Category

Fiction

Fiction, Short Stories, Writers on Writing

OCT 14: #1 NYT Bestseller James Rollins with Unrestricted Access

October 14, 2020

James Rollins discusses his first-ever anthology of short stories

Featuring stand-alone stories, some familiar characters, and a brand new novella, James Rollins latest book includes an introduction to each story, sharing a little background that highlights his writing career.

Today we explore some of James’ research into story locations and the myths surrounding them. We discuss the differences between short story and novella writing. And James tells us why — when the legendary George R R Martin invited him to write a short story featuring a warrior — he chose to develop a four legged warrior in The Pit.

About James Rollins

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

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

OCT 07: Lisa Unger with her Latest Psychological Thriller

October 7, 2020

Lisa Unger’s fascination with sociopaths, narcissists, and what makes people tick, has served her storytelling well. She’s known as a master of suspense and psychological thrillers, and returns to Conversations Live with her latest novel.

Confessions on the 7:45

We discuss body language and why people lie. How some of things we believe about liars aren’t true. We explore what con-men look for when choosing their target — and why we often don’t recognize we’re being conned until it’s too late. Lisa also shares tips on staying productive as a busy author during these chaotic times.

About Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 18 novels, including Confessions on the 7:45 — an October 2020 Indie Next Great Read pick. Unger’s critically acclaimed books have also been voted Best of the Year or Top Picks by the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, and others.

 

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Creativity, Fiction, Social Issues, Writers on Writing

JUL 15: A Dangerous Breed with Glen Erik Hamilton

July 15, 2020

Thriller author Glen Erik Hamilton returns to Conversations Live with the latest novel in his popular Van Shaw series, A Dangerous Breed.  We discuss a broad range of topics, including character development and how he keeps his recurring characters evolving from book to book.  We also dive into some of the research he did for the novel, and where he took creative license and why.

Glen also shares his perspective on artist rights and responsibilities as related to our current political climate and how artists can (or should) go about representing characters from other backgrounds or orientations.

Glen grew up aboard a sailboat in Seattle, Washington, playing and occasionally finding trouble around the islands, marinas, and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest.  His books in the Van Shaw series have won numerous awards and received critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and more.

 

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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, Writers on Writing

JUN 24: #1 NYT Bestselling Thriller Author on The Last Odyssey

June 24, 2020

James Rollins blends science, history, and thrills in The Last Odyssey — the 15th of his books in the Sigma series.

We share how James’ travels and some of the history he discovered inspired the story. And separate fact from fiction by exploring where and why he took creative license. We also take a quick look at what’s coming later in 2020 in a book of short fiction stories.

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages, with more than 25 million copies sold.

 

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Arts, Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUN 10: Alka Joshi with The Henna Artist

June 10, 2020

Today Vicki chats with author Alka Joshi about her new book The Henna Artist.  Alka shares some of the intimate details of her relationship with her mother that led her to develop the main character in the book, and reveals the cultural traditions and legacies of India in the process.  She also shares her own personal story of what it’s like to be a nine year old immigrant in a strange and new culture.

Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, Alka has lived in the U.S. since the age of nine. She graduated from Stanford University and worked in the fields of advertising and PR before starting her own marketing consultancy. In 2011, she obtained her MFA in Creative Writing from the California College of Arts in San Francisco, California. The Henna Artist is her first novel. 

Alka shares her writing and publishing process on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNLMIc32Z-y4hzkiE3o6rQ

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

JUN 03: The Last Trial with Scott Turow

June 3, 2020

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Presumed Innocent joins Conversations Live with his new explosive legal thriller, The Last Trial.

We discuss why, as an already established writer, Scott Turow became a lawyer. How he’s evolved his favorite recurring character, Alejandro “Sandy” Stern — now 85 years old. And we explore two of the big questions at the heart of the book: What’s the value of a life? And what do we do, when our strongly held beliefs are pushed to the limit?

Scott Turow is the author of 11 bestselling works of fiction and two nonfiction. His books have sold more than 30 million copies, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He’s frequently contributed to the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.

 

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

MAY 13: Love, Death, and Rare Books by Robert Hellenga

May 13, 2020

Award winning writer, Robert Hellenga, joins us with his eighth novel, Love, Death, and Rare Books. BOOKLIST describes the story as “... an ode to physical books, their smell and feel, but also to the idea of both living life and reading about it, not choosing one over the other.”

Robert’s been writing for 40 years about love and loss, so what does he know now that he wishes he’d known when he first began his writing journey?  How did the Italian men who worked for his father influence him as a child? And what did he learn about the rare book business during his story research? He’ll answer these questions and more today.

Robert Helenga’s many accolades range from The Pen Syndicated Fiction Award, to the Washington Post “Best Novels of 2010″, and the Society of Midland Authors 2015 fiction award. Hellenga is professor emeritus at Knox College in Galesburg, where he taught for many years.

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Creativity, Fiction, History, Writers on Writing

MAR 25: James Rollins & The Last Odyssey

March 25, 2020

Vicki welcomes back for the fourth time #1 New York Times Bestselling author James Rollins to discuss the 15th novel in his popular Sigma Force series.  Blending historical fact and science fiction with the suspense of a thriller, The Last Odyssey is described as the thinking readers fiction.

Today we’ll talk about how some of the history and James’ travels inspired the story.  We’ll also separate a little fact from fiction, and take a sneak peek at a new book of short fiction coming later in the year.

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers, translated into more than forty languages, with more than 25 million copies sold.  A practicing veterinarian, Rollins has pursued scuba, spelunking, and other adventures around the world, and currently lives and writes in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

 

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Fiction, History, Writers on Writing, Young Adult Fiction

MAR 04: Sharon Cameron with The Light in Hidden Places

March 4, 2020

With World War II Poland as a backdrop, The Light in Hidden Places is based on the extraordinary true story of Stefania Podgorska, a teenage girl who made the choice to hide 13 Jews in the attic, while two Nazis requisitioned the house below them.  Author Sharon Cameron took a hands-on approach to her research, stepping foot into the places and experiences of one of the most troubling times in world history.  As memories dwindle, Sharon emphasizes the importance of carrying history forward through storytelling, and shares where, how, and why she took creative license in telling this remarkable story.

Sharon Cameron is a multiple award-winning author, and the #1 NYT bestselling author of The Dark Unwinding, A Spark Unseen, Rook, The Forgetting, and The Knowing. 

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