Indie Reads Aloud: A Storytelling Podcast
By Diana Kathryn Penn
Each week, we'll feature an Indie Author with a story to tell. No long-winded interviews. No sales pitches. Just stories. Most of the stories we tell will be family-friendly, but if they're not, you'll get fair warning before the reading begins. If you want to discover more, investigate the story notes for links to the author and where to buy their books.
Indie Reads Aloud: A Storytelling PodcastOct 12, 2022
Episode #163 Nikki Mitchell "Season of Dragons"
Author: Nikki Mitchell is the award-winning American author of the Middle Grade Portal Fantasy trilogy; Eleanor Mason’s Literary Adventures, and The Magic Shoebox Adventures.
She is a native of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and lives there with her husband, two children, two rabbits, three cats, and a dog. She is a proud member of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA). As a mom of a child with ADHD and a sensory processing disorder (SPD), she continues to write fantasy tales with disabled characters, and characters with ADHD, anxiety, and Autism.
Book Title: Season of Dragons - #1 in the Magic Shoebox Series
Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy
Book Synopsis: What would you do if you found a dragon egg at your bus stop?
Ichabod Surname never imagined he’d be spending a Friday afternoon cross-country skiing with a grandma dragon—but that’s exactly what happens when he finds a giant egg on the way to school.
For as long as he can remember, he has been at war with his siblings because he thinks outside of the box. He stays invisible at home and school, but for the first time in his life, he may be the key to restoring the weather and happiness in the village of Hasir.
Can Ichabod and Gran fix what has gone awry and end the sibling war before Ichabod’s science teacher notices he is gone? --an enchanting fantasy about finding family, unexpected friendships, and the importance of being true to who you are.*The Magic Shoebox Adventure books feature:
--easy-to-read chapters for all readers
--ADHD representation
--Fun adventure for the whole family
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #162 Lisa Jacovsky with "Happy Thoughts! Going To The Aquarium.
About The Author: Lisa Jacovsky currently lives in her hometown of North Brunswick, NJ. She works as a Child Development Specialist with Early Intervention. In her job she is able to help children under the age of three with cognitive and developmental delays, sometimes with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has been working in the field of applied behavior analysis for eight years and this is where she had inspiration for writing her very first series, Lets Talk!. Her hopes for this series are to simply inspire families and their children to be open to anyone no matter their differences. There will be six books in the series, with the fourth in production right now! Lisa has always loved writing and hopes to use this way of expression to show the beauty that is in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Title: Happy Thoughts! Going To The Aquarium
Genre: Children’s
Book Synopsis: Emma is so excited to be going on lots of adventures with her best friends Harper and Jerry! She happens to have autism and talks differently than other kids but she has never let that stop her. In their newest adventure the friends are going to the aquarium for the first time. Narrated by Emma, she will take you on a journey of having to learn how to make a new friend even though she is very nervous. Sometimes she has anxiety when new people try to talk to her but with the help of her best friends, she learns how to get past it. Come along on this fun journey to the aquarium and hear it from Emma's point of view for the first time.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Special Launch Episode: Melinda Falgoust with "Church Da Surfin' Staffy"
Today, we celebrate a new project coming to Kickstarter on April 1, 2024, with Louisiana Indie Author, Melinda Falgoust. In her new children's board book, "Church The Surfin' Staffy," Melinda tells an endearing true tale of 'ohana (family) and malama (caring) through the eyes of a Hawaiian surf pup turned therapy dog.
THIS EPISODE INCLUDES THE PUBLIC DEBUT READING OF THE BOOK BY THE AUTHOR!
Title: Church Da Surfin' Staffy
Genre: Children's Board Book
Book Synopsis: When a lonely puppy named Church finds his "fur-ever" home on a surfboard with a boy named James, life is pretty maika'i (awesome). But when the local surf pup steps up to earn his official service animal rating, and starts working to help others overcome their fears and anxiety, it gets even better.
This adorable and heartfelt true story celebrates the Hawaiian practice of malama (caring) and invites readers big and small to join Church's 'ohana - an ever-growing family around the world - all of whom share Church's happy philosophy: to face whatever life throws at you together with a smile and laughter.
Follow this link to discover more about this extraordinary Kickstarter campaign and how you can support the important work of saving animals in shelters and lending aid to the victims of last year's Hawaiian wildfires. There are several levels of sponsorship for this project, each with its own limited, exclusive reward. But you'll want to act fast. The Kickstarter opens on April 1, 2024, and only lasts 30 days.
Follow the links on our website to learn more about this amazing project and how you can help!
Episode #161 Jan Mau Hill with "Rock"
About The Author: Jan Mau Hill was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her career was in advertising and corporate marketing before transitioning to be a full-time writer. She lived for decades in the beautiful Pacific Northwest which inspired the setting of her first book. Currently, she’s back in the deep-south where she tends to speak her mind and raise some Cain.
Book Title: Rock
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Reputation Trashed. Labeled a Terrorist. No one said life was easy.
In retrospect, seventeen-year-old Samara Yancy should not have taken the shortcut on her final exam. Her expulsion from The Guardian Academy forces her to look for work beyond the protections of her home on The Rock. A job on The Mainland seems like the answer to her problems.
Working for Mages has a downside. Besides their magic, which can kill, Sam’s affiliation with them makes her the prime suspect in a terrorist attack. In order to clear her name, she must join forces with those who view her as the enemy.
Lies and manipulation block her attempts to get at the truth. But all that digging unearths a family secret she never wanted to know. As well as discovering a powerful enemy who wants her dead.
Sam is stuck between The Rock and a hard place, with no one to blame but herself.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #160 Allison Spooner with "The Lost Girl"
About The Author: Allison Spooner is the author of two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark and The Problem with Humans, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies. The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story is her debut novel.
When she isn't writing, Allison loves reading, doing yoga, trying not to kill her plants, watching bad disaster movies, and spending time with her family in her home state of Michigan.
The Lost Girl won the PenCraft 2024 Book Award for Literary Excellence!
Book Title: The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Can Neverland save Peter Pan's descendant? Angela, the great-granddaughter of Peter Pan, is dying. Doctors have given up hope, but her mother, raised on tales of a magical land of eternal youth, is not done fighting. In a desperate attempt to save her thirteen-year-old daughter, she sends a reluctant Angela off toward the second star to the right and straight on till morning.
But Neverland is not the idyllic paradise Angela imagined. The landscape has lost its luster. The Lost Boys are aimless and desperate for a leader. The pirates are bored and ready for a fight. Led by an incompetent and erratic Captain Smee, they want Neverland for themselves and will stop at nothing to get rid of Angela. In this volatile landscape, Angela's promise to fight for her life is tested at every turn.
Thrust reluctantly into adventure, Angela must navigate the treacherous seas of her own mortality, consider a future without her mother, and discover the difference between living and simply surviving.
Neverland, with the guidance of her new friends and the echoes of her great-grandfather's legacy, could save Angela’s life . . . but maybe not in the way she expects.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #159 J.M. Samland with "The Necromancer of Urbus"
Listener Advisory: Strong Imagery
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: The Necromancer of Urbus: Book Four of The Chronicler's Awakening Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Cazlandt, the first of the archmages, seeks atonement.
He travels to the corrupted realm of Urbus to discover a spell capable of reaching beyond the final curtain, to undo his murder of a friend seven centuries ago. Guided by a swordsman with his own haunted past and a talking, flying cat, Cazlandt travels across a realm of wraiths and shadow. Battling fragments of banished dark gods, daemon from the space between worlds, and the poisonous energy seeping into his mortal shell, he forges toward the world tree for a single, selfless act.
Though maybe not the one he intended.
In his third novel, author J. M. Samland's Necromancer of Urbus will suck you into a dark world to watch the spiraling path of his key anti-hero.
Will Cazlandt find what he seeks? Will he make it out of Ubrus without taking a sliver of that cursed realm with him? Read Necromancer of Urbus, prequel to Realms of Terswood and The Chronicler's Awakening trilogy to find out!
