short story, Funny Valentines (Director: Julie Dash) was nominated for a Best Screenplay Award (BET, Black Reel). Her screen credits include the feature: Mr. Wonderful (Director: Anthony Minghella) and two TV series - Tattingers , (Tom Fontana/Bruce Paltrow - Producers/Directors - NBC) and Jack's Place (Scott Brazil, Director, Showrunner - CBS). Amy curated & edited two anthologies: Dancing at The Shame Prom (co-edited with Hollye Dexter), and Shades of Blue - Writers on Depression and Feeling Blue (both published by Seal Press) Shades of Blue went on the proverbial road, ala Vagina Monologues - hitting numerous cities and changing lives! And In 2012, Amy's memoir - Marrying George Clooney - was adapted into an Off-Broadway play. In 2018, Amy was honored with Women's eNews prestigious award 21 LEADERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. In 2020, Amy co-authored OLD SCHOOL LOVE (HarperCollin Publishers) with Rev Run of Run DMC fame. This year she was the recipient of NextTribe's award: 12 WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD IN 2021. Amy is currently co-director, along with Debra Engle, of the Story Summit Writer's School - founded in 2019 by David Kirkpatrick who was the head of Production at both Paramount Pictures and Disney Studio. Amy serves on a few boards, co-founded a literary Festival and is trying desperately to finish her next memoir, The Mess of Love for SheWritesPress, Pub Date:2023
Episode 41 - “Truth and Other Lies” with Maggie Smith - 2022-05-09
In a career that’s included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith now adds novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies. In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar, where she interviews debut authors about their novel and their path to publication and blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. A board member of the Chicago Writer’s Association, she’s Managing Editor of their Write City Magazine, and coordinator of Book Nook, which highlights Chicago-area independent bookstores. Find out more about Maggie here.
Episode 40 - “Filmmaker Turned Author – the Art of Satire” with Bonnè Bartron - 2022-05-02
Award winning screenwriter and director Bonné Bartron has always loved books, but it took a world-wide shut down for her to finally write one. WHISPERS, her debut novel, is a spine-tingling thriller with a sharp satirical edge told from the perspective of competent, diverse women.The darker side, of satirical humor, was the perfect genre for her own catharsis during a time where nothing made sense and conspiracies were competing for mainstream airtime. The most humorous moments live in the tension of fear, and Bartron serves both up in her debut novel.
Julia Brewer Daily is a Texan with a southern accent. She holds a B.S. in English and a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has been a Communications Adjunct Professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and Public Relations Director of the Mississippi Department of Education and Millsaps College, a liberal arts college in Jackson, MS. She was the founding director of the Greater Belhaven Market, a producers’ only market in a historic neighborhood in Jackson, and even shadowed Martha Stewart. As the Executive Director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi (300 artisans from 19 states) which operates the Mississippi Craft Center, she wrote their stories to introduce them to the public. She is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas, the Women Fiction Writers’ Association, the Pulpwood Queens Book Club, Writing the West, and the Women’s National Book Association.
Daily is an adopted child from a maternity home hospital in New Orleans. She searched and found her birth mother and through a DNA test, her birth father’s family, as well. A lifelong southerner, she now resides on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, with her husband Emmerson and Labrador retrievers, Memphis Belle and Texas Star. Find out more about Julia here.
Episode 38 - “This mom has time to…” with Zibby Owens - 2022-04-18
Jenn Bouchard's debut novel FIRST COURSE was published in 2021 by TouchPoint Press. It has been the recipient of nine awards and distinctions, most notably as a finalist in the Women's Fiction category of the American Fiction Awards and the Independent Author Network Awards. Her short stories have appeared in the Bookends Review, Litbreak Magazine, the Penmen Review, and the Little Patuxent Review, with an additional story forthcoming in MARY. She is currently seeking representation for her next novel, PALMS ON THE CAPE. Jenn lives in the Boston suburbs with her husband and two teenage children, and she has been a high school social studies teacher for twenty-two years. She is an avid cook and devoted Red Sox fan. Find out more about Jenn here.
Bette Lee Crosby is the USA Today bestselling author of twenty-four novels and recipient of over forty literary awards. Often hailed as a masterful storyteller, her novel Baby Girl was named Best Chick Lit of 2016 by Huffington Post and her 2019 release Emily, Gone won the International Book Award for Women’s Fiction. Her most recent release is The Fault Between Us a historical novel set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Crosby, a lover of small dogs and all things Southern, laughingly admits to being a night owl and a workaholic. She claims her guilty pleasure is late-night chats with fans and friends on Facebook. Find out more about Bette Lee here.
Episode 35 - So many books, such a great time! - 2022-03-28
Almost three million copies of Josie Brown’s novels are in readers’ hands. Josie is the author of the 21-novel Housewife Assassin’s Handbook series; the 8-novel Totlandia episodic series; the 3-novel Extracurricular episodic series; and the 2-novel True Hollywood Lies series; as well as The Candidate and The Baby Planner. Her novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for television. She also hosts the podcast “Author Provocateur” where you not only hear great episodes you get to be dazzled by Josie’s amazing, inviting voice! Find our more about Josie Brown here.
Jade was the 2019 Poet of the year, and Wilnona is Advocate Awarded. The Ladies are known for their quick wit, ability to laugh at themselves, and being pop poets. The duo have contributed writings to eleven books or what they call “literary life guides w/ pop poetry": The “And I Thought Series” the “Miss-Fit Guides.” Wilnona has two solo series, “Free Falling” and “Widow's Debt.” Jade and Wilnona are the Co-Founders of The Inspirational Women in Literature Media and Journalism Awards, The Thoughtful Book Festival, the 25 Hottest Authors Magazine & And I Thought Literary Magazine. They starred in the Reality TV Show “Just Writing Life” (about their lives as authors) and in the documentary “Create, Aspire and Inspire.” They have several podcast including “The Ladies Tales” podcast is their most inventive podcast to date. They co-hosted conferences on three continents. They have read poetry for loving fans in Australia, the U.K., Greece, Canada, by invitations by regional poet laureates, & at the U.K. literary book festival. Find out more about Wilnona and Jade here.
Karen E. Osborne’s novels followed a forty-year career, first as an academic administrator and then co-owner of The Osborne Group, serving as a consultant, trainer, and motivational speaker. She is the author of three suspense/women’s fiction novels. Getting It Right (Akashic Books) came out in June 2017. It was featured in Poets & Writers and Essence Magazine as a Best Read. Tangled Lies (Black Rose Writing) came out July 22, 2021. And Reckonings (Black Rose Writing) has a June 16, 2022, release date. Karen hosts on her website a weekly video podcast, “What Are Your Reading? What Are You Writing?” where she interviews authors, visual artists, and writer-musicians about their artistic journeys and book recommendations. Native New Yorker, Karen and her husband, Bob, have two grown children and three grandsons. They live in Port Saint Lucie, FL. Find out more about Karen here.
Episode 32 - Wit, Wisdom, and Writing - 2022-03-08
Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, and BOI (born on Galveston Island), Saralyn Richard, is a writer who teaches on the side. Before fulfilling her lifelong dream as an author, Saralyn worked in urban high schools as a teacher, administrator, and school improvement consultant. Saralyn's humor- and romance-tinged- mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about Saralyn here.
Episode 31 - Creating Mysteries and Community One Book at a Time - 2022-02-28
Award-winning mystery and children’s book author, and BOI (born on Galveston Island), Saralyn Richard, is a writer who teaches on the side. Before fulfilling her lifelong dream as an author, Saralyn worked in urban high schools as a teacher, administrator, and school improvement consultant. Saralyn's humor- and romance-tinged- mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about Saralyn here.
Episode 30 - Resilience Abounds with Award-Winning Author, Advocate, and Relationship Expert Julie Cantrell - 2022-02-21
Julie Cantrell is a multiple award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, editor, story coach, TEDx speaker, and ghostwriter. She served as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and has received the Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Arts Fellowship, the Rivendell Writer’s Colony Mary Elizabeth Nelson Fellowship, and the Pat Conroy Writer’s Residency Fellowship.
Episode 29 - Time-Travelling Paranormal Historical Fiction with Nola Nash - 2022-02-14
Episode 28 - Historical Fiction, Emotional Turmoil and Alpine Hut in Austria with Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger - 2022-02-07
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is a Ukrainian-American Minnesotan Austrian transplant. Born in 1969, she grew up in the culture-rich neighborhood of "Nordeast" Minneapolis. She started her writing career with short stories, travel narratives, worked as a journalist and managing magazine editor before jumping the desk and pursuing her own writing and traveling. In 2005, she debuted with a historical narrative based on her relatives' personal histories and experiences in Ukraine during WWII. After stints in Turkey and Poland, she moved to western Austria and established her own company. She writes historical fiction from her Alpine hut in Austria. The Reschen Valley series is based on the South Tyrolean-Italian conflict during the interwar period and was inspired by her travels to the Reschen Reservoir. Her collection of short stories, which "reads like a novel" won the silver medal in the IPPY Book Awards 2020. She is currently working on two more WW2 novels with Eastern Front settings, and the next book in the Reschen Valley series.
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is a historical fiction writer with a focus on political and social upheavals. Her series and standalone novels were sparked by travel and curiosity. She brings the stories to light that few readers have ever heard about. Her characters are thrown into moral dilemmas and emotional turmoil, her descriptive settings will put you smack dab into the world of her rich and complex characters. THE WOMAN AT THE GATES is a WW2 historical epic based on her family's experiences in WW2 Ukraine.
