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Writers on Writing

Fiction, History, Thriller, Writers on Writing

FEB 24: Steve Berry with The Kaiser’s Web

February 24, 2021

New York Times & #1 International Bestselling Author

Steve Berry returns to Conversations Live with his latest book, which happens to be #16 in the Cotton Malone Series, and Berry’s 20th novel — The Kaiser’s Web. When a secret dossier from a World War II-era Soviet spy is exposed, it could rewrite history and impact Germany’s upcoming national elections, forever changing the political landscape of Europe.

Since Steve is an avid historian and travels extensively for his research, how is he handling pandemic restrictions? How did this impact background material  for The Kaiser’s Web? And what is Steve’s most important piece of marketing advice for authors?

About Steve Berry

History lies at the heart of every Steve Berry novel. His title’s include The Kaiser’s Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, and others. Berry’s books have been translated into 41 languages with 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. And in 2010, a NPR survey named The Templar Legacy one of the top 100 thrillers ever written.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

FEB 10: The Chanel Sisters with Judithe Little

February 10, 2021

One of USA Today’s “5 Books Not to Miss”

Say Chanel and we picture luxury, class, wealth. But THE CHANEL SISTERS grew up in anything but. Set from 1897 to 1921, the story takes us though the humble beginnings and ambitious rise of the sisters.

Author Judithe Little shares some of the extensive research she did to create authentic characters.  We discuss how their upbringing influenced the Chanel brand. We explore where and why Judithe took creative license. Why she told the story from the point of view of younger sister, Antoinette. And what Judithe wishes she’d known when she started out.

About Judithe Little

Judithe Little is the award-winning author of Wickwythe Hall. She earned a BA in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

DEC 30: Award-winning Crime Thriller Author Glen Erik Hamilton

December 30, 2020

The Van Shaw series 5th novel: A Dangerous Breed

We’re ending the year with another chance to catch listener favorite, Glen Erik Hamilton.

We discuss how Glen develops his recurring cast of characters to keep them fresh and evolving. What kind of research he did for A Dangerous Breed. And where and why Glen took creative license.

Glen also shares his perspective on the responsibilities artists have in today’s social and political culture.

About Glen Erik Hamilton

Glen Erik Hamilton writes crime thrillers. His award-winning novels have been called “outstanding” (Publishers Weekly), “perfect mix of serious crime and caper movie” (Criminal Element), and “a must-read series” (Mystery Scene Magazine). Most of Glens’ books begin and end in Seattle, and growing up on a sailboat around local marinas and docks, provided him with a unique insider advantage to writing about the Pacific Northwest.

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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, 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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