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #158 J.M. Samland and "Seeds of Farsil"
Listener Advisory: Violence, Graphic Imagery
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Seeds of Farsil: Book Three of The Chronicler's Awakening Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Book Synopsis: If you had the power to go back to undo the worst atrocities, or even a single failure, would you? Should you? Alishia, the Chronicler, grapples with this question and the consequences.
Invaders wielding overwhelming magic bring the leaders of Poas to their knees. They come bearing an invitation to the rebirth of the realm and to witness as they assume singular rule.
Lone, regent king of Dracon and king of the archmages, manages the fallout from his late aunt’s disastrous final moments and this father’s waning sanity, all while struggling to gather allies against this new threat. Should he fail, his enemies will rise to power and leave this nation to waste away in the frozen north.
Alishia, the Chronicler, manipulates her power over time to flit across realms, but she must eventually return home. She arrives just as events are getting to their worst for Lone, leaving her with a dreadful test of her morals and how far she will take her budding power.
Seeds of Farsil marks the last installment in The Chronicler’s Awakening series, though not a finale for the players involved. In a tale of love and loss, cosmic forces reach across time to bring Alishia and Lone’s reality to the brink of annihilation and press them to define what it means to achieve victory.
Episode #157 J.M. Samland with "Trials of Throk'tar"
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Trials of Throk’tar: Book Two in The Chronicler's Awakening series
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Book Synopsis: You can't change what has already passed…right?
Throk'tar is the realm home to the gronyn, a race of mighty warriors; noble and strict in their traditions.
Alishia does not belong here.
While struggling to understand her newfound powers as the Chronicler, an encounter with an unlikely adversary throws Alishia into the distant past of Throk'tar. She journeys across the hostile land alongside bickering brothers, hunting the one that brought her to this realm in hopes of finding a way home.
All the while, Alishia is terrified one wrong step in the past might undo her own past. Luckily, her future self left her clues.
Journey alongside a strong female lead between the realms and through the Trials of Throk'tar, the second book in The Chronicler's Awakening series. Find out if swords, spells, and intrigue can change the past's future.
Could Alishia cause herself not to be born?
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
2024 Virtual Book Festival "Seance At The Whitney" Feb 1
This year's theme is "The Seance at The Whitney. For those unfamiliar, The David Whitney Jr. House was built by successful lumber baron David Whitney Jr., one of Michigan’s wealthiest citizens and the wealthiest man in Detroit, at the time. The house was completed in 1894. Whitney was worth more than $15 million when he died in 1900. The Ghost Bar, known for its "Witching Hour Martini," is located on the house's third floor. This is where our fictional story will take place. For anyone who would like to know more, visit The Whitney's website. A collection of brave authors who volunteer, will play the role of one of eight personas attending a Seance at the Whitney's Ghost Bar. During the game, we'll discover a mystery (or two) and work each night to solve it. The authors are kept in the dark about who did what and when... they are only given brief character sketches and a thin plot outline. From that, they must answer questions posed by other players and visitors (readers) who join us each night of the festival. Fifteen minutes each night is devoted to probing questions and super-sleuthing skills to ferret out the clues and bring us closer to learning the solution to the mystery. Put a bunch of writers into a room together and give them the chance to do a little Improv, and the result is tremendously entertaining. Disclaimer: All characters and story elements created for this mystery game are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The use of The Whitney Estate and the family’s history is used purely as a reference to place our game and story in the Detroit, Michigan area. Any resemblance to the actual building, grounds, and situations that we inserted into that space are executed in the spirit of creative license, and no malice nor slander is intended or implied to the Whitney family, estate, building, or current owners/operators. The improvisational theatrical mystery game we present here, “The Séance At The Whitney,” has been created in the spirit of fun, and is intended as entertainment only, and is not an assertion of the haunted state of the Whitney Mansion. Learn More at www.PagesPromotions.com
Episode #156 J.M. Samland and "Realms of Tersewood"
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Realms of Terswood
Book 1 of The Chronicler's Awakening Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Book Synopsis: An ancient scabbard holds immeasurable power to shape the future and reave the past.
Lone, prince of the archmages, doesn't realize how close his world is to its end until his aunt's failing sanity forces him to set aside his thirst for adventure and struggle to hold his nation together. Daemon and the undead rise against him while he unravels a centuries-old plot too late to stop. His failure means the death of his family and the entire realm.
Twenty-five years ago, Daelin was the sole survivor in the final battle against the necromancer Amer and terrors have plagued his every night since. He and his wife, Queen Teiris, thought they were going on a peaceful trip to honor the dead when a physical manifestation of the madness growing within Daelin forces them to flee alongside two mysterious beings as old as time.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
January 2024 Book Club with Kristoffer Gair and "Butterflies I Have Known"
Indie Authors write some of the most fascinating, engaging, and remarkable stories. But they aren't as easily discovered... so we're doing what we can to change that dynamic.
At the start of each month, we'll post a title and tell you a little bit about the book and the author. At the end of the month, we'll all meet in the Zoom Room to talk about the book and enjoy a discussion with the author. You'll get to ask questions, and learn about their writing process, influences, and other interesting stuff.
This group is free to join, and all of the authors' books are available in print and ebook on Amazon and through other retailers. Check with your local library, too. If they don't have a lending copy, ask them to order it!
January's Book Club Selection:
- Butterflies I Have Known
- by Kristoffer Gair
Book Synopsis: Even time cannot stop love.
University professor Matthew Richter hates complications. Planning his every day down to the second leaves no opportunity for a social life, which he doesn’t feel the need for anyway.
Jian Wei helps run his family’s business. The only thing he enjoys more than tormenting his parents and siblings with endless pranks is plotting his next trick on a certain uptight customer.
Though so different, chance inexplicably draws them both to a World War II photography exhibit, and the aging photographer Milton Glass.
Milton shares the story of two soldiers brutally cut down on the battlefield—which has haunted him for the better part of his life—and his suspicions that the soldiers shared a bond they never fully realized.
Now, in the twilight of his life, Milton can’t help but wonder if Matthew and Jian share a potential bond of their own. Could they possibly be the same men from so long ago, returned for a second chance at being together? Milton can hope.
Learn More at www.DKPWRiter.com
Episode #155 Holly DiBella-McCarthey and "Dilly Duck Plans A Parade"
About The Author: Holly DiBella-McCarthy is an educator with over 30 years in the field teaching students in pre-k through college. With a master's and sixth year degree in special education, Holly taught young children in public school specializing in early reading skills, and college students at 3 Universities in Connecticut, USA. Holly was also the Director of Special Education for 15 years in 2 public school districts. During her career Holly co-authored many articles published in professional education journals, and developed training for teachers, paraprofessionals and parents in school readiness skills, home-school connection, behavior management, and crisis prevention.
Holly's Children's Picture Book 'Dilly Duck Plays All Day' has received the prestigious Mom's Choice Gold Award, Royal Dragonfly first place award, the Pacific Book award, and 3 Reader's Favorite awards. Dilly Duck will have kids practicing rhyming, counting, and recognizing emotions while having fun. 'Dilly Duck Plans a Parade' will be released in the Fall of 2023.
Holly is equally passionate about art and crafting, and her Learn How to Book Fold books are teaching beginners this art form.
Title: Dilly Duck Plans A Parade
Genre: Children’s
Synopsis: When a flock of ducks asks for help to find color from around the lake for their parade, Dilly Duck convinces her beaver friend to join the crew. How will Billy Beaver be able to help when the only color he can see is brown?
This fun rhyming adventure will have kids cheering for the pair as Billy learns to use his other senses to find each new color to make the parade shine. Kids will be inspired to plan their own colorful parade after Dilly Duck Plans a Parade is read!
Dilly Duck and Friends books reinforce beginning learning and social skills needed for school success. Young children acquire school-ready concepts while rhyming, counting, finding color, learning about empathy with a color-blind Beaver, and learning the true meaning of friendship with Dilly and her crew.
Learn More at www.DKPWRiter.com
Episode #154 Tandi Thomas and "Sweet Surrender"
About The Author: Tandi Thomas, a poetic soul with roots in Southeastern Kentucky, now calls the vibrant Metro Detroit area in Michigan her home. In the company of her cherished family and beloved pets, she finds inspiration in the every day moments. When she's not crafting mesmerizing verses, you can find Tandi lost in the world of literature, creating culinary wonders in the kitchen, dancing to the rhythm of life, and treasuring quality time with her loved ones.
