Author

David Vandver

Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Aug 16: Ryan Steck On His Latest Matt Red Thriller, Lethal Range

August 16, 2023

“A terrific sense of place in Big Sky country and a hero to root for in Matthew Redd” – #1 NYT bestselling author C J Box

Podcast Lethal Range with author Ryan Steck

Lethal Range is the second novel in Ryan Steck‘s Matt Redd thriller series. Today he shares why he broke away from the stereotypical thriller protagonist by making Redd a family man who has to balance every day life with his former marine raider instincts.

We explore how Ryan – a busy father of six – made time to build a successful career as editor and author. How he learned to work with dyslexia. And, what Ryan learned from switching roles as editor-in-chief helping others write their books, to becoming an author himself.

About Ryan Steck

Ryan Steck is an editor, author, and founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy. Ryan has been named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon and is a regular columnist at CrimeReads. More about Ryan Steck at the TheRealBookSpy.com.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jun 21: Welcome To Beach Town with Susan Wiggs

June 28, 2023

What Happens When You Dream One Thing & Something Different Comes Your Way?

Welcome to Beach Town with author Susan Wiggs

A longtime listener favorite returns to today with her latest summer release – Welcome to Beach Town. Bestselling author Susan Wiggs is known for exploring everyday dramas of ordinary people, facing extraordinary circumstances.

In Welcome to Beach Town, Susan dives deeply into timely, complex themes including the dark side of privilege and class, drug and alcohol abuse, grief, trauma, and women’s empowerment.

We discuss how the story behind real-life headlines inspired the concept for Welcome to Beach Town. How Susan developed her characters and the idyllic California beach town for the story’s key setting. Susan also shares some of the research she delved into. And what she attributes to the sustainability of a 30+ year career as a published author.

About Susan Wiggs

Susan Wiggs is the author of more than 50 novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. She and her husband live on an island in Washington State’s Puget Sound area. More about Susan Wiggs.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jun 21: The Little Italian Hotel with Phaedra Patrick

June 21, 2023

A Story of Love, Loss, Healing, & Second Chances

The Little Italian Hotel with author Phaedra Patrick

It’s that time of year when we start gathering books for lazy summer evenings, and The Little Italian Hotel is perfect for that. Phaedra Patrick describes her books as curiously charming fiction and you can tell by the title of her sixth novel, that most of the story takes place in Italy.

We discuss why Phaedra — like many people — buried her dream of becoming an author for so many years. She shares thoughts on character development, research, writing, and the route that led to Phaedra’s success as an accomplished full-time author.

About Phaedra Patrick

Phaedra Patrick is the bestselling author of six novels, including Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone, which was made into a Hallmark movie. An award winning short story writer, Phaedra previously studied art, and marketing, and has worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organizer, and communications manager. Her latest release, The Little Italian Hotel, is published by Park Row Books.

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Creativity, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jun 07: You the Story with #1 NYT Bestselling Author Ruta Sepetys

June 7, 2023

A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory

You the Story with author Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is more than just an author. She’s a seeker of lost stories.

After five award-winning works of historical fiction, and countless hours of meticulous research, Ruta Sepetys affirms that the secret to strong writing is embedded within your own life experience.

And that’s what we discuss today: How to tap into emotions, use humor, find rhythm. Discover your voice, your vision. Where to find inspiration. How to draw on your own roots, memories, creativity. And much more.

About Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, her books have won or been shortlisted for over 40 book prizes, are included on over 30 state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. You The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory is her first nonfiction book.

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Health & Wellness, Non Fiction, Self-help, Spirituality

May 24: Shamanic Healing with Dr. Sharon Martin

May 24, 2023

Maximize Your Healing Power & Overcome Health Challenges

Shamanic Healing with author Dr. Sharon Martin

Dr. Sharon Martin blends allopathic medicine with ancient shamanic knowledge to help her patients heal and increase vitality.

Today we discuss aspects of Dr. Martin’s new book Maximize Your Healing Power: Shamanic Healing Techniques to Overcome Your Health Challenges including how she blends five medicine wheels; her proprietary matrix of mind qualities; how to set intention. Why we need to lose the story. And how to identify and work with our Power Animals to bring about positive change.