Find out more about Chrystyna at here.
Episode 27 - Little Satchmo: A Daughter’s Story with Sharon Preston-Folta - 2022-01-31
In addition to her AA from Westchester Community College and BA in Communication Arts from Iona College, Sharon’s love of cooking led her to attend the Institute of Culinary Education nights and weekends, where she earned two professional degrees; Culinary in 1999 and culinary Management in 2005. Sharon believes in giving back to the community and has used her cooking skills as a Chef Instructor in the Cooking Matters program. She's currently a Volunteer Programmer at WSLR 96.5 LP FM in Sarasota, Florida where she resides with her husband, Howard, a musician.
Learn more about Sharon and the documentary here.
Episode 26 - Brilliantly Disturbing Historical Fiction with Thea Sutton - 2022-01-24
Thea Sutton has a PhD in English literature with books and articles to her credit. She has worked in marketing and communications while dividing her time between Toronto and Southern California.
Episode 25 - The Book Queen Brings a Love of Books and Teas to the On-line World and Her Community - 2022-01-17
Michelle Burgess is passionate about books that “fuel the soul & mind.” She is the founder of “Book Queens” an online website dedicated to supplying books on African American culture. She is still solidly rooted in Oakland California, where she was born and raised. As a youngster, she read Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings the book that touched hearts worldwide, including hers. That was the jumping off point for a life-long relationship of intrigue and joy in the world of books. She also has an interesting relationship with tea and fine china that dates back to her grandmother. From books, to tea, to being the “Herbalist Queen,” Michelle presents you with remarkable books, custom-made teas, and a great book-buying experience. To learn more about Michelle and Book Queens go to www.bookqueens.com
Episode 24 - The Importance of what’s left untold with USA Today Bestselling Author Sherri Leimkuhler - 2022-01-10
Sherri Leimkuhler is the USA Bestselling Author of What's Left Untold. She has written professionally for more than twenty years but is a Jill of many trades, with experience in sales, marketing, public relations, event planning, aviation, and yoga instruction. Her health-and-fitness column, “For the Fun of Fit,” appeared bi-weekly in the Carroll County Times for a decade.
Episode 23 - Telling the Earth’s Story with Nobel Peace Prize Winner for Climate Change Professor Terry Root - 2022-01-03
Dr. Terry Root is an active conservator of the earth and all its species. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Report in 2007, resulting in Dr. Root being co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Vice President Al Gore. In addition to other honors, Root was awarded the “Spirit of Defenders Award for Science” by Defenders of Wildlife in 2010, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the conservation organization Point Blue. She served on the National Audubon Board of Directors from 2010 to 2019, currently serves on the board of Defenders of Wildlife, Birds Caribbean, and is on numerous science advisory boards, including the American Wind and Wildlife Institute.
Root earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of New Mexico, her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Colorado and her doctorate in Biology from Princeton University. She was a professor at the University of Michigan for 15 years, and then at Stanford University for 15 years where she still serves as Professor Emerita. She joins us at the microphone from her home in Sarasota, FL. You can contact Dr. Root here.
Episode 22 - A Natural Event with Supernatural Repercussions with Robert Gwaltney - 2021-12-27
Robert Gwaltney, an author of Southern fiction, resides in Atlanta Georgia, where he is an active member of the local literary community and serves as Fiction Editor for The Blue Mountain Review. By day he helps leads a national non-profit. By night he is author, author-supporter, and a bit of a Facebook maverick. His debut novel, The Cicada Tree, will be released by Moonshine Cove Publishing, February 25, 2022. To learn more about Robert visit his website.
A Canadian by birth, a high school dropout, and a mother at 17, Lily Iona MacKenzie supported herself as a stock girl and a cocktail waitress. She briefly broke into the male-dominated world of the docks as a longshoreman, where she almost got her legs broken. She founded and managed a homeless shelter; co-created “The Story Shoppe,” a weekly radio program for children; and eventually earned two Master’s degrees (one in Creative writing and one in the Humanities).In addition to publishing her poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction., she has published four novels, Fling!, Freefall: A Divine Comedy, Curva Peligrosa and the just released sequel to Freefall, The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up. Ms. MacKenzie currently teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning. You can find her blog here.
Episode 20 - Folklore Inspired Fiction Emanates From a "She-Shed" in Virginia with Meredith Stoddard - 2021-12-13
Meredith R. Stoddard writes folklore-inspired fiction from her writing shed in Virginia. She studied literature and folklore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before working as a corporate trainer and instructional designer. Her love of storytelling is inspired by years spent listening to stories at her grandmother’s kitchen table. She also advocates for the preservation of traditional fiber arts and the Scottish Gaelic language. Find out more about Meredith here and follow her on Instagram here.
Episode 19 - Bookish Broads: Women Who Wrote Themselves Into History with Lauren Marino - 2021-12-06
Lauren Marino is a writer and longtime publishing executive. Prior to her current roles as Executive Editor at Hachette Books she was VP, Editorial Director of Gotham Books, where she was the founding editor in 2001, publishing multiple bestsellers and award-winning books. She is the author of What Would Dolly Do? How to Be a Diamond in a Rhinestone World and Jackie and Cassini: A Fashion Love Affair, and has collaborated with celebrities, doctors, entrepreneurs, and psychologists. She is a lifetime book lover and reader and lives in New York City. Learn more about Lauren here.
Episode 18 - Feeding A Fiction Addiction with Isla Morley - 2021-11- 29
Isla Morley grew up in South Africa during apartheid, the child of a British father and fourth-generation South African mother. In 1994 she was one of the youngest magazine editors in South Africa, but left career, country and kin when she married an American and moved to California. "The Last Blue", her third novel, was selected by the Southern Fiction Review of Books as a “must-read” Best Book of May 2020. It has been translated into French. Her debut novel, "Come Sunday", was awarded Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction, was a finalist for the Commonwealth Prize, and was long-listed for The Sunday Times award. It has been translated into seven languages. "Above" was chosen as a Best Buzz Books 2014 by Publishers Lunch and was an IndieNext must-read. She has lived in some of the most culturally diverse places of the world, including Cape Town, London and Honolulu. Now in the Los Angeles area, she shares a home with her husband, their daughter and a menagerie of pets. Learn more about Isla here.
Episode 17 - A Peripatetic Lifestyle Leads to Creative Storytelling with Susan Sammon - 2021-11-22
Susan Sammon has been a television studio manager, a food PR executive, environmental scuba diver, alternative educator and small business owner. As a result of her various jobs and interests, she has visited nearly 100 countries, touching down on all seven continents. Traveling for work and pleasure to exotic destinations, Susan had a unique opportunity to develop her image-making skills, which she honed using her iPhone camera.
Susan is co-author, along with her photographer husband Rick, of 10 books. Her most recent titles, The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip (2019) and The Route 66 Photo Road Trip (2018) are published by Countryman Press. Currently, Susan is curating her images for a photo note card collection and teaching iPhone photography to local community groups. While the pandemic has curtailed her international travel, it has also nurtured explorations of surprising destinations closer to home. Susan lives with her husband in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley.
In addition to her work in iPhonography, Susan enjoys hiking, gardening and reading. She credits an early book, James Michener’s, The Drifters, which she read as a young woman while commuting to a job in New York City, as awakening her desire to visit foreign lands. Great storytelling has always been an important influence in Susan’s life. She now uses her iPhone photos as her own storytelling medium, featuring the places and people she has encountered in her travels.
Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell is a native New Yorker now living in Washington, DC. She is the only child and perfect blend of her mother, a registered nurse and her father, a classical violinist. Dr. Barnwell studied violin beginning at age 2 ½, and majored in music through high school. With this background, she went on to earn the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology (SUNY, Geneseo, 1967, 1968), Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (University of Pittsburgh, 1975), and a Master of Science in Public Health (Howard University, 1981). In 1998, Dr. Barnwell was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by her alma mater, SUNY Geneseo. She recently received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL (2009) and the Virginia Theological Seminary (2011). For over a decade, Dr. Barnwell was a professor at the College of Dentistry at Howard University, after which she conducted community-based projects in computer technology and the arts, and administered health programs at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center and at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Dr. Barnwell joined the accapella musical group “Sweet Honey In The Rock"® in 1979 and her training as a Sign Language Interpreter, led her to facilitate the group’s tradition of including a Sign Language Interpreter in the ensemble. After 34 years Barnwell retired from “Sweet Honey In The Rock"® to pursue her other interests. Learn more about Dr. Barnwell here.
Episode 15 - From Journalist to Novelist with Christina Hoag - 2021-11-10
Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell is a native New Yorker now living in Washington, DC. She is the only child and perfect blend of her mother, a registered nurse and her father, a classical violinist. Dr. Barnwell studied violin beginning at age 2 ½, and majored in music through high school. With this background, she went on to earn the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology (SUNY, Geneseo, 1967, 1968), Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (University of Pittsburgh, 1975), and a Master of Science in Public Health (Howard University, 1981). In 1998, Dr. Barnwell was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by her alma mater, SUNY Geneseo. She recently received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL (2009) and the Virginia Theological Seminary (2011). For over a decade, Dr. Barnwell was a professor at the College of Dentistry at Howard University, after which she conducted community-based projects in computer technology and the arts, and administered health programs at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center and at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. Dr. Barnwell joined the accapella musical group “Sweet Honey In The Rock"® in 1979 and her training as a Sign Language Interpreter, led her to facilitate the group’s tradition of including a Sign Language Interpreter in the ensemble. After 34 years Barnwell retired from “Sweet Honey In The Rock"® to pursue her other interests. Learn more about Dr. Barnwell here.