Book Title: Sweet Surrender
Genre: Poetry
Synopsis: Embark on a captivating literary journey with "Sweet Surrender," a profound and deeply personal exploration penned by the talented wordsmith, Tandi Thomas. In this beautifully crafted collection of poetry, Tandi bares her soul, inviting you to join her on an extraordinary voyage of self-discovery, resilience, and ultimate empowerment.
Within the pages of "Sweet Surrender," you will encounter the essence of a woman who has harnessed her inner strength and risen above adversity. Tandi's poetry resonates with power and choice, offering you a mirror to reflect on your own life's journey. As you navigate her verses, you will discover not only the raw beauty of self-healing but also the profound wellspring of compassion and grace that lies within us all.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #153 Holly DiBella-McCarthy with Dilly Duck Plays All Day
About The Author: Holly DiBella-McCarthy is an educator with over 30 years in the field teaching students in pre-k through college. With a master's and sixth year degree in special education, Holly taught young children in public school specializing in early reading skills, and college students at 3 Universities in Connecticut, USA. Holly was also the Director of Special Education for 15 years in 2 public school districts. During her career Holly co-authored many articles published in professional education journals, and developed training for teachers, paraprofessionals and parents in school readiness skills, home-school connection, behavior management, and crisis prevention.
Holly's Children's Picture Book 'Dilly Duck Plays All Day' has received the prestigious Mom's Choice Gold Award, Royal Dragonfly first place award, the Pacific Book award, and Three Reader's Favorite awards. Dilly Duck will have kids practicing rhyming, counting, and recognizing emotions while having fun. 'Dilly Duck Plans a Parade' will be released in the Fall of 2023.
Holly is equally passionate about art and crafting, and her Learn How to Book Fold books are teaching beginners this art form.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Epipsode #152 John Morris and "The Battles We All Face"
About The Author: John was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 1988. Over the next 21 years, John remained in Huddersfield at home with his parents. During this time, he began to follow his passions for bodybuilding, wrestling, music, youth work, and eventually, his true love, art. John applied himself fully to his passions, winning awards in bodybuilding, learning to play guitar beautifully, becoming passionate about the lives of others and developing his skills with a paintbrush.
Book Title: The Battles We All Face: Hope In Times of Uncertainty
Genre: Self-help/ Spiritual Guidance
Book Synopsis: Do you struggle with life? Battling Anxiety? Depression? Managing your time? Motivation? On a daily basis want to know some very simple self-help methods that can greatly increase your joy of living? You are looking at the book that could change your life. Many make that claim and fall short. Not this book, however. Over the last decade, I have personally gone through most of what life can throw at me. From temporary homelessness, anxiety, BPD, betrayal, relationship breakups, medical misdiagnosis, depressions and so much more.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #151 Joan Ramirez and "Jamie Is Autistic"
About The Author: Joan holds a Master of Science in Business, Medical, and Technical Journalism as well as two others in ESL and Education. She has published on a variety of topics from cochlear implants to the economy and has conducted workshops –domestic and foreign–on the nuances of business communications for managers and start-up companies. She is the leader of her own enterprise with training programs for entrepreneurs–all levels and recently published two books–Jamie is Autistic: Learning in a Special Way and Go for It Leadership Handbook for All Students. This book has also been translated into Spanish.
Book Title: Jamie Is Autistic: Learning In A Special Way
Genre: Children’s
Book Synopsis: This is the story of one young girl's struggles as an Autistic learner. Through the support of parents, teachers, and a school counselor she is able to learn and make friends. Exercises to help Autistic learners are included in the back of the book. While this was written for Autistic students, it will also show children the importance of acceptance of others and learning in different ways.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #150 Mark Love with "Fleeing Beauty"
Listener Advisory: Mature Situations
About The Reader: Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. As a former freelance reporter, Mark honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the author of the Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, the Jefferson Chene mystery series, and more. Mark now resides in West Michigan, where he enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking, and the great outdoors.
Title: Fleeing Beauty
Genre: Mystery
Book Synopsis: A discovery of priceless artwork leads Jamie on a collision course with danger.
Jamie Richmond used to live a nice, quiet life. But last fall she witnessed the shooting of a police officer and figured out who did it. Then this winter saw her best friend targeted by a stalker and kidnapped. Yep, Jamie solved that one and came to the rescue. Now it’s summertime and the living is supposed to be easy. All she wants to do is write her novels and spend free time with Malone, the guy who has been by her side since all this craziness began. But that’s not likely to happen.
Jamie’s father was a very successful sculptor who tragically died more than twenty years ago when she was just a child. What she remembers about him is little more than bits and pieces. A storeroom filled with crates of his work is discovered in an old converted factory. This potential fortune in artwork has been waiting all these years. Jamie recruits Malone and a few close friends to help her unpack the crates and bring her father’s gifts out to the light of day. News of this discovery leads to a robbery. Now Jamie is determined to figure out who is behind the crime.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #149 J.L. Regen and "Secret Desires"
About the Author: J.L. Regen lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught special education and English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three nonfiction books.
JLR holds a Master of Science in Business, Medical, and Technical Journalism as well as two others in ESL and Education. She has published on a variety of topics from cochlear implants to the economy and has conducted workshops –domestic and foreign–on the nuances of business communications for managers and start-up companies. She is the leader of her own enterprise with training programs for entrepreneurs–all levels and recently published two books–Jamie is Autistic: Learning in a Special Way and Go for It Leadership Handbook for All Students.
Book Title: Secret Desires
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Synopsis: Nothing in Margo Simmons’ life comes easy. She can’t claim the inheritance on a condo apartment her uncle has left to her until she is gainfully employed in a job for a year. She meets the man of her dreams but anguishes over a loving relationship because he is still emotionally tied to his deceased wife. With great difficulty, she becomes the guardian to a recently orphaned child she had been tutoring. Margo evolves from an insecure, newbie elementary teacher into a woman determined to fulfill the secret desires locked in her heart. This story speaks to anyone who has suffered a loss and had to start over.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #148 MaKenzi Fox and "Jerry The Giraffe"
About The Author: MaKenzi Fox, a full-time teacher and children’s book author, released her first book, “Jerry the Giraffe: Quiet in the Classroom,” in May 2023.
The book, written by Fox and illustrated by Jaylin Monroe, is now available on Amazon and featured in four different Oklahoma bookstores Deer Clan Books in Bethany, Pear Street Books in Oklahoma City, Best of Books in Edmond and Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma City.
Title: Jerry The Giraffe: Quiet In The Classroom
Genre: Children’s
Book Synopsis: Jerry the Giraffe is SO TIRED of coming to school!
Jerry feels that the classroom is always too loud, and the noise makes it hard for him to learn and focus in class.
Because of this, his teacher, Ms. Fox, comes up with a solution to get the classroom to be quiet, which makes it a better school day for everyone! She invents the "Jerry the Giraffe" hand signal, which helps quiet down the classroom!
In Jerry the Giraffe: Quiet in the Classroom, you as a teacher will find a manageable solution to help quiet down your classroom. This book is meant to be read to your students and will introduce to them the "Jerry the Giraffe" method, a fun and engaging way to "quiet down" your classroom!
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #147 Edward Bentley and "What A Way To Go"
Listener Advisory: Language, Violence, Mature Situations, Graphic Descriptions of Death
About The Author: In about 1985 Edward began research in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin newspaper the Daily Northwestern, regarding a local artist, John Franklin Waldo, who lived there in the late nineteenth century. He noticed that, as mention was made almost weekly of the frightening loss of life and limb, the use of language enabled me to visualize much of the intense pain and suffering of the individuals involved in those events and also of the friends and relatives surrounding them. His intention in assembling these life-endling stories - the ultimate in realty - is to share that fascination with, and the appreciation for, journalism in the 1880's.
