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Writers Life

Fiction, Writers on Writing

Dec 13: Lesley Crewe with Recipe for a Good Life

December 13, 2023

A story of loneliness & belonging. A love letter to the women who’ve kept kettles warm & neighbors fed in rural Cape Breton.

Recipe for a Good Life with author Lesley Crewe

National bestselling, award winning author Lesley Crewe says if she hadn’t moved to a remote island off Novia Scotia she may never have become a writer. Today, Lesley joins us to to talk about her 15th book – Recipe for a Good Life.

We discuss how Lesley adapts ordinary moments and celebrates everyday things. How she develops her characters and who inspires them. What island life is really like, including community, connection, belonging, humor, and how Cape Breton features in her storytelling. And, of course, we share Lesley’s point of view on writing and what it means to be a writer.

About Lesley Crewe

Lesley Crewe is the Globe and Mail–bestselling author of 13 novels, including Nosy Parker, named one of Indigo’s Top 100 Books of 2022; The Spoon Stealer, longlisted for Canada Reads 2022; and Relative Happiness, which was adapted into an award-winning feature film. She has also published two collections of essays, the Leacock-longisted Are You Kidding Me?! and I Kid You Not! Lesley lives in Homeville, Nova Scotia. Recipe for a Good Life is Indigo Book’s 2023 Award Winning Book of the Year.

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Fiction, Non Fiction, Short Stories, Writers on Writing

Oct 19: Gary Lippman One Sentence Stories

October 19, 2022

Book jacket - We Loved the World But Could Not StayStories for People with Short Attention Spans

Why one-sentence stories? Because author Gary Lippman wanted to rise to the challenge, and “…because imperfection is easier to tolerate in small doses.”

He’s kidding about that last part, of course, and ended up writing more than 300 one-sentence stories. Some true, some partially true, some total fiction—all are well told, and full of wit and wisdom. So, what went into writing We Loved the World But Could Not Stay, and which stories are true? Listen up!

About Gary Lippman

We Loved the World But Could Not Stay is Gary Lippman‘s second book.  His first, a novel, Set the Controls for the Heart of Sharon Tate was published in 2019. Lippman’s play Paradox Lust ran off-Broadway in 2001, and his journalism has appeared in The Paris Review, Literary Hub, VICE, The New York Times, and Fodor’s Travel Guides. Gary Lippman has a law degree from Northwestern University, and has worked with New York City’s Innocence Project.

 

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jul 27: #1 NYT Bestselling Novelist Susan Wiggs with Sugar and Salt

July 27, 2022

Everyone has a past. It’s who you are now that matters.

A long-time listener favorite joins us with a great new story just in time for summer. Sugar and Spice takes us back to Perdita Street (introduced in The Lost and Found Bookshop) with a tale of family, friendship, redemption, and love.

Susan Wiggs is known for weaving women’s issues into her storylines, and Sugar and Spice is no exception — including abortion, sexual abuse, and racism. Today we find out how Susan gets in the right headspace to write those challenging scenes. How she approaches writing multiple timelines. And how has she learned to draw readers into her books from page one.

About Susan Wiggs

Susan Wiggs is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She’s authored more than 50 novels including the Lakeshore Chronicles series and the New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages.  Susan lives with her family on an island in Washington State’s Puget Sound.

 

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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Mar 30: Heather Gudenkauf with Overnight Guest

March 30, 2022

“Fully realized, wholly absorbing & almost painfully suspenseful…” ~ The New York Times

Thrilled to talk again with Heather Gudenkauf about her latest page turner, The Overnight Guest.

Heather shares the true story that sparked an idea for The Overnight Guest. Why she chose a true-crime writer as her protagonist. How she managed different timelines and multiple points of view – and how she did all that while setting a pace that fully engages readers and brings the stories together. Heather also reveals how she takes an ugly first draft and polishes it to become a riveting story and New York Times bestseller.

About Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf is an Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, and The Overnight Guest is her ninth novel. Heather lives in Iowa and in her free time enjoys having fun with family, reading, swimming, and hiking (with her very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer, Lolo).

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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Dec 16: Last Girl Ghosted with NYT Bestselling Author Lisa Unger

December 15, 2021

Think Twice Before You Swipe

Whether or not you’ve already dated online, Lisa Unger‘s Last Girl Ghosted will definitely make you think twice before you swipe. As well as the dangers of online dating, this suspense story touches on mental health, family abuse, and a survivalist lifestyle.

Today we talk about why Lisa says love is not an algorithm. How she crafted her protagonist,  flaws and all. The most challenging parts of writing … or not.  What Lisa’s mom asked her to change in the book. And … did she change it?

About Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author. With books published in 30 languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is widely regarded as a master of suspense. Her latest novel is LAST GIRL GHOSTED.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

DEC 23: Unrestricted Access with James Rollins

December 23, 2020

#1NYT bestselling author James Rollins discusses his first-ever anthology of short stories

If  you’re looking for a last minute gift, Unrestricted Access is packed full of exciting stand-alone stories, some familiar characters, and a brand new novella from  James Rollins.

We discuss how James approaches writing short stories versus novellas and novels. Story locations and the mystery surrounding them. And some of the unknown stories behind the stories.

About James Rollins

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of international thrillers. Unrestricted Access is his first book of new and classic short fiction, and includes Sun Dogs, a new novella. James’ books have sold more than 20 million copies throughout the world, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing, Young Adult Fiction

DEC 09: #1 NYT Bestselling Author of Matched – Ally Condie

December 9, 2020

Celebrating a Decade of Success with New Gold Release of Matched

In what some may call dystopian times, stories with that theme seem more popular than ever. Ally Condie joins us today with a commemorative 2020 Gold edition of MATCHED – a #1 New York Times and international bestselling story, first published a decade ago.

Set in a flawed utopia, citizens in MATCHED are ruled by the Society who dictate what they eat, where they work, who they love, and even when they die. But what happens when a young girl starts questioning the rules? When she tries to decide between the rules and her heart?

We discuss how Ally Condie’s first book started a bidding war, and what it takes to write young adult fiction. How this dystopian world came to life; how it became a trilogy. And how Ally is coping with our own strange times.

About Ally Condie

In addition to writing MATCHED, which spent a year on the New York Times bestseller list, Ally Condie is the author of two sequels, as well as the novel Summerlost, an Edgar Award finalist. She also co-authored the Darkdeep middle grade series. And The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe — also set in the world of MATCHED but with different characters.

A former English teacher,  Ally has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is the founder and director  of the WriteOut Foundation. She lives and writes in Utah.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUL 01: The Lost and Found Bookshop with Susan Wiggs

July 1, 2020

If you had to start over, what would you do, and who would you be?  Returning guest Susan Wiggs explores that question along with the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself in The Lost and Found Bookshop.

Susan shares her thoughts on artistic expression, how she develops her stories and characters, and the responsibility she feels an author has in portraying characters outside their own ethnic background.  She also reveals how she persevered through an incredibly tough period early in her career.

Susan Wigg’s novels have appeared in the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List, and have been translated into more than 20 languages and 30 countries.  Her recent novel, The Apple Orchard, is currently being made into a film, and The Lakeshore Chronicles has been optioned for adaptation into a series.

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Fiction, Personal Development, Self-help, Writers on Writing

DEC 25: Merry Christmas! Victoria Helen Stone aka Victoria Dahl & Unlock Your Subconscious Power with Kimberly Friedmutter

December 25, 2019

What if everything you need to achieve your goals and deepest desires is already inside you? What if all you really need, is the key to unlock your inner power? Today we demystify how to tap into that hidden power and live the life you dream of. Celebrities, business leaders, and political power brokers have used the techniques in Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind to Create the Life You’ve Always Wanted.

Kimberly Friedmutter is a UCLA Health Systems Board Member, Certified Master Hypnotist, Spiritual Counselor Specialist and is board-certified on the American Board of Hypnotherapy. She’s appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Doctors, TLC, CNN, and more.

“Love stories and scary stories are flip sides of the same coin. They each tap into the most basic human drives: to survive and to mate.” From high in the Wasach Mountains of Utah we talk with thriller author Victoria Helen Stone, aka Victoria Dahl. Why change genres and why the pseudonym? We share that and more as she discusses her latest novel False Step.

Victoria Helen Stone, formerly writing as USA Today bestselling romance novelist Victoria Dahl, stepped away from the lighter side of fiction writing and into the world of dark suspense.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

OCT 21: A.F. Brady’s Once A Liar & Robyn Carr’s The View From Alameda Island

October 18, 2019

Eleven times #1 New York Times bestselling author, Robyn Carr, joins us with The View from Alameda Island.  You’ll hear why, despite Robyn’s success as a writer, her daughter most admires Robyn’s humility. And from Robyn’s perspective, we’ll hear what it’s like writing sex scenes, knowing your daughter’s going to read them.  How she sets those scenes up, why they’re important to romance and women’s fiction. And what Robyn says to readers who wish she’d skip the sex scenes.

Dozens of millions of Robyn’s books have been sold around the world, and translated into more than 19 languages.  

Also joining us, A.F. Brady, New York State licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist turned novelist.

Brady’s long career in mental healthcare provides her with an abundance of material for creating the perfect sociopathic character, in her second novel, Once A Liar.  When a character is so cold, distant, and dastardly, what makes the reader stick with him?  We’ll find out today!

Tune in at noon PT / 3 pm ET on Seattle’s KKNW am1150 and FM 98.9HD3. Or online, from anywhere in the world, at https://1150kknw.com/ … hope you’ll join us!

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