About Sharon E. Martin, M.D., PhD

Dr. Sharon Martin holds a doctorate in Physiology, and worked as faculty and research scientist at Emory University School of Medicine. She graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, completing a medical residency in Internal Medicine. During the last year of residency, Dr Martin served as Chief Resident.  She is currently the Medical Director of a Rural Health Clinic in south central Pennsylvania.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Mar 29: NYT Bestselling Author Steve Berry with The Last Kingdom

March 29, 2023
The Last Kingdom with author Steve Berry

Cotton Malone Returns in a Thrill Race around Bavaria

After a brief hiatus Cotton Malone returns, along with his creator, author Steve Berry. As always, Berry found a little-known story in history, and spun his new thriller around that — in this case, the hunt for The Last Kingdom.

We discuss the real life person behind the historical search for The Last Kingdom, King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Berry shares his love of Bavaria and why he waited so long to write an adventure set there, some of the history of Bavaria, and how he separated fact from fiction in his storytelling. We also learn what’s coming next from this prolific author, and we won’t have to wait long!

About Steve Berry

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of 22 novels, which include: The Last Kingdom, The Omega Factor, and The Kaiser’s Web. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.

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Journalism, Non Fiction, Social Issues

May 22: This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends with Nicole Perlroth

March 22, 2023

The Cyber Weapons Arms Race – What You Need to Know & Do Today!

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

If you think cyber attacks won’t or can’t impact you, Nicole Perlroth joins us today to say they can, they will, and they probably already have whether or not you know it.

Nicole Perlroth’s new book shares untold stories of the cyberweapons market, the most secretive, invisible, government-backed market today. We discuss how the US is involved. How and why Russia plagued Ukraine with cyber attacks before they attacked on land. And the single, most important 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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Health & Wellness, Nature, Non Fiction, Spirituality, Yoga

Mar 08: Heal Your Heart & Soul with Rebecca Wildbear

March 8, 2023

Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration & Advocacy for the Earth

Wild Yoga with author Rebecca Wildbear

Rebecca Wildbear describers herself as an earth-centred writer and soul guide. She writes, “When we are in our bodies, at one with nature, we are in touch with intelligence more significant than our minds. Nature can inspire our movements, align us with our instincts, initiate us into living our soul’s purpose, and guide us in tending the well-being of all life.”

Rebecca shares what she believes differentiates the soul from the spirit. We talk about the importance of stillness, of listening to trees, of sitting with the earth, of allowing. And how to flow in the river of your heart waters.

About Rebecca Wildbear

Rebecca Wildbear is the author of Wild Yoga: A Practice of Initiation, Veneration & Advocacy for the Earth and has guided Wild Yoga programs since 2007. She worked as a yoga teacher trainer at Nosara Yoga Institute for many years and now guides nature and soul programs through Animas Valley Institute.

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Business, Creativity, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Professional Development

Feb 01: Perfect the Fine Art of Problem Solving with Amy Herman

February 1, 2023

Bolster your critical thinking skills, overcome obstacles, and make those hard decisions through art

Art historian and lawyer Amy E. Herman has discovered a way to use works of art to teach us how to hone our perceptions and visual intelligence, presenting a paradigm-shattering twist on problem solving that helps us find solutions to the problems we face every day.

In Fixed, Amy E. Herman gives us access to what the FBI, NATO, the State Department, Interpol, Scotland Yard, and many more organizations and their leaders have been using to solve their most intractable problems.  She teaches us to see things differently, using art to challenge our default thinking and open up possibilities otherwise overlooked.

About Amy E. Herman – Author of Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem Solving.

Amy E. Herman developed The Art of Perception, Inc., in 2000 to improve medical student’s observation and communication skills with their patients when she was the Head of Education at The Frick Collection in New York City. She subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions internationally for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, the military, and the intelligence community.

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Fiction, Women's Issues, Writers on Writing

Jan 25: Wendy Willis Baldwin with Debut Novel The Sisters We Were

January 25, 2023

Book cover The Sisters We Were, Wndy WIllis Baldwin, talking about this on Conversations LIve with Vicki St. ClairWhat brings two estranged sisters back together? How does their healing begin? What sets them free?

Inspired by the real-life experiences of author Wendy Willis Baldwin and her sister Tiffany, The Sisters We Were explores themes from sisterhood, to obesity, sexual abuse, buried rage, and how we cope differently with adversity. Most of all, the story is about how truth will set you free.

Wendy shares the journey of writing her debut novel, as well as the healing journey she shared with Tiffany.

About Wendy Willis Baldwin

Wendy Willis Baldwin is a freelance writer and author. She spent most of her professional life in the communications’ field. She currently cohosts The Life After Fat Pants podcast with sister, Tiffany.

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