Title: What A Way To Go: Death In Oshkosh in the 1880’s
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Book Synopsis: Before photography was commonplace, newspaper writers used a unique, graphic style of writing to allow readers to visualize the sometimes horrific and tragic events that occurred in their cities and neighborhoods. This book showcases such articles and obituaries from the 1880's in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and is a fascinating read for residents, researchers and history buffs.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #146 Kathryn LeBlanc and "Quinn"
About The Author: Kathryn LeBlanc, is also the author of award-winning Quilting Cozy Mysteries under the pen name Kathryn Mykel. She is an avid quilter and full-time author in both the cozy mystery and romance genres.
Book Title: Quinn
Genre: Historical Romance
Book Synopsis: Standing at the altar with her soon-to-be husband–a vile businessman–Quinn Gallagher is powerless. Worse than losing her choice to marry for love, she’s losing the one thing she truly cares about–being a nurse. A marriage designed for one thing–merge two prominent Montana families. Will her father understand her decision to run?
Fleeing her home with little more than her hopes and dreams, uncertainty and indecision land Quinn in the middle of a dangerous situation. And in the arms of Sheriff Thomas Lincoln–a heartbroken widower on a mission to find a new doctor. Will Thomas realize that Quinn is just what he, and his community need to heal?
Potts, Arkansas–sixteen hundred miles from Montana–a close-knit, stubborn community of thirty-five. Rocked by loss and searching for a new small-town male doctor.
Will the community accept a gifted female nurse instead?
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #145 Linda Hansen with "Little Lost Dog, FInding His Home"
About The Author: Linda Hansen grew up in St. Louis and currently lives in Florida. She works in watercolor and acrylics. Her style is often filled with bold color and though her work is not abstract.
Linda’s work background is diverse but for 25 years she was the Executive Director of a non-profit. During this time Linda created a book for the non-profit called Beauty Is… It is a book about self-esteem.
Linda has a lifelong love for animals. Currently, Linda and her husband own two dogs, ‘our girls’. Since moving to Florida, Linda has helped save a great grey heron, an anhinga, a snowy egret, and a grackle nestling. Recently, they rescued a lost dog and found him a loving home.
Title: Little Lost Dog, Looking For His Home
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Book Synopsis: Join the journey of a sweet little lost dog who was discovered wandering the streets of a suburban neighborhood. Explore the themes of love, commitment, and the importance of responsible pet ownership as the family goes above and beyond to find the Little Lost Dog's home.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #144 Ian Tadashi Moore with Zosan
About The Author: Ian Tadashi Moore is a father, designer, musician, and artist from southeast Michigan. He grew up talking to the bugs in the back lawn and plinking melodies on piano keys. He likes the sounds words make and will probably never act his age. He has written and illustrated three books, Zōsan (2015), Tamaishi (2018), and Where All the Little Things Live (2020).
With each book he created a companion audiobook, a dream he had ever since he was a kid getting lost listening to books on audio cassettes. He narrates, performs, and composes a soundtrack for a truly immersive experience. Ian lives in southeast Michigan with his wife and sons.
Title: Zosan
Genre: Middle Grade
Book Synopsis: Zōsan was Ian’s first book, based on a Japanese folks song of the same name. Zochi the elephant is happy in his own little world with Mama and Papa Zo (象, elephant), but when he meets the Whistler he suddenly finds all kinds of new beauty in familiar places.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode 143 Jennifer Raines with "Lela's Choice"
About The Author: Australian Jennifer Raines writes contemporary romances set mainly, but not exclusively, in Australia – think Malta, Finland, and New Zealand. A dreamer and an optimist, her stories are a delicious cocktail of mutual respect, passion, and loyalty because she still believes in happily-ever-afters. An award winning author, Jennifer Raines’ stories combine a love of romance with contemporary conflicts. Her writing is both relevant and heart-warming. Each story is a journey across the world. Jennifer likes to think her readers get occasional hints of the deep passion of a Nora Roberts or the unshakeable loyalty of a Grace Burrowes where love conquers loneliness, distrust, and fear.
Title: Lela’s Choice
Genre: Romance
Book Synopsis: Lela has been a dutiful daughter and aunt for the past decade. But her plan to wean her father and orphaned niece off their dependence on her is scuttled when her niece and boyfriend flee Sydney for Malta. Lela suspects her autocratic father of provoking the flight. Lela’s desperate to reach the teenager before her father’s ultimatums blow another generation apart.
Widowed, Australian international child-protection lawyer, Hamish McGregor accepts Giovanni Vella’s request to remain in Malta after a conference to search for Vella’s missing granddaughter. Hamish’s formidable reputation is built on putting the needs of the child first. He doubled down on his work after the revenge murder of his pregnant wife by a client’s husband, vowing never to get close enough to another woman for her to be a target.
Lela doesn’t expect her father’s henchman to beat her to Malta. Hamish doesn’t expect the girl’s doting aunt to see him as the enemy.
Reluctant partners, they navigate false leads and unexpected attraction. Can Lela balance her family’s demands with her love for Hamish? Can Hamish accept living life is all about taking risks?
Episode #142 Kathryn Mykel with "Sewing Suspicion"
About The Author: Inspired by the laugh-out-loud and fanciful aspects of cozies, Kathryn Mykel aims to write lighthearted, humorous mysteries that play on her passion for the craft of quilting. She’s an avid quilter, born and raised in a small New England town.
Title: Sewing Suspicion
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: Secrets and a patchwork of lies. Can Alex string together the truth before her life unravels?
Alex Bailey’s heart feels threadbare. Struggling with the dubious practices of her NYC law firm, she’s left her high-profile career and is eager to clear her conscience with a trip home to care for the woman who raised her. But when an ill fate befalls the quilting matriarch, the shocked lawyer suspects someone is covering up murder.
Unpicking the strands of her beloved grandmother’s life, Alex patches together clues that prove her loved one’s death was no accident. And when the practice’s stained history weaves into the culprit’s devious handiwork, she’ll need to stay alive long enough to expose a heartless killer.
Can Alex get to the bottom of a sinister pattern before she ends up buried in a flower garden?
Special Launch Episode Jennifer Willcock with "The Weight of The Crown"
About The Author: Jennifer Willcock grew up telling herself stories in the middle of the night to keep away the monsters that lurked in the dark. Once she realized there weren’t any real monsters, she kept telling stories.
A voracious reader, Jennifer reads many different genres, but she never outgrew young adult fiction. A degree in English Literature enabled her to keep her love affair with reading and writing alive.
Besides being a mom to two sons, she is married to Mark, a pastor. She works part-time in the local library, where she’s inspired every day to write a book that will one day be on the shelves. The family’s pet dwarf rabbit, Whiskers, is her muse as he sits at her feet while she writes.
Title: Weight of The Crown
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book Synopsis: He is the new king, but someone else wants the throne. Can he protect his kingdom and those he loves?
No longer the playboy prince, King Teo is determined to be the ruler Wolf Kingdom needs. When a toxic plant found in the forest threatens the safety of the kingdom, he is desperate to find answers before someone dies.
Stalked by his own anxieties and an unknown threat to his reign, the young king isn’t sure who is friend or foe and fears the worst is yet to come.
Can Teo save himself as well as Wolf Kingdom, or will his paranoia turn him into his cruel, dictatorial father, destroying his world in the process?
Weight of the Crown is the thrilling sequel to the YA fantasy Red Riding Hood retelling, Into the Forest. If you like brotherly bonding, love triangles, and fighting evil, then you’ll love Jennifer Willcock’s engrossing tale.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #141 Jessica K. Foster with "Andy and The Extroverts"
About The Author: Jessica K. Foster writes funny, heartfelt Young Adult Contemporary fiction with a dash of romance. She is a middle school Language Arts teacher with a penchant for hot tea and romantic beach reads. Jessica lives in West Michigan with her husband, two boys, and their ragtag crew of rescue animals. Find her at jessicakfoster.com where all her socials are also linked.
Title: Andy and the Extroverts
Genre: YA Romance
Book Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends. When her over-involved mother has the audacity to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she's thrust into an introvert's nightmare. Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there's no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the kind of self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming.