Episode 14 - Behind the Lens with Jeanne Sacken - 2021-11-02
A former English professor, Jeannee Sacken is a photojournalist who travels extensively in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, documenting the lives of women and children. She also presents the series, "Journeys to the Ends of the Earth," at schools and libraries. She recently published her first novel, suspenseful women's fiction, Behind The Lens, featuring Annie Hawkins Green, a war photographer armed with a camera. Jeannee lives with her husband and three cats in Milwaukee, WI, where she's working on the sequel to Behind The Lens. In her spare time, she enjoys adventure travel. Find out more about Jeannee here.
Episode 13 - Awakening a Love for Historical Fiction with Libby McNamee - 2021-10-26
Libby McNamee is an author, lawyer, and US Army Veteran. Her second novel, Dolley Madison and the War of 1812 published in August on the 207th anniversary of the burning of Washington City. Her first, Susanna’s Midnight Ride: The Girl Who Won the Revolutionary War was named #1 in Juvenile Fiction by the Independent Publisher Book Awards and Pinnacle Book Awards, and Finalist in Historical Fiction by the Best Book Awards. The Virginia General Assembly created “Susanna Bolling Day” to be held December 5th each year based upon Libby’s research. A native of Boston, Libby graduated from Georgetown University and Catholic University School of Law. She also served as an Army JAG Officer in Korea, Bosnia, Germany, and Washington State. Libby lives in Richmond, VA, with her patient husband and high school son who loves history most of all. Find out more about Libby here.
Episode 12 - Sixty Years of Telling America's Story with news anchor Linda Carson - 2021-10-19
Linda Carson is currently a Co-Host of the “Suncoast View” daily TV show, ABC 7 out of Sarasota/Bradenton Florida. She recently celebrated her 26th anniversary at the station. During this time, she has also been an Anchor and a reporter. Her notable career included events that focused a nation. She was in the classroom with President George Bush, at Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, on September 11th 2001 when he received news of the terrorists' strikes on the Pentagon. Over her nearly six decades of involvement in television, she has covered natural and human tragedies. She is an award-winning journalist, and is noted for a series she did on serial killer Danny Rolling. That endeavor included interviews with Danny on Death Row, and bearing witness to, and reporting on, his execution.
Linda has been telling America’s stories, in nine different states and multiple stations since the 1960’s. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, GA. She began working as a Promotion Writer at WAGA - TV in Atlanta, and then went on the air as the Weather Caster at Channel 11 before becoming a reporter, and anchor.
She met her husband, Bud Carson, who was the Head Coach at Georgia Tech on an interview. That romance and marriage involved moves and job changes for Linda as Bud became Defensive Co-Ordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by Bud’s joining the Rams in Los Angeles, and so on. Linda followed Bud, and built an amazing career as an on-air personality in news and sports in Baltimore, Kansas City, Hartford, Conn., Cleveland and Philadelphia and now on Florida’s Cultural Coast, in Sarasota. Bud died in 2005. Together he and Linda have a family legacy of 4 children, six grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Linda is a strong community supporter having served on the Boards of Directors for Circus Arts Conservatory, The American Cancer Society, and the Alzheimer's Association. She has a passion for sailing, and for many years sailed a pram with the Luffing Lassies at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Linda is also a lover of books and currently hosts a twice weekly, on-air, book club for Suncoast News, and Facebook followers.
Episode 11 - Strong Collaborative Women - A Different Type of Story with Lainey Cameron - 2021-10-11
Lainey Cameron is a digital nomad and author of women’s fiction. A recovering tech industry executive, her award-winning novel, The Exit Strategy, was inspired by a decade of being the only woman in the corporate boardroom. It’s been called a “rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together” and tells the story of a Silicon Valley investor who first meets her husband’s mistress across the negotiating table.
A digital nomad—meaning she picks locations around the world to live (and write) for months at a time—Lainey is an avid Instagrammer, and loves to share her travel tips and insights with readers.
She’s the founder and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction interview series and podcast, proud member and volunteer with Women’s Fiction Writers Association, believes community makes the author's life worthwhile, and is on a mission to obliterate the term aspiring writer.
Originally from Scotland, Lainey has a soft spot for kilts and good malt whisky, and when she’s not writing (or reading), you’ll find her hunting down new single malts, checking out rooftop bars, and when possible, hanging out with anything equine (donkeys rock!).
Episode 10 - Historical Fiction Tells Our Stories with Michele Cox - 2021-10-04
Michelle Cox is the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have won over 50 international awards and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Elle, Redbook, Brit&Co., Popsugar, Buzzfeed, and many others.
Mary Helen Sheriff is the author of the award-winning southern women’s fiction, Boop and Eve’s Road Trip. She serves as the CEO of Bookish Road Trip and a blogger at “...the gift of story.” After 14 years teaching elementary school, middle school, college, and professionals, Mary has taken a break from the classroom to focus on writing. She has an MFA from Hollins University, an MA from Old Dominion University, and a BA from UVA. She is an entrepreneur and an adventure. She lives in Henrico County, Virginia with her two children, two cats, and one husband.
Episode 8 - Novels With a Southern Flair and a Powerful Message - Claire Fullerton - 2021-09-20
Claire Fullerton has always known she’s a storyteller. She was born in Wayzata, Minnesota (the homeland of her father) and transplanted at the age of ten to Memphis, Tennessee (the homeland of her mother). She learned early that the art of observation can be an acclimating lifesaver. Her mother told her that as a child, she would sit and watch people. Claire was thirty years old the first time her mother said this, then her mother added: "You still do.” It is what is known as “the writer’s eye,” the ability to see the world from the outside in. If that is true, Claire admits, she is happily guilty.
Claire currently lives in Malibu, California, but will always consider herself a Southerner: a card-carrying member of the last romantic culture on earth. She found her niche in music radio as a member of the on-air staff of five different stations, during a nine-year career. Three weeks after her return to the United States from a year-long trip to Ireland, she reviewed the journal she kept while living abroad and knew then that she had a good story to tell. Today, she is the author of eight traditionally published books and multiple essays. Claire is a much sought-after speaker and radio guest with a strong voice for women’s fiction and the voice of the American South.
Episode 7 - A Visit With The Pulpwood Queen - Kathy L. Murphy - 2021-09-13
Kathy L. Murphy is an artist, author, and creative business woman. She is the CEO & Founder of “The International Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation.” This is the largest "meeting and discussing" book club in the world! “Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys” was started on January 18, 2000 and is celebrating nearly 21 years of bringing readers and authors together in conversation. With almost daily activities, interviews, and bookish-wisdom on FaceBook, Kathy’s organization also hosts an annual convention held always over the Martin Luther King Week in January called “The International Book Club Convention.” In addition, she, along with Mandy Hayes, publishes the monthly “Reading Nation” magazine. This is a new publication and, at last check, had nearly 32,000 readers!
Kathy’s first book was "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life." For the book’s 20th Anniversary, she debuted her second book, "The Pulpwood Queen Celebrates 20 Years" edited by Susan Cushman and published by Brother Mockingbird. Kathy is currently working on the sequel to her first book's memoir to be called "The Pulpwood Queen Goes Back to School". Kathy is a tiara wearing, dedicated and prolific artist, supporter of authors, storyteller, and creative spirit. She readily shares that books both saved and shaped her life. Kathy joins us today from her cabin in the Texas woods called “Murphy’s Law.”
Episode 6 - A Tribute to the Spunky Old Broad - Dr. Gayle Carson - 2021-09-06
To know Dr. Gayle Carson is to be inspired and empowered by a force of nature. Immediately after college, Gayle moved to Miami and landed a job in just two weeks. One year later, she bought the business and proceeded to diversify its sales base from one to seven divisions. The company eventually became the largest independent organization in the industry. As CEO, Gayle managed a diverse staff of over 350 people, graduated more than a million students from her training programs, and personally managed the company’s complex payroll. While serving as CEO of her business, she received her Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Gayle has been selected as a “Legend of the Speaking Profession.” She currently hosts over a dozen radio shows per month and is the founder of the sobradionetwork.com. Gayle is also the only woman in the world who has a Doctorate, is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), CMC (Certified Management Consultant) and an FIMC (Fellow to the Institute of Management Consultants). Gayle is a driven business woman. She is also driven to leave a legacy and does this through providing strong mentoring programs and tools that empower women to succeed at whatever their craft and destiny has in store for them. Her just mentioned SOB radio network is named after her own moniker, the Spunky Old Broad.
Barbara Conrey is the USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, published on August 4th, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Nowhere Near Goodbye is Barbara Conrey’s debut novel.Previously, Barbara worked in the health care industry before opting for an early retirement, which lasted all of three months. She then accepted a finance position, for which she had absolutely no background, and four years later, she decided to write a book. But not about finance.
Travel is her passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Her greatest love is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. There are stories to be told about beagles, and Barbara hopes to incorporate some of them into her books.
