EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today is the author of Scattered Lights, a collection of short stories that was a finalist for the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award in Fiction. He also has written three historical novels: The Language of Trees, This Old World, and Slant of Light. The fourth novel in that series will be coming out … Read More
Public Defender Turned Novelist with Reyna Marder Gentin
EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today grew up in Great Neck, New York. She attended college and law school at Yale. For many years, she practiced as an appellate attorney with a public defender’s office before turning to writing full time. She studied at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, and her work has been … Read More
A Path Darkened by Tragedy with Barbara Rubin
EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today writes her story of joy and sorrow mixed with humor and rage as both mother and advocate for her injured daughter, Jenn. Emotionally invested in her narrative, she had the advantage to write in raw detail about the triumphs and heartbreaks that follow her main character. My guest witnessed first-hand … Read More
Art and Design Inspired a Novel with Susan S. Etkin
EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today became a passionate story writer when her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Hayes, encouraged her to read aloud her imaginings. Her classmates were polite and surprisingly attentive. No hecklers doused the fires of invention that smoldered inside her. Mrs. Hayes didn’t realize that she started Susan on a path that forged her … Read More
Otters As Inspiration with Linda Hansen
EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved to Largo, Florida seven years ago where she currently lives. She took art classes in high school but couldn’t follow her passion for art until she retired. She jokes that she is going to be the next Grandma Moses. There is a … Read More
Beekeeper Turned Sleuth with Abigail Keam
EPISODE SUMMARY My guest today is an award-winning author who has penned a new mystery series—the Mona Moon Mysteries—a rags-to-riches 1930s series which includes real people and events into the storyline. She also writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern beekeeper turned amateur female sleuth. Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, she … Read More
Inspired by Buffalo New York with Stephen G. Eoannou
My guest today was awarded an Honor Certificate from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Best Short Screenplay Award at the 36th Starz Denver Film Festival, and the 2021 International Eyelands Award for Best Historical Novel. He is the author of the novels After Pearl, Yesteryear, Rook, and the short story collection … Read More
A Reluctant Caregiver with Rachel Michelberg
My guest today earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University and has performed leading roles in musicals and operas from Carmen to My Fair Lady, as well as the part of the Mother Abbess (three times!) in The Sound of Music. She loves gardening, hiking, and baking sourdough … Read More
A Notorious Cattle Rustler with Jon Armour
My guest today is an author with projects across multiple genres bringing colorful characters to life in his comedic and witty style. His debut fiction writing muse is depicted in his book “Branded-The Most Notorious Cattle Rustler of Our Time.” Before becoming an author, he plied his talents in IT and construction project management with … Read More
Overcoming an Abusive Childhood with David Pruitt
My guest today is a first-generation college graduate from UNC-Greensboro who previously served on the advisory board for the Bryan School of Business. A licensed CPA, Dave started his business career in an entry-level accounting position before advancing to first CFO, then CEO, of Performance Bike, for a time the largest cycling retailer in the … Read More