Then she meets Lucas—hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she's swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she'll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #140 JM Samland with "Grave Mistakes"
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Grave Mistakes
Genre: Dark Fantasy Comedy
Book Synopsis: Joined by her loyal and hilariously eccentric knight protectorate, Lord Sebastian, they embark on a madcap journey across the bottomless Crack and through the eerie Deadvale, racing against time to reach Gabriela's home. There, her mysterious mother, Queen Venica Marwol, reluctantly agrees to lead them in a desperate quest to resurrect Brynmor. But secrets from the queen's enigmatic past begin to unravel, and as Gabriela's magic teeters on the brink of failure, an unexpected connection forms between her and Brynmor, or so she thinks.
Their mission is far from straightforward, as they find themselves pursued by the determined Eleanor Lane, a disillusioned magic researcher, and the no-nonsense Commander Valoria Ravell. These formidable women, sent by Duke Highgate, Brynmor's uncle, will stop at nothing to thwart the resurrection and retrieve Brynmor's body.
"Grave Mistakes" is a riotous tale filled with black humor and heartwarming human moments. Follow Gabriela as she discovers her true identity and realizes her formidable powers in a world where the dead refuse to rest. Will she succeed in resurrecting Brynmor, or will her journey through this twisted realm end in grave mistakes of epic proportions?
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #139 Kathleen Kaska and "Murder at The Driskill"
About The Author: Kathleen is a Texas gal. Except for an eighteen-month hiatus living in New York City after college, she lived in the Lone Star State continuously for fifty years. Since then, Texas has been hit and miss—a little hit, but a heck of a lot of miss. There was a time when she thought she would happily die in Austin, Texas. But circumstances and weather—especially weather—changed that. Now she spends most of the year on Fidalgo Island in Washington State with a view of the bay and the mountains. When she gets homesick, she and her husband listen to Willie Nelson. Soon, they are dancing the two-step, imagining they are at their favorite honky-tonk in Tokio, Texas, where the mayor is believed to be a dog. Who wouldn’t miss that?
Kathleen writes the awarding-winning mysteries: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which was updated and released by Lyons Press in November of 2020. She also writes the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series; as well as a biography of ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, The Man Who Saved The Whooping Crane. Her books are published through Amacara Press, in Kansas.
On her blog, you can also find her Five-Minute Writing Tips and Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town. Kathleen also coaches writers and edits manuscripts.
Book Title: Murder at The Driskill
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: It's 1953 and reporter Sydney Lockhart and her partner/boyfriend, PI Ralph Dixon, are hobnobbing at a swanky party at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. Before Sydney finishes her first martini, a gunshot sounds, and future gubernatorial candidate, Leland Tatum, is found dead in the Yellow Rose Suite down the hall. With wit and humor, Sydney finds herself embroiled in another hotel murder.
Sydney and Dixon have just opened their new detective agency when a high-profile case walks through the door. The sleuthing couple are hired by a campaign manager to discover what possible opposition research could ruin his gubernatorial candidate's chances to win. But before they can begin their investigation the candidate is murdered in a room next to the Yellow Rose Suite in the famous Driskill Hotel.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode 138 JM Samland and "Arcanym"
LISTENER ADVISORY: MATURE SITUATIONS
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Arcanym
Genre: LGBTQ Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Elvan, eldest of House Galmoth is content to stay in and always eager to jump into character. Some day, he will find a facade that suits him, one that meets his mother's expectations of him. He's spent the last two years playing investigator, raking through ledgers to clear his mother's name while ignoring his family business and noble House crumbling around him. When the last servant quits, Elvan is forced back into the world and must choose between continuing his fruitless investigation and saving his home from the collectors.
On his last lead, he meets Drace, a lonely shopkeeper who sweeps him away on a flight from the royal inquisitors - the same men that arrested Elvan's mother.
They dive deep into the kingdom of Spheris, shrouded by the smog of rising industry, lit by the flicker of gas lamps. Where the magic users must practice their art in secret, away from the eyes of the crown.
After discovering their intertwined pasts, Elvan and Drace forge forward, uncovering the plot that led to his mother's exile, but who can they go to when the guilty ones are at the highest level of power?
Can they dodge the inquisitors and questionable motivations of Elvan's sister, the Duchess, long enough to bring the crown to justice? Or will they fall to the same fate as Elvan's mother?
Elvan will have to prepare for his greatest role yet: Himself.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #135 Kathleen Kaska and "Murder at The Galvez"
About The Author: Kathleen is a Texas gal. Except for an eighteen-month hiatus living in New York City after college, she lived in the Lone Star State continuously for fifty years. Since then, Texas has been hit and miss—a little hit, but a heck of a lot of miss. There was a time when she thought she would happily die in Austin, Texas. But circumstances and weather—especially weather—changed that. Now she spends most of the year on Fidalgo Island in Washington State with a view of the bay and the mountains. When she gets homesick, she and her husband listen to Willie Nelson. Soon, they are dancing the two-step, imagining they are at their favorite honky-tonk in Tokio, Texas, where the mayor is believed to be a dog. Who wouldn’t miss that?
Kathleen writes the awarding-winning mysteries: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which was updated and released by Lyons Press in November of 2020. She also writes the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series; as well as a biography of ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, The Man Who Saved The Whooping Crane.
On her blog, you can also find her Five-Minute Writing Tips and Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town. Kathleen also coaches writers and edits manuscripts.
Book Title: Murder at The Galvez
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: Eighteen years after discovering the murdered body of her grandfather in the foyer of the historic Galvez Hotel, reporter Sydney Lockhart returns to Galveston, Texas to cover a story. Instead, she finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery.
Something fishy is going on in Galveston, Texas, and Sydney is smack dab in the middle of it when she checks into the historic Galvez Hotel, a place that stirs her most uncomfortable memories. She’s there to cover the controversial Pelican Island Development Project conference, but soon after her arrival, the conference is canceled, the keynote speaker is missing, and a body turns up in the truck of Sydney’s car. Next, Sydney’s hauled to the police station for questioning.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, just a few blocks from the hotel at her parents’ home, people are gathering, sparks are flying, another controversial event is in the planning, one that just might rival the Great Storm of 1900.
Sydney is helped and obstructed by her cousins, Ruth and Marcela, and Dixon, her beloved partner-in-solving-crime. But ultimately it’s up to Sydney, armed with wit and bravado (and Dixon’s .45), who must discover who killed the man in the trunk and why her father’s new friend is floating face-down in a fish tank with a bullet in his head. Her father’s odd behavior and the anonymous threatening notes delivered to her hotel room lead Sydney to suspect that her grandfather’s unsolved murder and the present murders might be connected.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #136 Rhys Shaw and "The Weight of Her Crown"
LISTENER ADVISORY: STRONG LANGUAGE, MATURE SITUATIONS
About The Author: Rhys Shaw has always been interested in history, dilapidated ruins, stories of deceit and survival. Her belief that women are overlooked in history, or blamed for mankind’s unsavory decisions is the reigning theme behind her gritty realistic historical fiction books. In The Welexia Series, Rhys draws upon her love of story to bring the pages alive with the personal struggles and pain of strong female characters, taking us on their journey to overcome and thrive.
In the modern world, Rhys shares her home with a few furry friends and a less furry spouse. She can often be found with her nose in a book, or taking a walk - though not at the same time.
Book Title: The Weight of Her Crown… Book Three In The Welexia Series
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Desiring peace above all else, Queen Alaria is conflicted when it comes to condemning men to death. Even those who deserve to die.
Disturbing news from a village in the north adds to the queen’s concerns of protecting her country from the wrath of the violent King of Restunia.
Amidst all expectations, and her duties as queen, she is distracted by a handsome soldier. Not only have his rash decisions put the entire kingdom at risk, the more she learns about him and his role in her family’s captivity, she wonders if he is trustworthy, or deserving of her love.
Weight Of Her Crown is the third book in The Welexia Series. Join Queen Alaria as she navigates the complicated realm of sovereignty. Love, loss, survival, and deceit continue in this richly painted saga set in a 14th century land.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #135 Kathleen Kaska and "Murder at the Luther"
About The Author: Kathleen is a Texas gal. Except for an eighteen-month hiatus living in New York City after college, she lived in the Lone Star State continuously for fifty years. Since then, Texas has been hit and miss—a little hit, but a heck of a lot of miss. There was a time when she thought she would happily die in Austin, Texas. But circumstances and weather—especially weather—changed that. Now she spends most of the year on Fidalgo Island in Washington State with a view of the bay and the mountains. When she gets homesick, she and her husband listen to Willie Nelson. Soon, they are dancing the two-step, imagining they are at their favorite honky-tonk in Tokio, Texas, where the mayor is believed to be a dog. Who wouldn’t miss that?