Barbara lives in Pennsylvania, close to family and friends.Episode 4 - The Flavor of France, Friendship, and Fiction - Patricia Sands - 2021-08-23
Patricia Sands lives two hours north of Toronto, but her heart's other home is the South of France. An avid traveler, she spends part of each year on the Cote d'Azur. Once a year, she co-leads a 16-women, 12-day tour of the Riviera and Provence. Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book club favorite. The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part “Love in Provence” series was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance. Drawing Lessons, Sands’ fifth novel, also set in the south of France, was released by Lake Union Publishing in 2017 and was a Finalist in the Somerset Literary Book Award 2019. The “Villa des Violettes” miniseries released in 2019/20 and Book 4 is anticipated in 2021.
Leslie Lehr is the prize-winning author of seven books, the Novel Consultant for Truby’s Writers Studio, and an essayist for The New York Times “Modern Love” column. After being size AA to DDDD, through breast envy, breastfeeding, breast implants, and breast cancer, she realized she’s obsessed with breasts. Turns out, she’s not alone.
Sandell Morse is the prize-winning author of the memoir, The Spiral Shell, A French Village Reveals Its Secrets of Jewish Resistance in World War II (Schaffner Press, April 2020). Morse’s nonfiction has been noted in The Best American Essays series and published in Creative Nonfiction, Ploughshares, the New England Review, Fourth Genre ASCENT, Solstice, and Tiferet among others. The Spiral Shell is a Silver Medal winner in the Story Circle Women’s Book Awards, 2020.
Linda Rosen’s books are set in the “not-too-distant past” and examine how women reinvent themselves despite obstacles thrown their way. A central theme is that blood is not all that makes a family– and they always feature a piece of jewelry! Her debut novel, The Disharmony of Silence, released in March 2020 and her sophomore novel, Sisters of the Vine, one year later, from Black Rose Writing. Linda was a contributor to Women in the Literary Landscape: A WNBA Centennial Publication for the Women's National Book Association and has had stories published in online magazines and print anthologies. She is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and the Women’s National Book Association where she is Selections Coordinator of the Great Group Reads committee which curates a list, published annually, of novels and memoirs perfect for book clubs.
Dionne Ford is the author of the memoir Go Back and Get It and co-editor of the anthology Slavery's Descendants: Shared Legacies of Race and Reconciliation. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, LitHub, New Jersey Monthly, Rumpus, and Ebony among other publications, and won awards from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Newswomen's Club of New York. In 2018, she received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Creative Writing.
Grants from the Sustainable Arts Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Hedgebrook and The Cabins at MarthaMOCA have also supported her work. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and a BA from Fordham University where she teaches creative writing.
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Grants from the Sustainable Arts Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Hedgebrook and The Cabins at MarthaMOCA have also supported her work. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University and a BA from Fordham University where she teaches creative writing.
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Annie McDonnell is a lifelong reader and advocate for writers and books. In 2006, Annie won a contest with Elle and became a book reviewer for the magazine. When Elle stopped running book reviews in print, Annie moved to blogging, the creation of The Write Review Facebook community, live author interviews and events, and the World of the Write Review Book Club. In addition, Annie writes a column in the formidable literary journal “Well Read Magazine” called “Annie’s Antics.”
Annie’s debut book, Annie’s Song: Dandelions, Dreams & Dogs, debuted in March of this year. It is an experiential, cross-genre book of essays and poems.
In December 2020, Annie was the recipient of the Doug Marlette Award for lifetime achievement in book promotion.
She volunteers at One Love Dog Rescue as much as possible and supports literacy through book drives and Operation Paperback. Annie lives in Mastic, NY, with her husband, three beautiful dogs, and five adorable cats.
Annie’s debut book, Annie’s Song: Dandelions, Dreams & Dogs, debuted in March of this year. It is an experiential, cross-genre book of essays and poems.
In December 2020, Annie was the recipient of the Doug Marlette Award for lifetime achievement in book promotion.
She volunteers at One Love Dog Rescue as much as possible and supports literacy through book drives and Operation Paperback. Annie lives in Mastic, NY, with her husband, three beautiful dogs, and five adorable cats.
Beginning her career at the William Morris Agency, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas rose in spite of the boys club of the late 1980’s to become one of the top agents in the entertainment industry, guiding the careers of actors such as JULIA ROBERTS, JENNIFER LOPEZ, NICHOLAS CAGE, TIM ROBBINS, MADONNA, SUSAN SARANDON, GEENA DAVIS, PATRICK DEMPSEY, JENNIFER CONNELLY, ANDIE MACDOWELL, MATT DILLON, and working with filmmakers such as, JOHN HUGHES, ROBERT ALTMAN, JONATHAN LYNN, ROGER MICHELE, CURTIS HANSON, DARREN STAR, SPIKE LEE among many others. She left agenting in 2000 and became a studio head and later a writer and producer overseeing, and or producing such successful films as 13 GOING ON 30, MAID IN MANHATTAN, BLACK HAWK DOWN, MONA LISA SMILE, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, PERFECT STRANGER, KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL, LITTLE BLACK BOOK, BANDSLAM, THE BOY NEXT DOOR, KIDNAP, SECOND ACT, HUSTLERS, MARRY ME, SHOTGUN WEDDING and the upcoming films, THE MOTHER due out May 2023 and ATLAS due out 2024, along with several highly acclaimed and award-winning television series such as THE FOSTERS, GOOD TROUBLE, SHADES OF BLUE, EXTANT, POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, EMILY IN PARIS, and WORLD OF DANCE.
She is JENNIFER LOPEZ’S producing partner overseeing a diverse slate of films and television projects servicing their groundbreaking overall deal at NETFLIX.
Episode 88 - Meryl Ain and The Shadows We Carry - 2023-05-08
Meryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her new novel, Shadows We Carry is the sequel to The Takeaway Men, her award-winning debut novel, which was published in 2020. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications and she is the author of two nonfiction books. A member of The International Advisory Board for Holocaust Survivor Day, she is the host of the podcast “People of the Book”, and the founder of the Facebook group “Jews Love To Read!” She holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Columbia University, and a doctorate in education from Hofstra University. She and her husband, Stewart, a journalist, live in New York. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.
Katie Rountree is a former radio personality and TV weather anchor for the NBC station. Currently, she does voice-over recording for companies all over the world. She is the Director of Development for Performance Santa Fe. In 2012 she co-founded 100 Women Who Care in Santa Fe. She is also the co-founder of Santa Fe Women to Women, through which she and her business partner Jody Feagan produce monthly luncheons, weekend writers’ workshops, podcasts, and an annual conference meant to inspire, enrich, entertain, and connect women in Santa Fe and throughout the world. She is the mother of two and lives in Santa Fe, NM with her husband and dog, Scout.
Jody Feagan is the co-founder of 100 Women Who Care in both Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where the two combined have raised nearly 1 million dollars for local non-profits. Jody is the founder and former director of the San Miguel Writers Conference & Literary Festival in San Miguel de Allende. Since 2004, she has co-produced dozens of WOOW writing workshops with her business partner throughout the US and Mexico. Jody currently works as Project Manager and is the Director of Women’s Initiatives for an ex-pat consulting company, helping women live their best lives possible, wherever in the world that may be. She’s the mother of three and a new grandmother.
Katie Rountree is a former radio personality and TV weather anchor for the NBC station. Currently, she does voice-over recording for companies all over the world. She is the Director of Development for Performance Santa Fe. In 2012 she co-founded 100 Women Who Care in Santa Fe. She is also the co-founder of Santa Fe Women to Women, through which she and her business partner Jody Feagan produce monthly luncheons, weekend writers’ workshops, podcasts, and an annual conference meant to inspire, enrich, entertain, and connect women in Santa Fe and throughout the world. She is the mother of two and lives in Santa Fe, NM with her husband and dog, Scout.
Jody Feagan is the co-founder of 100 Women Who Care in both Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where the two combined have raised nearly 1 million dollars for local non-profits. Jody is the founder and former director of the San Miguel Writers Conference & Literary Festival in San Miguel de Allende. Since 2004, she has co-produced dozens of WOOW writing workshops with her business partner throughout the US and Mexico. Jody currently works as Project Manager and is the Director of Women’s Initiatives for an ex-pat consulting company, helping women live their best lives possible, wherever in the world that may be. She’s the mother of three and a new grandmother.
Episode 85 - Jeff Arch: Screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle, Novelist of Attachments, Human - 2023-04-17
Jeff has taught master classes and seminars at film festivals, screenwriting conferences, and solo presentations in the U.S., England, Finland, Sweden, Chile, and Australia. He is currently a board member of The Story Summit, an organization for writers, with two annual conferences and an online Story School.
“Attachments” is Jeff’s first novel. He is currently working on “Tiny Houses,” a romantic comedy series for television, about a ghostwriter and her childhood sweetheart, whose heart she can’t seem to keep from breaking.
Episode 84 - Beth Broday Executive Producer, Pioneer of Music Television, Mentor, and Memoirist - 2023-04-10
Widely known as a pioneer of music television, Ms. Broday was the founder of two of the first, top-tier international music video production companies providing a decade of content to MTV in its early years.
Ms. Broday has produced and directed award-winning TV specials, and original web series for artists such as STING, Yanni, and Alanis Morissette.
A-list client roster includes Disney, CBS, FOX, IPG, Warner Horizon, PBS, MTV, FuseTV, A&E Networks, Televisa, Turner, Comcast, Nickelodeon, VH1, MSN, AOL, Maker Studios, Warner Records, and Interscope Records/Universal. Artist clients include (partial list) PRINCE, STING, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Cindy Lauper, Barry Gordy, Alanis Morissette, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jane Fonda.
