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Podcast

Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Jul 05: Author’s Love of Wildlife Inspired Alex Carter Suspense Series

Alex Henderson joins us with A Ghost of Caribou

Alice Henderson’s strong, female protagonist is a wildlife biologist with a twist — she can’t seem to keep out of murder and mayhem. In A Ghost of Caribou Alex Carter arrives in the Selkirk mountains of NE Washington, and what begins as a search for an elusive caribou, leads along a trail of mystery and suspense.

In addition to sharing snippets from her book and writing adventures, Alice shares insight into the plight of caribou and how climate change impacts them. We also discuss why reframing the way we look at climate change, may help us create a better future for our children.

About Alice Henderson

A Ghost of Caribou is the 3rd in the Alex Carter series. In addition to being a prolific writer, Alice Henderson is a sanctuary monitor for the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, where she checks remote cameras, documents mapping, and delivers wildlife surveys to determine what species are present and that there’s no evidence of poaching. Alice has surveyed grizzlies, wolves, wolverines, jaguars, endangered bats, and more. Alice Henderson has written media tie-in novels, including official novels for the TV shows Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While working at LucasArts, she wrote content for Star Wars video games.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Jun 21: Welcome To Beach Town with Susan Wiggs

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

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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Arts, Creativity, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Writers on Writing

Jun 14: Still Procrastinating on Your Creative Projects? Letting Life Get in the Way? Matthew Dicks Has Solutions

Someday is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

Podcast SOMEDAY IS TODAY with Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks is a bestselling novelist, nationally recognized storyteller, playwright, communications consultant, award-winning elementary schoolteacher, humor and advice columnist … and the list goes on.

So how does he get it all done? How does he work, raise a family, and avoid life getting in the way while he writes, creates, gathers stories, and performs on stage?

Matthew shares how to eliminate the usual excuses of not having time, being too exhausted, having too many demands. What he means by finding and using black holes, and how to go from “I’ll do it tomorrow” to getting it done today!

About Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks is a multiple-winner of the Moth GrandSLAM Story Competitions. We last talked with Matthew Dicks about using the power of storytelling to change your life in Storyworthy – podcast. Today we discuss his latest book, Someday is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life

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Creativity, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

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

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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History, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

May 31: The Dark Queens with Shelley Puhak

Incredible True Story of Two Powerful Women & their Bloody Rivalry that Forged the Medieval World

The Dark Queens with author Shelley Puhak

Shelley Puhak joins us with a remarkable true tale that few people know of. It’s about two trailblazing Queens from the Early Middle Ages who wielded enough power to shape early Europe, only to be vilified for daring to rule.

We discuss how they formed coalitions, and broke them. Mothered children and lost them. Fought a decades-long civil war—against each other. And we look at why, after the queens’ deaths—one gentle, the other horrific—they were written out of history, their names consigned to slander and legend.

About Shelley Puhak

Shelley Puhak is a critically acclaimed poet and writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, Teen Vogue,  and elsewhere. Her essays have been included in Best American Travel Writing and selected as Notables in four consecutive editions of Best American Essays. She is the author of two books of poetry, a winner of the Anthony Hecht Prize. Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World is Shelley Puhak’s debut nonfiction book.

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

May 24: Shamanic Healing with Dr. Sharon Martin

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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Non Fiction, Personal Development, Psychology, Self-help

May 10: Free Your Mind of Angst & Live Worry-Free

Emotional Freedom through Deliberate Thinking with Thomas Sterner

Podcast with Thomas Sterner, Author of It’s Just a Thought

We hear a lot about being mindful, living mindfully, and being present. But what does that really mean? And what’s the different between “being mindful” and “thinking vs being thought”?

Thomas Sterner has devoted much of his career to helping people understand that we’re more than the thoughts that run through our head … especially in today’s digital world where we’re exposed to constant messaging that tells us we’re not doing enough, we don’t have enough, we’re not being enough.

Sterner tells us how to connect to the essence of who we truly are. How to deprogram ourselves from patterns not serving us. And we explore how our conscious vs subconscious minds interact.

About Thomas M. Sterner

Thomas Sterner is an expert in Present Moment Functioning, PMF™ and the founder and CEO of the Practicing Mind Institute. He works with high-performance industry groups and individuals, including athletes, coaches, and CEOs. The author of The Practicing Mind and Fully Engaged, Tom’s new book is It’s Just A Thought: Emotional Freedom through Deliberate Thinking.

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Memoir, Non Fiction, Women's Issues

May 03: The Fruit You’ll Never See – A Memoir of Overcoming Shame

Born into Addiction & Sex Trafficking, Gail Brenner Nastasia Has Learned to Embrace Her History

The Fruit You’ll Never See with author Gail Brenner Nastasia

Growing up the daughter of a of a heroin addict is one thing. Gail Brenner Nastasia was also the niece of a woman who brokered deals for men who liked sex with young girls – including the author as a young child.

We discuss the search for Gail’s identity and sense of belonging, as a child and adult, and what kept her going. How she pushed through law school and went on to become a successful criminal defense attorney. And talking of that, why a defense attorney and not a prosecutor, considering all she’d endured as a child? The answer might surprise you.

About Gail Brenner Nastasia

Gail Brenner Nastasia received her MFA from Emerson college and is currently working on her second book, while continuing to practice law.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 19: Elle Marr with The Family Bones

#1 Amazon Charts Bestselling Novelist + A Family of Psychopaths with Dark Family Secrets = A Suspenseful New Thriller

The Family Bones with author Elle Marr

Elle Marr‘s fourth thriller takes us on a wild ride with a mysterious murder and a chilling climax. Protagonist, Olivia, has spent most of her life questioning if her family legacy of psychopathy, spanning many generations, “is nature or nurture?”

Today Elle Marr shares how she developed her key characters for The Family Bones – a psychology student and a true crime podcaster. What she learned during her research about psychopaths. How she creates credible dialogue, and why and how Elle uses multimedia to tell her story. Elle also shares her point of view on “nature or nurture.”

About Elle Marr

Elle Marr is the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of Strangers We Know, Lies We Bury, and The Missing Sister. She graduated from UC San Diego, before moving to France, where she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris. The author now lives and writes in Oregon with her family. 

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