Kathleen writes the awarding-winning mysteries: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which was updated and released by Lyons Press in November of 2020. She also writes the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series; as well as a biography of ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, The Man Who Saved The Whooping Crane.
On her blog, you can also find her Five-Minute Writing Tips and Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town. Kathleen also coaches writers and edits manuscripts.
Book Title: Murder at The Luther
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: It's New Year's Eve, 1952. Texas politicians are backslapping and ringing in '53 at the historic Luther Hotel on the Texas Coast. Reporter Sydney Lockhart is there covering the festivities. The celebration turns sour when Sydney finds herself dancing with a dead man. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon and a police chief with his own agenda, Sydney ushers in the New Year behind bars. Soon there is another body, more damning fingerprints, and a crazy Cajun who's been paid to feed Sydney to the alligators. Things get worse when cousin Ruth comes to town with a problem even Sydney can't solve.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #134 Rhys Shaw and "A Daughter Rules
LISTENER ADVISORY: STRONG LANGUAGE, MATURE SITUATIONS
About The Author: Rhys Shaw has always been interested in history, dilapidated ruins, stories of deceit and survival. Her belief that women are overlooked in history, or blamed for mankind’s unsavory decisions is the reigning theme behind her gritty realistic historical fiction books. In The Welexia Series, Rhys draws upon her love of story to bring the pages alive with the personal struggles and pain of strong female characters, taking us on their journey to overcome and thrive.
In the modern world, Rhys shares her home with a few furry friends and a less furry spouse. She can often be found with her nose in a book, or taking a walk - though not at the same time.
Book Title: A Daughter Rules… Book Two In The Welexia Series
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Queen Alaria, and her father, King Oshinor of Welexia, are doing all they can to help their people recover and thrive. Now that the tyrant, Traintor, has fled to Restunia, life is again worth living.
The king of Restunia, sworn enemy of Welexia, desires power over peace, and cannot be trusted. He despises Queen Alaria and will exploit whoever he needs to, including his only son.
A Daughter Rules, the second book in The Welexia Series, continues Alaria’s journey in another action packed story of betrayal, grief, and overcoming obstacles. Facing attacks from both Traintor’s delusional supporters and Restunia means she must keep those she trusts near and those she doesn’t, even nearer. Survival is still a priority, but now she must also rescue someone much closer to her, before time runs out.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #133 Kathleen Kaska with "Murder At The Arlington"
About The Author: Kathleen is a Texas gal. Except for an eighteen-month hiatus living in New York City after college, she lived in the Lone Star State continuously for fifty years. Since then, Texas has been hit and miss—a little hit, but a heck of a lot of miss. There was a time when she thought she would happily die in Austin, Texas. But circumstances and weather—especially weather—changed that. Now she spends most of the year on Fidalgo Island in Washington State with a view of the bay and the mountains. When she gets homesick, she and her husband listen to Willie Nelson. Soon, they are dancing the two-step, imagining they are at their favorite honky-tonk in Tokio, Texas, where the mayor is believed to be a dog. Who wouldn’t miss that?
Kathleen writes the awarding-winning mysteries: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which was updated and released by Lyons Press in November of 2020. She also writes the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series; as well as a biography of ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, The Man Who Saved The Whooping Crane.
On her blog, you can also find her Five-Minute Writing Tips and Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town. Kathleen also coaches writers and edits manuscripts.
Book Title: Murder at The Arlington
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: It is 1952. Reporter Sydney Lockhart checks into the historic Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Before she even unpacks, she discovers the brutally murdered body of the hotel’s bookkeeper. What had begun as a simple travel-writing assignment now turns into a murder investigation. The bad news is that Sydney is a suspect. Determined to clear her name and prove herself a reporter deserving more than just travel assignments, Sydney becomes embroiled in the underworld of gangsters and gamblers. In her fight for the truth, she soon faces a more urgent battle: saving her own skin.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #132 JM Samland and "Ooo Shiny! Vol 2"
About The Author: Jamie M Samland is a fantasy author based in Canton, MI, USA. He is passionate about creating vivid worlds and compelling characters that transport readers to new realms of imagination. Drawing inspiration from his love of storytelling, Jamie spends his free time playing board games, roleplaying with friends, and indulging in other hobbies like martial arts and home repair. When he is not writing, Jamie is often found lost in thought, dreaming up new and exciting stories to share with readers alongside his husband and their cats.
Book Title: Ooo Shiny! Vol. 2
Genre: LGBTQ Humor
Book Synopsis: Funny and fantastical short stories from an ADHD mind. Prepare for a whirlwind of fantastical mayhem as "Ooo Shiny! Volume 2, Holiday Edition 1" unleashes an explosive collection of 20 holiday-themed short stories! At least, they were supposed to be holiday-themed… I might have gotten distracted… Brace yourself for a wild ride through a kaleidoscope of enchanting worlds, where ordinary moments take extraordinary twists.
The squirrel returns, swapping skeletons and AI centipedes for vampires and leprechauns. Grab your hot cocoa for a Christmas you wish would never end. Hit the gym, but be careful who you look at. What if your partner on the force was secretly a famous author? What if you accidentally summoned a fae while trying to become an author, yourself? What if an expensive ren fest hat is all it took to be accepted into a band of sky pirates?
Navigate the perilous gerbil invasion, outmaneuver the seductive allure of vampires, and avert your gaze from the mesmerizing basilisk. Cherish your corgis as loyal protectors, rewarding them with treats for toppling idols of ancient, malevolent deities. After all, they're more than just good dogs—they're the real heroes.
Prepare to lose yourself in these extraordinary tales where holidays collide with adventure, humor, and a heavy-handed scoop of the bizarre. Enter the captivating realm of "Ooo Shiny! Volume 2, Holiday Edition 1," and join the ranks of the GNORMAN.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #131 Helen Veselovsky and "Drawn To France"
About The Author: Wife, Mother, Librarian. Helen lives in Michigan with her husband Paul and their children, two dogs, a cat and a ferret. While not working as a public librarian, she enjoys gardening, family research, crafts and chilling at home.
Title: Charles Franklin Chamberlain: Drawn To France
Genre: Non-Fiction
Book Synopsis: Charles Franklin Chamberlain, 1871 - 1947, was a farmer by birth but an artist by heart. This is his story including a brief biography though told mostly through letters exchanged with his mother and friends during his many travels, and highlighted by his art and photography.
Charles studied in Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Paris. Charles attended art school at the Detroit Academy, and in 1892-93 went off to study at the Art Students League of New York. It was in Detroit as well as in New York that Charles made many connections in the art world and soon was determined to make his way to Paris to further his studies. Charles' first trip to France was in 1894 and he concentrated his studies at the Academic Julian, Montmartre, Paris as well as at the newer Aman-Jean School. He spent several years in France studying under the old masters, following the impressionist influence of the time.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #130 Bradley Poore with "Opera Andy"
About The Author: Bradley Poore is the author of A JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE: How I embraced mediocrity and failed to turn my old vacuum into a rocket ship. Men of War is his second book of essays. Bradley is considered by many to be a fool's fool; with very little understanding or knowledge of how the world works.
He loves waffle fries, chainsaw sculptures, traveling by train, and the Amish. Bradley lives in Ann Arbor, MI.
Title: Opera Andy
Genre: Children’s
Book Synopsis: Andy lives in a BIG city and works for a large bank. Andy sings to his biggest fans, his cats: Ben and Max. Andy auditions for the opera, but will he become a famous opera singer?
Beautiful hand-painted illustrations in watercolor by artist Phelan Harris; it's as lovely to look at as it is to read. Opera Andy is a happy tale about knowing one's self and being happy with who you are.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #129 S.W. Raine with "The Techno Mage"
About The Author: Raine is Canadian, born and raised, and constantly moved between Ontario and Quebec with her military family. She moved to Michigan, USA, in 2004, where she currently still resides with her husband and son.