Marta Kauffman is an American television writer and producer. She is best known as the co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends and as the creator of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie but her credits and awards fill pages. From creator to documentarian of Seeing Allred, Kauffman is a Hollywood legend.
Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and Spark Press, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press. She currently sits on the boards of the Book Industry Study Group, the Bay Area Book Festival, and the National Association of Memoir Writers. She writes a monthly column for Publishers Weekly.
Jocelyn has been an in-demand acting teacher for over thirty years. From A-list movie stars to hand-picked beginners, Ms. Jones is known for offering insights and techniques that enhance an actor’s confidence, guide them to their own unique perspective, and consistently provide them with inspirational results.
Known as a “secret weapon” to some of the biggest movie stars in the industry, Ms. Jones has also served as a confidential Creative Consultant, working on some of the highest-grossing pictures of all time.
From advising stars on which projects to choose, to private coaching, rewriting, and developing future projects, Ms. Jones’ work as a private consultant is considered an invaluable asset by many. Learn more about Jocelyn here.
Known as a “secret weapon” to some of the biggest movie stars in the industry, Ms. Jones has also served as a confidential Creative Consultant, working on some of the highest-grossing pictures of all time.
From advising stars on which projects to choose, to private coaching, rewriting, and developing future projects, Ms. Jones’ work as a private consultant is considered an invaluable asset by many. Learn more about Jocelyn here.
Landis is a recovering trial lawyer turned author turned host of the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast (where he has conducted more than 300 author interviews), whose third book—The Christmas Redemption—won the Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, and whose recent novel, Deadly Declarations, received praise by Kirkus Reviews, BookLife Reviews and Midwest Book Reviews, and was named a Finalist in the Thriller/Adventure category of the 2022 International Book Awards. He won the 2016 North Carolina State Bar short story contest for The Deliberation and received various awards for non-fiction pieces by the Charlotte Writers’ Club and the Pamlico Writers’ Group. His short work has appeared in Writersdigest.com, The Charlotte Observer, News and Observer, Flying South, Fiction on the Web, and in anthologies published by High Country Writers and the Daniel Boone Footsteps Personal Story Publishing Project. He’s a past board member of Charlotte Writers Club, has taught courses on podcasting, audiobooks, book marketing, and writing, and has been active in the Charlotte and North Carolina writing communities. Follow Landis on his Author Facebook Page and learn more here.
Lisa Williamson Rosenberg is an author and psychotherapist specializing in developmental trauma and racial identity. She is also a former ballet dancer with the Pacific Northwest and Pennsylvania Ballet companies. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Lisa’s short fiction has appeared in Literary Mama and The Piltdown Review; essays in Lithub, Longreads, Narrative.ly, The Common, Grok Nation, Oldster, and Mamalode. Lisa’s debut novel, EMBERS ON THE WIND, about an Underground Railroad safehouse turned 21st Century Airbnb, was released on August 1, 2022 by Little A Books. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Lisa now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and dog. Lisa is the mother of two college kids. Find out more about Lisa here.
Anna Quinn is the author of The Night Child, (Blackstone) listed as #1 Best Real Psychological Fiction on Goodreads, and Ingram’s 2018 Best Book Club Book. Her second novel, Angeline, (Blackstone) will be released Feb 7th, 2023. Quinn’s writing has also appeared in Psychology Today, Writer’s Digest, Washington 129 Anthology, and Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19. She is the founder of The Writers’ Workshoppe in Port Townsend, WA., and has thirty years of experience teaching and leading writing workshops across the country. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, biking or hiking somewhere on this beautiful planet. To learn more about Anna explore here.
Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. To learn more about Michelle and her books click here.
Georgia Court retired from teaching English Composition and Writing for HealthCare at the University of Cincinnati. Her career path included writing about healthcare for the Cincinnati Post (a
daily newspaper), publishing a weekly newspaper for healthcare professionals, owning a PR-event management company and working as a systems engineer for IBM (go figure). She moved to
Sarasota in 2009 and opened Bookstore1Sarasota in March 2011. Find out more about Bookstore1 here.
Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. She is the founder of Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. The three divisions include Zibby Books, a publishing house for fiction and memoir, Zcast, a podcast network powered by Acast including Zibby’s award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and Moms Don’t Have Time To, a new content and community site including Zibby’s Virtual Book Club, events, and the former Moms Don’t Have Time to Write.
Zibby is a regular columnist for Good Morning America and a frequent guest on morning news shows recommending books. Editor of two anthologies (Moms Don’t Have Time to Have Kids and Moms Don’t Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology), a children’s book Princess Charming, and now a memoir Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, Zibby loves to write. She regularly pens personal essays, starting with her first one in Seventeen magazine in 1992. Zibby lives in New York with her husband, Kyle Owens of Morning Moon Productions, and her four children. For more information, visit her website and follow her on Instagram @zibbyowens.
Episode 74 - Leslie Rasmussen and What Happens After Happily Ever After - 2023-01-30Leslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, she attained a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and MariaShriver, and spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife. Leslie is a member of The Writers Guild of America, as well as Women In Film and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. In her free time, Leslie loves to read, exercise, and hang out with friends. She lives in Los Angeles and is married and has two sons.
Everything started in 5th grade when Hallie Balogh and Auttie Grace first met. They quickly became known for always being together. You never only saw one of them. That 5th grade school year didn’t only spark their friendship, but it set the foundation of the Auttie and Hallie writing power duo. From 5th grade and all through middle school, they spent their lunches, free time, etc. writing stories together. Once Covid-19 hit, they took it as an advantage to write their first novel, Empire: To Earth and Back. Honestly, it started as a joke, but here they are, two teenagers with a published YA sci-fi adventure novel and many more to come. As young teenage girls, they want to inspire others that no dream is “too big” when you’re passionate about something.
CAROL VAN DEN HENDE is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her novels Orchid Blooming and Goodbye, Orchid series are inspired by wounded veterans and have won 20+ literary awards, including the American Fiction Award, IAN Outstanding Fiction First Novel Award, and 2020 Royal Dragonfly for Disability Awareness. Buzzfeed, Parade, and Travel+Leisure named “heartwarming, heartbreaking” Goodbye, Orchid a most anticipated read. Glamour Magazine recommended this “modern, important take on the power of love.” The International Pulpwood Queens, selected Goodbye, Orchid as a 2022 Bonus Book-of-the-Month. Carol’s mission is unlocking optimism as a writer, speaker, strategist, Board member and Climate Reality Leader. One secret to her good fortune? Her humorous husband and teenaged twins, who prove that love really does conquer all. Find out more about Carol here.
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 here.
Lisa Lucca is the author of the award-winning memoir, Ashes to Ink, released in October 2021, a story of forgiveness that shines a light on the challenges of living true to who we are. She was recently awarded the 2022 Literary Legacy Award from El Paso Community College and named an Outstanding Woman of Mesilla Valley for her contributions to the Borderland community in literature and media. Lisa was a #Blogher Voice of the Year Honoree and her work has been published in several anthologies, including the collection, Crone Rising. She is the co-author of the epistolary memoir, You Are Loved, with her partner, Mark Mathias.
She shares a home with Mark in the high desert of southern New Mexico where she continues her work as a life coach, and hosts a weekly public radio show, Live True, bringing insightful and engaging interviews to her listeners about living a creative life. Find out more about Lisa here.
In addition to writing, Nocero is a TEDx inspirational speaker and a certified happiness coach. She has appeared on CNN Español, BookCon live, and podcasts and online media, such as MSNBC, CBS, Boston Herald, Chicago Tribune. She hosts a YouTube channel and a podcast called Manifesting with Meg: Conversations with Extraordinary People and an IG Live called Amazing Authors. Nocero is a proud Italian-American who lives in Miami, Fl. with her husband, shelties and children. Visit her site for more information.
When she’s not writing, Barbara is an avid reader, a lover of music, a devoted foodie, and a rabid college football fan. She also enjoys travel with her hubby. She is the author of eight bestselling women’s fiction novels, including her recently released The Keeper of Happy Endings. Her next book, The Echo of Old Books, releases in March of 2023. For more about Barbara’s books, you can visit her website at: www.barbaradavis-author.com or find her on Facebook: Barbara Davis, author of women’s fiction.
Claire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years, writing features for women’s magazines and national newspapers. But she wanted to be a novelist since the age of seven, a dream that came true with the publication of her first novel, The Sisters, which won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two children.
Debra Landwehr Engle is the bestselling author of The Only Little Prayer You Need, Let Your Spirit Guides Speak, Be the Light that You Are and her debut novel Twenty. Her work has been endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and other notable authors and leaders. She also is the recipient of two Nautilus Awards, which honor “better books for a better world.” Debra is a long-time student and teacher of A Course in Miracles. Her books of spiritual nonfiction are based on the timeless principles of the Course and have been translated into four languages. She is a popular teacher of ACIM as well, and her online study groups feature lively and wisdom-centered conversations about applying Course principles to everyday life. With a long career in book and magazine publishing, she now serves as the managing director of the international Story Summit Writer’s School, encouraging emerging voices—especially those of women—in publishing and screenwriting. She teaches classes and small groups in writing and is a beloved mentor, helping first-time authors write and publish their books. For more about Debra click here.
