Monthly Archives

January 2025

Historical, Journalism, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jan 29: Michael Cannell Discusses Blood and The Badge

January 29, 2025

The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked The Nation

Blood and the Badge with author Michael Cannell

Michael Cannell‘s BLOOD AND THE BADGE reads like a novel – except it’s not. This true tale features Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracapp, two decorated NYPD detectives, who double-dipped as Mafia informants and paid assassins.

Considered the most corrupt chapter in NYPD history, Cannell sheds new light on Eppolito and Caracapp, who the Mafia cap called his “Crystal Ball”.

We discuss: Why the FBI couldn’t indict them. What motivated both cops to betray their own, frame innocent people, set up assassinations. And, what drove the detective who finally broke the cold case, putting them where they belong – behind bars.

Meet Michael Cannell

Michael Cannell is the author of five non-fiction books, most recently Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation. His previous books include A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc., and Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling. Cannell has worked as a reporter for Time and an editor for The New York Times. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated and many other publications.

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Fiction, Historical, Writers on Writing

Jan 22: Hold Strong with Robert Dugoni & Jeff Langholz

January 22, 2025

A Novel Inspired by the Deadliest Accident in US Military History. A Story of Courage. Perseverance. Faith. Resilience.

Hold Strong with coauthors Robert Dugoni and Jeff Langholz

When Chris Crabtree discovered a little known historical story from WW2, he found a personal connection with someone from the true event. That began a 12 year odyssey. Chris mentioned the story to Jeff Langholz who went down a research rabbit hole for the next decade, as they tried to recreate the event in novel form.

So how, when, and why did bestselling author Robert Dugoni get involved? We discuss that today with two of the three coauthors – Robert Dugoni and Jeff Langholz.

They share the significance of the title, Hold Strong. How they collaborated as authors, and who played what role in the development and writing of the book. Where the authors took creative license and why. Which characters were a composite of multiple characters and why. And much more.

Meet Coauthors Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, & Chris Crabtree

ROBERT DUGONI is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, the Charles Jenkins series, the David Sloane series, and several standalone novels. He’s a multi-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. And a recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction.

JEFF LANGHOLZ is an award-winning teacher, researcher, entrepreneur, and writer. His work has appeared in more than 250 media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and National Geographic. He’s a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA.

CHRIS CRABTREE (not joining us today) teaches middle and high school English language arts in Costa Rica. Chris’s discovery of Father Tom Scecina’s heroism and sacrifice during the deadliest accident in US military history (the sinking of the Arisan Maru) sparked the journey of HOLD STRONG.

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Journalism, Non Fiction, Social Issues

Jan 15: Protect Yourself from Cyber Attacks with Nicole Perlroth

January 15, 2025

What You Can Do Today to Keep You and Your Data Safe from the Cyber Weapons Arms Race

This is How They Tell Me the World Ends with Author Nicole Perlroth

Even if everything seems to be working and functioning normally, chances are, a cyber attack has already infiltrated your digital world without your knowledge.

In This is How They Tell Me the World Ends, Nicole Perlroth reveals unreported stories of the cyberweapons market, the most secretive, invisible, government-backed market today. We discuss the active participation of the US. How a pre-strike of cyber attacks on Ukraine aided Russia before they attacked on land. And the singularly most vital thing you can do to protect yourself and your data.

About Nicole Perlroth

Nicole Perlroth was the lead cybersecurity, digital espionage, and sabotage reporter at The New York Times for a decade, where her work was optioned for film and television. She’s a regular lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Today, she increasingly prefers life off the grid. This Is How They Tell me The World Ends is Nicole’s first book, and a New York Times bestseller.

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Memoir, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

Jan 08: Patricria Bonis Married Her Ideal Man – Or Did She?

January 8, 2025

JEDDAH BRIDE: A Testament to How Far a Mother Will Go to Protect Her Children

Jeddah Bride with author Patricia Bonis

When Patricia Bonis fell madly in love with Rahman Abbar, scion of a wealthy Saudi Arabian family, their wedding was the happiest day of her life. But her joy as a JEDDAH BRIDE soon evaporated into a life she was ill prepared for.

Patricia Bonis shares her journey from a smart, free-spirited student at Wellesley College, to living a life she found intolerable … a restricted life as a Saudi wife, viewing the world through curtains and veils and outdated rules. And, ultimately, to her final escape, painful sacrifices, and long-term triumphs.

Meet Patricia Bonis

PATRICIA BONIS is a renowned interior designer who has spent more than three decades designing the homes, offices, and embassies of some of the world’s most influential leaders, including top CEOs, ambassadors, and international financiers. She now splits her time between Palm Beach Florida, and Millbrook, New York, with her current husband. JEDDAH BRIDE is Patricia’s debut book.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Jan 01: Happy New Year! NYT Bestselling Author Grant Blackwood on Successful Author Collaboration

January 1, 2025

Red Star Falling coauthored by NYT Bestselling Author Steve Berry & Grant Blackwood

Grant Blackwood coauthor of Red Star Falling

Grant Blackwood joins us to discuss Red Star Falling, his latest thriller collaboration with Steve Berry,

In the waning days of the Cold War, Steve Berry’s returning protagonist Luke Daniels, sets out to find the legendary lost library of Ivan the Terrible. Will that unlikely key end a looming threat orbiting two hundred miles above the Earth?

Since more authors are collaborating these days, curious minds want to know how they work together and why. What are the benefits? The challenges? Who drives the plot? The story? The action scenes? Do they each adopt a specific role or do they dig in together and hash things out? And what about research and travel? Did Steve and Grant both visit Russia and Ukraine for Red Star Falling? Listen in to find out.

Meet Grant Blackwood – NYT Bestselling Author

Grant Blackwood is the New York Times bestselling author of the Briggs Tanner series. He’s also the coauthor of The Fargo Adventure Series with Clive Cussler. The New York Times bestselling Dead Or Alive with Tom Clancy. And Kill Switch with James Rollins. A US Navy veteran, Grant Blackwood spent three years aboard a guided missile frigate as an operations specialist and a pilot rescue swimmer. Red Star Falling is the second book he has coauthored in Steve Berry’s Luke Daniels Thriller Series.

Steve Berry originated the Luke Daniels character and thriller series. Steve is the NYT and #1 Internationally bestselling author of 18 Cotton Malone novels, five stand alone thrillers, and several works of short fiction. He has more than 26 million books in print, translated into 41 languages. Steve Berry is the founder of History Matters; serves as an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board; and was a founding member and former co-president of the International Thriller Writers. Steve Berry has been our guest on many occasions – to find conversations with Steve, type Steve Berry into Conversations Live search box.

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