She has always had a vivid imagination and loved reading and writing from a very young age. She took courses in Children’s Literature through ICL in Illinois, and published her debut new adult steampunk adventure in 2020. She has participated in NaNoWriMo for over a decade and was a Municipal Liaison for the Detroit region for six years.
Title: The Techno Mage
Genre: Steampunk
Book Synopsis: She’s being held hostage and yet, Magaliana doesn’t want to be saved.
Close friends Ikarim, Arteus, and Magaliana always knew the dangers of sky pirates, but what they didn’t expect was having their airship repair shop pillaged and being separated when Magaliana, a noble, is sold for a hefty bounty.
Once in the hands of the Techno Mage, her world changes. He’s a mythical man with the ability to flawlessly combine both technology and alchemy, and his mythical ship is a haven for Magaliana. There, she discovers how to refine her craft.
Ikarim and Arteus are determined to escape the sky pirates to save her, but do they have what it takes before the Techno Mage initiates his grand plan?
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #128: Michael Beardslee with "The Fenton Mafia"
LISTENER ADVISORY: VIOLENCE
About The Author: Michael Beardslee is currently retired after 34 years of working in the auto insurance industry claims world with the majority of that time being spent as a field trainer. He has lived in the state of Michigan his entire life, mainly in Livingston County. He currently resides in Brighton and West Branch, Michigan with his wife, Terese Fitzpatrick, and Molly, their golden retriever.
Michael was born in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Fenton High School. He has a BME degree from Eastern Michigan University.
Title: The Fenton Mafia
Genre: Fictionalized Memoir
Book Synopsis: This book is Volume #2 of the “The White Lake Road Chronicles.” This specific entry is titled, “The Fenton Mafia.” This work follows the first volume titled, “Bad Hombre.”
Michael suggests that if you have not already done so, read this series in chronological order, as there will be a grand total of 10 volumes that will depict how a high school student who transfers to another high school for his senior year overcomes adversity and insecurity.
“Bad Hombre” is the lead-in for the who, what, where and how of obstacles that this young man faces as he approaches “the greatest year of his life.”
This story is loosely based upon Michael’s own senior year of high school which took place during the 1969-70 school year. While he is now many ages removed from those days, he still treasures the friends and great moments of that closed period of his existence.
What you will read in this book contains many factual moments of his life. However, he also used some creative writing skills to allow the direction of this novel to read how he would have actually liked his life as a 12th grader to have taken place.
So, if your memory or research skills show that a certain athletic conference does not exist, or a result of a High School Band District Festival rating is different than what history shows, then that is when you will find the imagination of Mike Beardslee running rampant.
Now don’t get mislead by the subtitle, “Volume II.” There is no Michael Corleone, Al Capone, “Frankie Five Fingers” or Hiram Roth in this work or a person even close to these movie characters. Just four high school band kids were christened with this nickname by a trombone player.
The format of this novel is written in the style of a person making daily entries into a journal or log showing what happened on such and such date of the year. Volume II starts on October 1st 1969 and runs through October 31st 1969.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #127 S.W. Raine and "The Rise of The Sky Pirate"
Listener Advisory: Violence, Strong Language, Mature Situations
About The Author: Raine is Canadian, born and raised, and constantly moved between Ontario and Quebec with her military family. She moved to Michigan, USA, in 2004, where she currently still resides with her husband and son.
She has always had a vivid imagination and loved reading and writing from a very young age. She took courses in Children’s Literature through ICL in Illinois, and published her debut new adult steampunk adventure in 2020. She has participated in NaNoWriMo for over a decade and was a Municipal Liaison for the Detroit region for six years.
Title: Rise of The Sky Pirate (Book One of The Adventures of Captain Keenan)
Genre: Steampunk
Book Synopsis: Before becoming the infamous sky pirate from The Techno Mage, Benedict Keenan was a disorderly drunkard from London Below—and in this spin-off series, his story is finally being told.
Straying from his dream of living like the nobles in the Upper Lands for far too long, Benedict takes on an easy mercenary job with a band of rogues to quickly get back on his feet. But when a surgeon from the Upper Lands—the sole survivor of a sky pirate attack—is found in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, Benedict is suddenly thrust into a dangerous high-stakes race against a poisonous alchemical infusion set to be released into the Great Lakes. What’s worse is that a man from Benedict’s past is at the center of it all. Can he foil the sky pirate’s plans and return to living his dream life, or will he find a new ambition?
For fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, Rise of the Sky Pirate is an action-packed steampunk adventure that reaches for the stars while saving the world along the way.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #126 Rhys Shaw with "Someone's Daughter: Will To Survive"
Listener Advisory: Strong Language, Mature Situations
About The Author: Rhys Shaw has always been interested in history, dilapidated ruins, stories of deceit and survival. Her belief that women are overlooked in history, or blamed for mankind’s unsavory decisions is the reigning theme behind her gritty realistic historical fiction books. In The Welexia Series, Rhys draws upon her love of story to bring the pages alive with the personal struggles and pain of strong female characters, taking us on their journey to overcome and thrive.
In the modern world, Rhys shares her home with a few furry friends and a less furry spouse. She can often be found with her nose in a book, or taking a walk - though not at the same time.
Book Title: Someone’s Daughter: Will To Survive… Book One In The Welexia Series
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Book Synopsis: She’s used to wealth and comfort. When evil ransacks her home, will this brave young monarch trade her life for those she loves?
Princess Alaria is desperate to shield her sisters. Pulled out of her bed by violent men during a coup, the thirteen-year-old royal still thinks quickly enough to shoulder the burden of protecting her younger siblings. But when a tyrant hurls their entire family into a hellhole of rot, vomit, and despair, she fears their fates are sealed.
Sensing death waiting hungrily in the shadows, Alaria grows up fast as she watches her loved ones slowly fade into the grave. And clinging tightly to the hope of survival and freedom, she makes an unthinkable bargain with their captor.
Can she snatch what’s left of her family from beneath death’s scythe?
Someone’s Daughter is the gritty first book in the Welexia historical fantasy series. If you like strong female characters, tense action, and richly detailed settings, then you’ll love Rhys Shaw’s unflinching roller coaster.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #125 Xander Cross and "The Dragon Game"
Listener Advisory: Strong Language, Violence, Mature Situations
About The Author: Xander Cross holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, which he uses to write his paranormal fiction. A lifelong enthusiast of Japanese culture and folklore, Xander cosplays as a kitsune yōkai on occasion, and photographic evidence can be found on Instagram and Pinterest under @ayakashi_fox. He has also published a short novella series as an adjunct to “The Atlas Dystopia Apocalyptica,” entitled “Come by Night” on Wattpad and Instagram.
Book Title: The Dragon Game
Genre: Supernatural Dystopian Thriller
Book Synopsis: It is spring 2121, and the Council of Dragons is gathering in New Tokyo for their twelve-year conference. There’s just one problem: the ancient rulers of the Far East believe Youta is a filthy usurper. They seek to destroy the younger dragon for disrupting the old order — and his defiled shrine fox with him. As chief of security for Youta Clan, Hayate cannot afford for anything to go wrong…Except, a saboteur is on the loose and she has a vengeful spirit on her side. To discover the culprit, Hayate must ally with Konan, a cybernetic human mercenary, and hunt down the diabolical sorceress in a hotel full of enemy dragons and demons before she unleashes her legion of ghosts to destroy them all! A Supernatural/Cyberpunk Fantasy - rated AD+ for mature content.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #124 Mark McCraw and "The Problem Is"
About The Author: Mark McCraw has spent more than a decade in education working with children and students of all ages from infants through college students. He is an Air Force/Air Force Reserves Disabled Veteran. He is a father of four adult children and a grandfather of nine grandchildren. He currently lives in Oklahoma.
Mark is a member of the Oklahoma Literacy Association (OLA), American Library Association (ALA), Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as a Jr. Vice Commander.