Barbara Linn Probst is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of contemporary women’s fiction. She lives on an historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton Award for Women’s Fiction and the Nautilus Book Award. The Sound Between the Notes was also the recipient of a Kirkus starred review and was selected as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has published nearly sixty essays on the craft of writing for sites such as Jane Friedman and Writer Unboxed, and gives frequent workshops and webinars for writing organizations and conferences. The Color of Ice is her third novel. Learn more on her here.
J.C. Sands grew up in rural North Florida where she cultivated a passion for writing. She is an author, freelance journalist, entrepreneur, public speaker, podcaster, and serves on several nonprofit boards.
As founder and president of the nonprofit organization, “The Jo Sands Voice Write, Don’t Fight Project,” she seeks to implement creative writing initiatives for victims of trauma, domestic violence, and at-risk youth and produce their stories to help with the healing process.
The “Jo Show Podcast” is her voyage into the lives of creatives from around the globe.
She now calls Georgia her new adoptive home where she lives with her son, Jimmie, and shih-tzu, Bella.
Barbara Conrey is the USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, her debut, published on August 4, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Liza Fleissig represents her at the Liza Royce Agency. Her sophomore novel, My Secret to Keep, released on August 23, 2022.
Barbara is an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Women’s National Book Association, and Author Talk Network. She also moderates the online book club for the Facebook Group Bookish Road Trip.
Travel is her passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Her greatest love is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. Barbara lives in Pennsylvania, close to family and friends.
Episode 59 - A Mother’s Journey with Maralee McLean - 2022-10-10
MARALEE MCLEAN is a child advocate, domestic violence expert, national professional speaker, and author of PROSECUTED BUT NOT SILENCED: Courtroom Reform for Sexually Abused Children. Maralee has written several articles for the ABA Child Law Journal, Women’s E-News, Ms. Magazine and many other publications on the problems of family courts not protecting abused children. Maralee is with Women’s Media Center (WMC), SheSourceExpert, NPEIV (National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence) and is with APB Speakers and RAINN speaker bureau, Child USA Ambassador, and the APSAC (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children) and the Executive Director MFB (Moms Fight Back). She speaks at conferences, law schools and is a spokesperson for protective mothers. Her passion for advocacy developed through living a mother’s worst nightmare. Fighting the system with body and soul, she gained the insight that this was not her nightmare alone. She organized a National Rally of Mothers at the Colorado State Capitol and has been involved in legislative work that spans over two decades. Passed Julie’s Law in Colorado named after her daughter HB21-1228. She testified before Congress to promote judicial accountability to better protect sexually abused children’s rights in our courts. Maralee’s story has been covered by many media outlets and internationally CNN and on Insider Exclusive Justice in America. Learn moree here.
Donation Support for Those Impacted by Hurricane Ian
We are not posting a Storyteller episode this week in support of all those who were so severely impacted by the hurricane. We are so grateful that we were spared and are horrified at all we see around us. If you are so moved, please consider a donation at one of the following:
Global Giving
World Central Kitchen
Direct Relief
Convoy of Hope
Florida Grassroots Hurricane Community Recovery Fund
Reyna Marder Gentin grew up in Great Neck, New York. She attended college and law school at Yale. For many years, she practiced as an appellate attorney with a public defender's office before turning to writing full time. Reyna has studied at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, and her work has been published widely online and in print. Her debut novel, Unreasonable Doubts, was named a finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award in 2019. Her first middle grade novel, My Name Is Layla, came out in January, 2021, and School Library Journal noted that "Layla's struggles at school and home are authentically depicted, and readers who face their own challenges will relate." Layla won the 2021 gold medal in the Moonbeam Children's Awards in pre-teen fiction. Reyna's latest novel, Both Are True, was published in October, 2021. Nicola Krauss, co-author of THE NANNY DIARIES, called Both Are True a "moving novel that examines what it means to start over – with surprising consequences." Reyna lives with her family in Scarsdale, New York. To learn more, please visit her site.
Episode 55 - A storyteller for storytellers with guest Kerry Anne King - 2022-09-12
Kerry Anne King is a firm believer in writing what she loves and has gleefully reveled in fantasy, paranormal mystery, magical realism, and women’s fiction (written as Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author Kerry Anne King). To date, she has published twelve books, and her work has been translated into four different languages.
Born and raised in Canada, Kerry has been successfully transplanted into US soil and has lived in Washington for twenty-five years. She earned a BA in English from York University in Toronto, and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Washington State University. She is a retired RN, a licensed mental health counselor, and a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach.
In addition to writing, Kerry is the founder of “Author Genie,” through which she provides writer mindset coaching, online classes, and virtual assistant services. She has also been active in the podcasting community and is currently the host of Taming the TBR. When not absorbed in creative pursuits, you’ll find Kerry hanging out with her real-life Viking on their little piece of heaven just outside Colville, Washington. Find out more about Kerry here.
Julie Blacklow is an Emmy award-winning journalist with more than 40 years in the television news business. Among the first generation of women in TV news in the United States, she encountered the entire spectrum of humanity from movie stars to murderers and everyday folks overcoming amazing challenges. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Blacklow migrated to Seattle in her early 20's, married to a man who wanted to escape his Jewish mother. Hers is a life writ large, a roller-coaster ride with a remarkable number of wonderful highs and terrifying lows. At the age of 60, she gradually left television and began managing a horse ranch, a dramatic change of careers where she learned animals are often far more sane than humans. She's owned 5 dogs, 4 cats, one horse, and a wonderful son, Jeremy. Her friends describe her as tenacious, decisive, bossy, opinionated, loving, loyal, and brave. Now 75 years old, she has started painting again...something she hadn't done in 50 years, started a podcast, published her first book, "Fearless: Diary of a Badass Reporter," and is starting to write her second book which she describes as a 'non-fiction novel.'
Find out more about Julie here.
Drawing Lessons, Sands’ fifth novel, also set in the south of France, was released by Lake Union Publishing in 2017 and was a Finalist in the Somerset Literary Book Award 2019. The Villa des Violettes miniseries released in 2019/20 and Book 4 is anticipated in 2023.
Her just released novel is The Secrets We Hide. She is also busy writing a novella, Lost At Sea, to be included in the nine-book Sail Away series that will publish in January 2023.
Find out more about Patricia here.
Laura is a teacher who loves to write about her home state of Michigan. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University where she studied under Stuart Dybek. Her multiple short fictions have been widely published as has her poetry. These works, in connection to her impressive number of combine into dually- demanding careers and a wealth of things to talk about. Her work has won numerous awards including an IPPY and an IAN.
When not writing, Laura enjoys musical theatre, hiking, swimming, reading and performing with her Celtic band. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and children as well as her dog, two hamsters, two gerbils, ten chickens, two horses and eight (and counting) cats. Find out more about Laura and her work here.
Stephanie Larkin is the founder and president of Red Penguin Books and Web Solutions. Her passion is helping people to “unleash their inner author” through book coaching and development.
An author herself, Stephanie has written Write That Book!, 365 Reasons to Celebrate! and SCORE with Social Media. She teaches courses ranging from small business management to sales and advertising in the Marketing Department at Nassau Community College, where she enjoys working with future entrepreneurs and marketing professionals. She is also the host of television’s The Author Corner, as well as two podcasts - Between the Covers and Once and Future Authors. Beginning next spring, she will also be the host of a new show—sponsored by the Ahmedabad Book Club in India—which will feature writers and book lovers from around the globe!
Stephanie's motto is: “Changing lives … one book at a time!”
Episode 48 - "Building People One Book at a Time" with Jennifer Milius - 2022-06-27
ennifer Milius is an entrepreneur, developmental editor, coach and accomplished author having published seven children’s titles in the Einstein and Moo series, and most recently, co-authored You Know it’s a Verb, Right? which blends personal development, business, and leadership tenets. Jen believes that each of us have something special to offer, but sometimes it takes a leap of faith to be willing to share that gift. Yet, when people are doing what they love, there’s a joy that they radiate. Tapping into your full potential means that joy, purpose, and possibility is coming together through you. Jen leverages her 20-year corporate career, undergraduate Communications degree, and Master in Business Administration to help writers and aspiring authors get out of their own way and leave a legacy by telling their stories through writing their own books and confidently sharing them with others. As the host of The TufFish Show podcast, Jen features authors from different genres and businesses, but with one thing in common – they had a message or story they wanted to tell and courageously got out of their own way and made it happen.
Jen enjoys spending time with family, yoga, creating delicious food in the kitchen, visiting schools to share her love and knowledge about writing, and listening to music.
Check out her website or connect on Linkedin at Jennifer Milius, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram at authorjennifermilius, Twitter at authorjenmilius.
Leigh Newman grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and Baltimore, Maryland, traveling between the homes of her two parents. Her childhood and remote wilderness experiences were the basis of her award-winning memoir Still Points North. She received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1993 and her MFA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2006. Her newest collection Nobody Gets Out Alive is about women navigating the male-dominated wilds of Alaska. It was released by Scribner in April 2022 and includes stories that have appeared in the Paris Review, Harper’s, Best American Short Stories 2020, Tin House, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and Electric Literature. Her story “Howl Palace” was awarded both a Pushcart prize and an American Society of Magazine Editors’ fiction prize. In 2020, she received the Paris Review’s Terry Southern Prize for “humor, wit, and sprezzatura.”
Find out more Leigh here: Leigh Newman.
Janyre Tromp is a historical novelist whose loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of the just released Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas. She’s also a book editor, published children’s book author, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. Learn more about Janyre here.
