Tag

Writing

Arts, Creativity, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Aug 09: A Creative Guide to Stir Inspiration in Any Creator

August 9, 2023

Ruta Sepetys Seeker of Lost Stories

Podcast: You the Story with author Ruta Sepetys

Do you know the number one question that writers, musicians, artists, and designers are asked?

Where does your inspiration come from?

In her powerful how-to book, You The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory, Ruta Sepetys shares tools and resources that any artist can adapt to reach a higher level of creativity.

Ruta knows from extensive research – and her own experience writing five award-winning historical novels – that the secret to strong creative writing can be found in your own life experiences … no matter how boring you think your life may be.

We discuss ways to tap into your emotions and leverage humor. Why finding rhythm is key. Why biographical references matter. Why so many artists struggle to find their voice, and why discovering vision may be even more important. And how to draw on your own roots, memories, and creativity to spark inspiration.

About Ruta Sepetys

An internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages, Ruta Sepetys is also the winner of the Carnegie Medal. Her books have won or been shortlisted for over 40 awards, 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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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

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

July 5, 2023

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

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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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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Essays, Memoir, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Nov 09: Peter Orner – Still No Word From You: Notes in the Margin

November 9, 2022

Observations on books, stories, poems, and life by the author of Am I Alone Here?

He’s known as a writer’s writer, a triple threat — novelist, short story master, and prolific essayist. But if you ask Peter Orner what he really wants readers to take away from his work, it’s connection.

Still No Word from You: Notes in the Margin melds intimate stories from the lived life and reading life. We discuss how Peter’s stories are often built around small moments;  how he knows which moments will make a great story. Living the writer’s life. What challenges Peter as a writer, and more.

About Peter Orner

The author of two novels and several story collections, Peter Orner‘s work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and more. His previous essay collection, Am I Alone Here? Notes on Living to Read and Reading to Live, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism. Peter Orner is a 3-time recipient of the Pushcart Prize and has received numerous awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship, and a Fulbright in Namibia. He is currently the director of creative writing at Dartmouth College.

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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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Creativity, Non Fiction, Personal Development, Psychology

SEP 09: The Power of Daily Practice with Dr. Eric Maisel

September 9, 2020

Many people thought they’d have time to tackle their personal projects during the pandemic. But few have. If working at home, juggling childcare, joblessness, fear, or uncertainty has you on hold, Dr. Eric Maisel, is the perfect expert to help. He’s devoted his career to the psychology of creativity, living with purpose, and getting the important things done.

We discuss what Dr. Maisel means by daily practice, and it’s probably not what you think. We explore the psychological and practical benefits of daily practice; discuss some of the 20 elements he identifies to make your practice successful. And how to overcome challenges. Eric also shares his interpretation of what’s really going on with procrastination … and it’s linked to anxiety.

Eric Maisel, PhD, is the author of more than 50 books in the areas of critical psychology, writing, creativity, and the creative life. He’s a former psychotherapist and current creativity coach. His new book is The Power of Daily Practice: How Creative and Performing Artists (and Everyone Else) Can Finally Meet Their Goals. 

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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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