Title: The Problem Is
Genre: Children’s
Book Synopsis: Molly, a six-year-old kindergarten student, is not happy about her problems. Some of her problems are very unique to her age. She says some precious statements that will make you laugh. Join her on her quest to find solutions to her problems.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #123 S.W. Raine and "The Elemental's Guardian"
Listener Advisory: Language
About The Author: Raine is Canadian, born and raised, and constantly moved between Ontario and Quebec with her military family. She moved to Michigan, USA, in 2004, where she currently still resides with her husband and son.
She has always had a vivid imagination and loved reading and writing from a very young age. She took courses in Children’s Literature through ICL in Illinois, and published her debut new adult steampunk adventure in 2020. She has participated in NaNoWriMo for over a decade and was a Municipal Liaison for the Detroit region for six years.
Title: The Elemental’s Guardian
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Everything changed the day he ran into her with his jet thousands of feet in the sky.
Freelance pilot Ferenc Janos’s life is turned upside down when Olivia Gillies, a woman who can control air and travel through lightning, tells him he’s the guardian of the air elemental. Around the same time as her sudden arrival, masked figures have been appearing around the city with the ability to summon and control strange creatures. Their target? The homeless girl who happened to steal his wallet.
Ferenc doesn’t understand his new role or why he feels a strange need to protect her, but if he can’t set aside his skepticism long enough to learn from Olivia, then a much more powerful threat could be unleashed onto the universe.
Episode #122 Kathleen Kaska and "Run Dog Run"
About The Author: Kathleen is a Texas gal. Except for an eighteen-month hiatus living in New York City after college, she lived in the Lone Star State continuously for fifty years. Since then, Texas has been hit and miss—a little hit, but a heck of a lot of miss. There was a time when she thought she would happily die in Austin, Texas. But circumstances and weather—especially weather—changed that. Now she spends most of the year on Fidalgo Island in Washington State with a view of the bay and the mountains. When she gets homesick, she and her husband listen to Willie Nelson. Soon, they are dancing the two-step, imagining they are at their favorite honky-tonk in Tokio, Texas, where the mayor is believed to be a dog. Who wouldn’t miss that?
Kathleen writes the awarding-winning mysteries: The Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book, which was updated and released by Lyons Press in November of 2020. She also writes the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series; as well as a biography of ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, The Man Who Saved The Whooping Crane.http://www.dkpwriter.com
On her blog, you can also find her Five-Minute Writing Tips and Growing Up Catholic in a Small Texas Town. Kathleen also coaches writers and edits manuscripts.
Book Title: Run Dog Run Book One In The Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Synopsis: After five years in Africa, researching the decline of elephant populations, Kate Caraway's project comes to a screeching halt when she shoots a poacher and is forced to leave the country. Kate and her husband, Jack Ryder, flee to a friend's ranch in Texas to recuperate. But before Kate has a chance to unpack, her friend's daughter pleads for Kate's assistance. The young woman has become entangled in the ugly world of greyhound abuse and believes Kate is the only one with the experience and tenacity to expose the crime and find out who is responsible. On the case for only a few hours, Kate discovers a body, complicating the investigation by adding murder to the puzzle. Now she's in a race against time to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #121 "Drawn To Him" written by Tammy Mannersly, and Read for you by Mark Love
Listener Advisory: Mature Situations, Strong Language
About The Author: Tammy Mannersly is an award-winning Australian author frequently praised for her heart-warming stories full of romance, dedicated friendships and stunning Australian locations. All her books ensure a great Happily Ever After and a love story that will sweep you off your feet. Tammy has a Bachelor Degree in Creative Industries majoring in Creative Writing from Queensland University of Technology. She lives on the coast near Brisbane, Queensland and loves to write about her favorite Australian destinations.
About The Reader: Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. As a former freelance reporter, Mark honed his writing skills by covering features and hard news. He is the author of the Jamie Richmond Romantic Mystery series, and the Jefferson Chene Mystery series, as well as short stories and anthology contributions. Mark now resides in West Michigan, where he enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking, and the great outdoors.
Book Title: Drawn To Him
Genre: Romance
Book Synopsis: The new doctor in town is attracting some attention, especially of the female persuasion, but art teacher, Erica Townsend is blissfully unaware until she ends up injured and in his office. Too bad she’d vowed to resist love—that traitorous emotion, the destroyer of lives—after numerous failed relationships. Something about Matt, about their electrifying connection has her wondering if he might just be…the one.
Dr. Matthew Garrick is tired of playing wing-man for his best friend. It isn’t that he wishes to look for love, rather the opposite. But the eagerness of some of the single women in their small country town unnerves him. That is, until a certain stunning brunette appears in the waiting room of his medical practice. Her touch sparks something deep inside him, jolting his heart into a new rhythm and Matt makes it his mission to win’s Erica love. Can he convince her to take a risk on him and what they share together?
Episode #120 Xander Cross with "Enchanted Forests"
About The Author: Xander Cross holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, which he uses to write his paranormal fiction. A lifelong enthusiast of Japanese culture and folklore, Xander cosplays as a kitsune yōkai on occasion, and photographic evidence can be found on Instagram and Pinterest under @ayakashi_fox. He has also published a short novella series as an adjunct to “The Atlas Dystopia Apocalyptica,” entitled “Come by Night” on Wattpad and Instagram.
Book Title: Enchanted Forests: Apple and The Dead Forest
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book Synopsis: Another artifact of the TADA-verse, "Apple and the Dead Forest" follows Ping and his friends Lin and Min as they brave the demon-haunted, apocalyptic waste in search of a doomsday seed vault guarded by a dragon.
One of ten beautifully crafted faerie tales in a diverse and enchanting collection, of which all proceeds are donated to The Rainforest Foundation.
Episode #119 Eli Evans and "Inside Every Circle"
About The Author: Eli T. Evans is a composer, writer, software designer, and raconteur. He studied music education at Eastern Washington University for a while, then left to pursue a career designing software. He writes music and novels, too. He lives in Washington State with his wife, Olga, and their five children.
Title: Inside Every Circle
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Book Synopsis: For centuries, the Seven Cities have enjoyed peace and prosperity. Four strangers — a mute scribe, an orphaned prophetess, an elderly politician, and an egomaniacal autocrat — independently pursue glory, fame, and forbidden knowledge as they approach the end of the age. Will their increasingly intertwined paths lead to enduring peace or unspeakable horror?
Eli Evans' imaginative and thought-provoking debut novel is a genre-bending literary fantasy that explores themes of identity, privilege, the quest for meaning, and every person’s struggle to find their own voice and place in the world.
Taláni, an ambitious warlord, has united the scattered tribes of his people and is preparing to invade. His plan: To subjugate the Seven Cities and feed his voracious god on their blood. With oracular dreams of fiery conquest, his concubine Selolo maneuvers herself into a precarious position by his side. Are the spirits guiding them both or taking control?
Meanwhile, Atnan, a young scribe from an obscure fishing village, obsesses over a trove of mysterious scrolls he believes may hold the key — to what, he isn’t sure. Outcast and frustrated, he enlists the help of Mekvat, an elderly sage whose final accomplishment in office will define his legacy. He must decide if Atnan’s unconventional ideas present an opportunity or an obstacle. And then, catastrophe.
Histories, prophecies, and worldviews will collide. Ancient monsters will awaken. Signs will appear in the earth and heavens. While spirits and powerful rulers enact their plans, and the lives of ordinary people hang in the balance, a lowly scholar looks to the sky seeking answers. Will he and his compatriots unravel the mysteries of past, present, and future before it's too late?
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com
Episode #118 Bradley Poore with "Men of War"
About The Author: Bradley Poore is the author of A JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE: How I embraced mediocrity and failed to turn my old vacuum into a rocket ship. Men of War is his second book of essays. Bradley is considered by many to be a fool's fool; with very little understanding or knowledge of how the world works.
He loves waffle fries, chainsaw sculptures, traveling by train, and the Amish. Bradley lives in Ann Arbor, MI.
Title: Men of War
Genre: Essays/Short Stories
Book Synopsis: Men of War is a book of essays, where fact is often intertwined with fiction.
Inside you will find stories about loss, a joke that Bradley doesn’t understand, the afterlife, an amusement park injury, a beloved toy set free, how the rich choose to spend their free time, and how drinking alcohol and the internet don’t mix.
Learn More at www.DKPWriter.com