Margaret Lowman Ph.D., is known affectionately throughout the world as “Canopy Meg.” She is a global pioneer in forest canopy ecology. She is one of the world’s foremost “arbornauts” — someone who explores and studies the vast forest canopies that make up what Meg has termed the Earth’s “eighth continent.” A tireless educator, strong advocate for girls, women, and minorities in science, Meg has published numerous books, is a sustainability advisor, contributes to boards, and speaks widely and frequently to diverse groups, schools, and international symposiums and conferences. In her own words, Meg describes her passion for the treetops this way, "Saving trees and all that lives in them" is what causes me to leap out of bed each morning.” Meg is passionate about the opportunity to explore, research, and conserve global forests; mentor the next generation (especially women and minorities) in sustainability and forest stewardship; and educate diverse audiences through advising and storytelling. Learn more about Meg here.
Episode 40 - “Filmmaker Turned Author – the Art of Satire” with Bonnè Bartron - 2022-05-02
Award winning screenwriter and director Bonné Bartron has always loved books, but it took a world-wide shut down for her to finally write one. WHISPERS, her debut novel, is a spine-tingling thriller with a sharp satirical edge told from the perspective of competent, diverse women.The darker side, of satirical humor, was the perfect genre for her own catharsis during a time where nothing made sense and conspiracies were competing for mainstream airtime. The most humorous moments live in the tension of fear, and Bartron serves both up in her debut novel.
Whispers debuted at #13 on the Satire best seller charts, and #10 on the Amazon new release best seller list and quickly thereafter moved up to #1 and #2, for the paperback and E-book respectively
Bartron is currently writing an Utopian YA novel. Find our more about Bonnè here.
Daily is an adopted child from a maternity home hospital in New Orleans. She searched and found her birth mother and through a DNA test, her birth father’s family, as well. A lifelong southerner, she now resides on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, with her husband Emmerson and Labrador retrievers, Memphis Belle and Texas Star. Find out more about Julia here.
Episode 38 - “This mom has time to…” with Zibby Owens - 2022-04-18
Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. Zibby founded Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. One division is Moms Don’t Have Time To, the home for Zibby’s podcasts, publications (including two anthologies), and communities. The other is Zibby Books, a publishing home for fiction and memoir which she co-founded with Leigh Newman. Her award-winning podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, has been downloaded millions of times. She is a regular columnist for Good Morning America, Katie Couric Media, and Moms Don’t Have Time to Write on Medium. Her upcoming memoir, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, comes out July 1, 2022 (Little A). Her first children’s book Princess Charming (Flamingo/Penguin Random House) debuts April 19, 2022, and will be followed by a second. She lives in New York with her husband and four children. For more information, visit zibbyowens.com and follow her on Instagram.
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Jenn Bouchard's debut novel FIRST COURSE was published in 2021 by TouchPoint Press. It has been the recipient of nine awards and distinctions, most notably as a finalist in the Women's Fiction category of the American Fiction Awards and the Independent Author Network Awards. Her short stories have appeared in the Bookends Review, Litbreak Magazine, the Penmen Review, and the Little Patuxent Review, with an additional story forthcoming in MARY. She is currently seeking representation for her next novel, PALMS ON THE CAPE. Jenn lives in the Boston suburbs with her husband and two teenage children, and she has been a high school social studies teacher for twenty-two years. She is an avid cook and devoted Red Sox fan. Find out more about Jenn here.
Episode 35 - So many books, such a great time! - 2022-03-28
Almost three million copies of Josie Brown’s novels are in readers’ hands. Josie is the author of the 21-novel Housewife Assassin’s Handbook series; the 8-novel Totlandia episodic series; the 3-novel Extracurricular episodic series; and the 2-novel True Hollywood Lies series; as well as The Candidate and The Baby Planner. Her novel, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives, was optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for television. She also hosts the podcast “Author Provocateur” where you not only hear great episodes you get to be dazzled by Josie’s amazing, inviting voice! Find our more about Josie Brown here.
Jade was the 2019 Poet of the year, and Wilnona is Advocate Awarded. The Ladies are known for their quick wit, ability to laugh at themselves, and being pop poets. The duo have contributed writings to eleven books or what they call “literary life guides w/ pop poetry": The “And I Thought Series” the “Miss-Fit Guides.” Wilnona has two solo series, “Free Falling” and “Widow's Debt.” Jade and Wilnona are the Co-Founders of The Inspirational Women in Literature Media and Journalism Awards, The Thoughtful Book Festival, the 25 Hottest Authors Magazine & And I Thought Literary Magazine. They starred in the Reality TV Show “Just Writing Life” (about their lives as authors) and in the documentary “Create, Aspire and Inspire.” They have several podcast including “The Ladies Tales” podcast is their most inventive podcast to date. They co-hosted conferences on three continents. They have read poetry for loving fans in Australia, the U.K., Greece, Canada, by invitations by regional poet laureates, & at the U.K. literary book festival. Find out more about Wilnona and Jade here.
Her novels have earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been featured in Top Reads lists by LitHub, Redbook, Southern Living Magazine, REAL SIMPLE, BookBub,HuffPost, USA Today, and more. As a novelist, she’s received two Christy Awards, two Carol Awards, and the Mississippi Library Association Fiction Award. She was named a short-list finalist twice for the Mississippi Arts & Letters Fiction Award as well as a two-time short-list finalist for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize.
In addition to her writing, she works with survivors of abuse and serves as a literacy advocate. She’s a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, a non-profit organization that promotes the power of story and elevates female voices.
With published works across a diverse range of genres and languages, Julie currently works fulltime from her home in Houston, Texas where she finds great pleasure in shepherding other people’s stories to shelves.
Learn more here and here or follow on Instagram for all things story.
In addition to her writing, she works with survivors of abuse and serves as a literacy advocate. She’s a member of the Tall Poppy Writers, a non-profit organization that promotes the power of story and elevates female voices.
With published works across a diverse range of genres and languages, Julie currently works fulltime from her home in Houston, Texas where she finds great pleasure in shepherding other people’s stories to shelves.
Learn more here and here or follow on Instagram for all things story.
Episode 29 - Time-Travelling Paranormal Historical Fiction with Nola Nash - 2022-02-14
Born and raised in south Louisiana, Nola Nash now resides in Brentwood, Tennessee and works as an online high school Instructional Coach. Her Crescent City series is a paranormal historical mystery set in the 1830s French Quarter and includes Crescent City Moon and Crescent City Sin with at least one more book to follow. Her next series will launch with Traveler in March, 2022. When she is not writing or working with teachers, she hosts BYOB, Writer’s Showcase, and Dead Folks Tales podcasts with Authors on the Air Global Radio Network. Connect with her on Instagram and Twitter @nolanashwrites, her Facebook group Nola’s Second Line, or her website
Episode 28 - Historical Fiction, Emotional Turmoil and Alpine Hut in Austria with Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger - 2022-02-07
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is a historical fiction writer with a focus on political and social upheavals. Her series and standalone novels were sparked by travel and curiosity. She brings the stories to light that few readers have ever heard about. Her characters are thrown into moral dilemmas and emotional turmoil, her descriptive settings will put you smack dab into the world of her rich and complex characters. THE WOMAN AT THE GATES is a WW2 historical epic based on her family's experiences in WW2 Ukraine.
Find out more about Chrystyna at here.
Episode 27 - Little Satchmo: A Daughter’s Story with Sharon Preston-Folta - 2022-01-31
Sharon Preston-Folta has spent a thirty-plus-year career in advertising sales and marketing, predominantly as an account executive in radio. She's worked with such companies as Fairchild Publications and WLNY TV in Long Island, and ABC/Disney and CBS Radio and Emmis Communications in New York City. She is currently Sr. Account Executive with WUSF Public Media in Tampa, FL. Sharon became a published author with her memoir "Living in The Shadow of my Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong" in 2012, which made public the private family life of Louis Armstrong, Lucille 'Sweets' Preston, his mistress for 21 years and their child, Sharon. In 2019 she began production on Little Satchmo documentary which is based on her memoir. The documentary made it worldwide premiere in June 2021 at the Thessaloniki Documentary film festival.
In addition to her AA from Westchester Community College and BA in Communication Arts from Iona College, Sharon’s love of cooking led her to attend the Institute of Culinary Education nights and weekends, where she earned two professional degrees; Culinary in 1999 and culinary Management in 2005. Sharon believes in giving back to the community and has used her cooking skills as a Chef Instructor in the Cooking Matters program. She's currently a Volunteer Programmer at WSLR 96.5 LP FM in Sarasota, Florida where she resides with her husband, Howard, a musician.
Learn more about Sharon and the documentary here.
Episode 26 - Brilliantly Disturbing Historical Fiction with Thea Sutton - 2022-01-24
Episode 25 - The Book Queen Brings a Love of Books and Teas to the On-line World and Her Community - 2022-01-17
Episode 24 - The Importance of what’s left untold with USA Today Bestselling Author Sherri Leimkuhler - 2022-01-10
A competitive triathlete and two-time Ironman finisher, Sherri also enjoys reading, hiking, paddleboarding, trail running, traveling, and wine tasting. Sherri lives in Maryland with her husband, three daughters, and two Labrador retrievers. To learn more about Sherri and her work, visit her website.
Episode 23 - Telling the Earth’s Story with Nobel Peace Prize Winner for Climate Change Professor Terry Root - 2022-01-03
Root earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of New Mexico, her master’s degree in Biology from the University of Colorado and her doctorate in Biology from Princeton University. She was a professor at the University of Michigan for 15 years, and then at Stanford University for 15 years where she still serves as Professor Emerita. She joins us at the microphone from her home in Sarasota, FL. You can contact Dr. Root here.
Episode 22 - A Natural Event with Supernatural Repercussions with Robert Gwaltney - 2021-12-27
Episode 20 - Folklore Inspired Fiction Emanates From a "She-Shed" in Virginia with Meredith Stoddard - 2021-12-13
Episode 19 - Bookish Broads: Women Who Wrote Themselves Into History with Lauren Marino - 2021-12-06
Episode 18 - Feeding A Fiction Addiction with Isla Morley - 2021-11- 29
Episode 17 - A Peripatetic Lifestyle Leads to Creative Storytelling with Susan Sammon - 2021-11-22
Susan Sammon has been a television studio manager, a food PR executive, environmental scuba diver, alternative educator and small business owner. As a result of her various jobs and interests, she has visited nearly 100 countries, touching down on all seven continents. Traveling for work and pleasure to exotic destinations, Susan had a unique opportunity to develop her image-making skills, which she honed using her iPhone camera.
Susan is co-author, along with her photographer husband Rick, of 10 books. Her most recent titles, The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip (2019) and The Route 66 Photo Road Trip (2018) are published by Countryman Press. Currently, Susan is curating her images for a photo note card collection and teaching iPhone photography to local community groups. While the pandemic has curtailed her international travel, it has also nurtured explorations of surprising destinations closer to home. Susan lives with her husband in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley.
In addition to her work in iPhonography, Susan enjoys hiking, gardening and reading. She credits an early book, James Michener’s, The Drifters, which she read as a young woman while commuting to a job in New York City, as awakening her desire to visit foreign lands. Great storytelling has always been an important influence in Susan’s life. She now uses her iPhone photos as her own storytelling medium, featuring the places and people she has encountered in her travels.
Episode 15 - From Journalist to Novelist with Christina Hoag - 2021-11-10
Episode 14 - Behind the Lens with Jeanne Sacken - 2021-11-02
Episode 13 - Awakening a Love for Historical Fiction with Libby McNamee - 2021-10-26
Episode 12 - Sixty Years of Telling America's Story with news anchor Linda Carson - 2021-10-19
Linda has been telling America’s stories, in nine different states and multiple stations since the 1960’s. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she is a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, GA. She began working as a Promotion Writer at WAGA - TV in Atlanta, and then went on the air as the Weather Caster at Channel 11 before becoming a reporter, and anchor.
She met her husband, Bud Carson, who was the Head Coach at Georgia Tech on an interview. That romance and marriage involved moves and job changes for Linda as Bud became Defensive Co-Ordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by Bud’s joining the Rams in Los Angeles, and so on. Linda followed Bud, and built an amazing career as an on-air personality in news and sports in Baltimore, Kansas City, Hartford, Conn., Cleveland and Philadelphia and now on Florida’s Cultural Coast, in Sarasota. Bud died in 2005. Together he and Linda have a family legacy of 4 children, six grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Linda is a strong community supporter having served on the Boards of Directors for Circus Arts Conservatory, The American Cancer Society, and the Alzheimer's Association. She has a passion for sailing, and for many years sailed a pram with the Luffing Lassies at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Linda is also a lover of books and currently hosts a twice weekly, on-air, book club for Suncoast News, and Facebook followers.
Episode 11 - Strong Collaborative Women - A Different Type of Story with Lainey Cameron - 2021-10-11
A digital nomad—meaning she picks locations around the world to live (and write) for months at a time—Lainey is an avid Instagrammer, and loves to share her travel tips and insights with readers.
She’s the founder and host of The Best of Women’s Fiction interview series and podcast, proud member and volunteer with Women’s Fiction Writers Association, believes community makes the author's life worthwhile, and is on a mission to obliterate the term aspiring writer.
Originally from Scotland, Lainey has a soft spot for kilts and good malt whisky, and when she’s not writing (or reading), you’ll find her hunting down new single malts, checking out rooftop bars, and when possible, hanging out with anything equine (donkeys rock!).
Episode 10 - Historical Fiction Tells Our Stories with Michele Cox - 2021-10-04
Michelle Cox is the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. Her books have won over 50 international awards and have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Elle, Redbook, Brit&Co., Popsugar, Buzzfeed, and many others.
Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also, marmalade. She lives in Chicago with her husband, three children, naughty Goldendoodle and is hard at work on her latest novel.
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Mary Helen Sheriff is the author of the award-winning southern women’s fiction, Boop and Eve’s Road Trip. She serves as the CEO of Bookish Road Trip and a blogger at “...the gift of story.” After 14 years teaching elementary school, middle school, college, and professionals, Mary has taken a break from the classroom to focus on writing. She has an MFA from Hollins University, an MA from Old Dominion University, and a BA from UVA. She is an entrepreneur and an adventure. She lives in Henrico County, Virginia with her two children, two cats, and one husband.
Claire currently lives in Malibu, California, but will always consider herself a Southerner: a card-carrying member of the last romantic culture on earth. She found her niche in music radio as a member of the on-air staff of five different stations, during a nine-year career. Three weeks after her return to the United States from a year-long trip to Ireland, she reviewed the journal she kept while living abroad and knew then that she had a good story to tell. Today, she is the author of eight traditionally published books and multiple essays. Claire is a much sought-after speaker and radio guest with a strong voice for women’s fiction and the voice of the American South.
Kathy’s first book was "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life." For the book’s 20th Anniversary, she debuted her second book, "The Pulpwood Queen Celebrates 20 Years" edited by Susan Cushman and published by Brother Mockingbird. Kathy is currently working on the sequel to her first book's memoir to be called "The Pulpwood Queen Goes Back to School". Kathy is a tiara wearing, dedicated and prolific artist, supporter of authors, storyteller, and creative spirit. She readily shares that books both saved and shaped her life. Kathy joins us today from her cabin in the Texas woods called “Murphy’s Law.”
Episode 6 - A Tribute to the Spunky Old Broad - Dr. Gayle Carson - 2021-09-06
To know Dr. Gayle Carson is to be inspired and empowered by a force of nature. Immediately after college, Gayle moved to Miami and landed a job in just two weeks. One year later, she bought the business and proceeded to diversify its sales base from one to seven divisions. The company eventually became the largest independent organization in the industry. As CEO, Gayle managed a diverse staff of over 350 people, graduated more than a million students from her training programs, and personally managed the company’s complex payroll. While serving as CEO of her business, she received her Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.
Gayle has been selected as a “Legend of the Speaking Profession.” She currently hosts over a dozen radio shows per month and is the founder of the sobradionetwork.com. Gayle is also the only woman in the world who has a Doctorate, is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), CMC (Certified Management Consultant) and an FIMC (Fellow to the Institute of Management Consultants). Gayle is a driven business woman. She is also driven to leave a legacy and does this through providing strong mentoring programs and tools that empower women to succeed at whatever their craft and destiny has in store for them. Her just mentioned SOB radio network is named after her own moniker, the Spunky Old Broad.
Barbara Conrey is the USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye, published on August 4th, 2020, by Red Adept Publishing. Nowhere Near Goodbye is Barbara Conrey’s debut novel.Previously, Barbara worked in the health care industry before opting for an early retirement, which lasted all of three months. She then accepted a finance position, for which she had absolutely no background, and four years later, she decided to write a book. But not about finance.
Travel is her passion, along with reading, writing, hiking, and exploring antique shops. Her greatest love is Miss Molly, her rescue beagle. There are stories to be told about beagles, and Barbara hopes to incorporate some of them into her books.
Barbara lives in Pennsylvania, close to family and friends.Episode 4 - The Flavor of France, Friendship, and Fiction - Patricia Sands - 2021-08-23
Patricia Sands lives two hours north of Toronto, but her heart's other home is the South of France. An avid traveler, she spends part of each year on the Cote d'Azur. Once a year, she co-leads a 16-women, 12-day tour of the Riviera and Provence. Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book club favorite. The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part “Love in Provence” series was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance. Drawing Lessons, Sands’ fifth novel, also set in the south of France, was released by Lake Union Publishing in 2017 and was a Finalist in the Somerset Literary Book Award 2019. The “Villa des Violettes” miniseries released in 2019/20 and Book 4 is anticipated in 2021.
Leslie Lehr is the prize-winning author of seven books, the Novel Consultant for Truby’s Writers Studio, and an essayist for The New York Times “Modern Love” column. After being size AA to DDDD, through breast envy, breastfeeding, breast implants, and breast cancer, she realized she’s obsessed with breasts. Turns out, she’s not alone.
Sandell Morse is the prize-winning author of the memoir, The Spiral Shell, A French Village Reveals Its Secrets of Jewish Resistance in World War II (Schaffner Press, April 2020). Morse’s nonfiction has been noted in The Best American Essays series and published in Creative Nonfiction, Ploughshares, the New England Review, Fourth Genre ASCENT, Solstice, and Tiferet among others. The Spiral Shell is a Silver Medal winner in the Story Circle Women’s Book Awards, 2020.
Morse has been a Tennessee Williams Scholar at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, an Associate Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, a resident at the Hewnoaks Artists’ Colony, and a Fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She holds degrees from Wilson College, the University of New Hampshire, and Dartmouth College.
