Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality

Lori B. Duff is a recovering lawyer and an unrepentant proponent of the Oxford Comma and the two-spaces-after-a-period rule. She is a sought-after ghostwriter who lives outside of Atlanta with her rescue dog, her husband, and two empty bedrooms, which used to house her adult children.

BRIAN D. ANDERSON is the fantasy author of The Godling Chronicles, Dragonvein, and Akiri (with Steven Savile) series. After a fifteen-year-long career in music, he rediscovered his boyhood love of writing. His current series is The Sorcerer’s Song, a trilogy for Tor Books. Brian lives in the sleepy southern town of Fairhope, Alabama with his wife and son, who inspire him daily.

Make sure to check out this author: Brian D. Anderson🎙️ https://www.briandanderson.com/about

With 17 years of experience in selling, coaching, and mentoring, along with over 12 years dedicated to leveraging Amazon's Fulfilled By Amazon (FBA) platform for private label brands, this expert has been a successful entrepreneur and business owner since 2007.

Since 2012, they have helped clients move millions of units through Amazon using proven methodologies. Before venturing into the world of Amazon sales, they held an executive position at a tech company, contributing to innovation with patents in the oil and gas industry. Their journey in the online marketplace began with affiliate marketing, where their marketing and lead generation strategies were instrumental in helping a company secure Series A funding. After five years as a knowledge management consultant at IBM, they took the leap to start their own series of companies in 2007.

Throughout their coaching and consulting career, this professional has positively impacted over 1,000 individuals and currently supports more than 200 clients within their organization, Voltage Holdings. This company owns software, private label brands, and operates a coaching program known as Voltage Business Builders, designed for authors and sellers at all levels—from beginners to those achieving 8-figure sales annually on Amazon FBA. They focus on cultivating business owners and scaling their ventures using the company as an incubator.

Moreover, Voltage Holdings actively engages in buying and selling Amazon FBA companies, holding them for growth and scalability as part of a wealth-building strategy without the constraints of traditional walls. Authors looking to increase their book sales can benefit significantly from the insights and expertise offered by this successful entrepreneur.

Make sure to check out this author on Instagram @NeilTwa🎙️ 

Josh Mendoza is a screenwriter, director, producer, and author.  Mendoza is the founder of Strike the Sun Entertainment, and his movie work has been recognized by film festivals and competitions alike.

He is best known for his feature film, WHAT STILL REMAINS, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Decider called the movie a “great follow-up to Bird Box” and described it as a “hidden gem” on Netflix. The Los Angeles Times said, “Writer-director Josh Mendoza finds a fresh angle on the post-apocalyptic thriller,” creating a “fascinating ‘what-if’ imagining society’s possible future.”

Mendoza’s debut novel, SHADOW OF THE ETERNAL WATCHER, released on January 28, 2025. The novel is a noir detective mystery that spirals into a science fiction adventure. The novel has already received positive reviews from Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. It was recently featured as one of the best upcoming sci-fi books for 2025 in New Scientist.

Make sure to check out this author on his website—https://www.joshmendoza.com/

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my

Tong Ge was born and raised in China and moved to Canada in 1988. She began writing the China China trilogy in 2004 with the first book: The House Filler. Although she was challenged by learning to write in English and by her long- term disability, she persevered and since 2012 has published poetry and prose in English and Chinese in publications such as Prism, Ricepaper, Flow, Canadian Stories, and The Polyglot. Tong Ge lives in Calgary, Alberta. 

Make sure to check out this author on her website https://tong-ge.com/

A keen student of the natural world and the workings of the human heart, Pacific Northwest author Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical, riveting fiction. 

Her novels Sugar Birds (Christy finalist, Amazon bestseller, and Book of the Year) and Leaning on Air have won more than two dozen industry honors, among which are CT’s Fiction Award of Merit and American Fiction, Reader’s Favorite, ACFW Carol, Nautilus, Best Book, Foreword Indies, and International Book Awards.

An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and three irrepressible Gordon setters.

Make sure to check out this author on Instagram @cherylgreybostrom🎙️ 🙌🏾

James Bow — author, urban planner, and lifelong storyteller! James brings a deep love for writing coming-of-age stories filled with wonder, fear, and triumph.

You won’t want to miss his insights into weaving mystery and heart into young adult fiction!

About James: Born in downtown Toronto, raised in Kitchener, James is an accomplished author whose passion for the written word has remained constant through his varied career. Discover more at bowjamesbow.ca!

Breakfield, is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Belinda Betker is a prairie-born poet living in Saskatoon with her Australian wife and their rescue dog, a springer-spaniel/terrier cross. The first edition of her poetry collection Phases was a 2020 finalist for two Saskatchewan Book Awards.

Belinda's poetry and award-winning haiku are also published on-line and in various anthologies, literary journals, and chapbooks. Belinda is a founding member of two long-running Saskatoon writing groups, Sisters' Ink and The Obsessors. She was also a founding and long-time board member of the Saskatoon Writers' Collective.

Stay in touch with Belinda: https://www.belindabetker.com/

J.M. Shaw lives in Airdrie, Alberta, with her husband and two young children. She and her family embarked upon a journey of understanding, acceptance, and life-long learning when they discovered their shared diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

Writing is her passion and, with experience and interests in healthcare, psychology, martial arts, and personal training, she pours her unique insights and knowledge into all her creative fictions.

Mark Morton is a Canadian author. He is best known for non-fiction books and articles on language, history, and food culture. He is also the co-founder of the Winnipeg International Writers Festival and former writer and broadcaster for CBC Radio One.

Morton has written four nonfiction books, including one novel: The Headmasters.

Connect with Dr. Mark on Instagram @markstevenmorton on the podcast.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, speaker and podcaster. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has mined that experience to create captivating fiction, authoring two series, the bestselling series, “The Haunted Shores Mysteries,” and the award-winning series, “Lessons in Peril.”

His novels have won critical acclaim and garnered national awards including Mystery of the Year (ReaderViews) Best Book Award (Chanticleer Books and Reviews) and the Gold Award (Literary Titan) and amassed hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Dr. Overbeck also hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets and can be heard wherever listeners get their podcasts.

He is a speaker in considerable demand, sharing his popular presentations about ghosts and the world of book publishing with hundreds of audiences all over the U.S. 

As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

When he’s not researching, writing, speaking or podcasting, Randy enjoys traveling with his wife Cathy and visiting both his far-flung family and the scenic locations around this country, often in search of inspiration for his next great story.

Stay in touch with Dr. Overbeck on Instagram @authorrandyoverbeck

Tricia Copeland believes in finding magic. She thinks magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, viewing a beautiful sunset, or reading a book that transports us to another world.

An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado.

In GAVEL TO GAVEL, a wealthy businessman is murdered by his wife. The only eyewitness is their nine-year-old disabled daughter. Her testimony is the key to the case. Top prosecutor Mac MacIntyre is calm and confident and relies on his courtroom cunning to maneuver through a maze of office politics, the bright glare of the media spotlight and his own thorny ethical dilemmas. The story follows Mac as he navigates from the crime scene investigation to the selection of the jury, to fierce cross-examination, to a surprising jury verdict.

GAVEL TO GAVEL was published by Paper Raven Books in 2023 and has garnered many positive reviews.  His next book in THE SENECA COUNTY COURTHOUSE SERIES is titled DOUBLE BLIND, and features another murder trial with elements of police and judicial corruption.    

N.D. Testa is a fantasy author who conjures immersive worlds filled with magic, mystery, and adventure. With a focus on inspiring hope, her stories transport readers to realms of wonder and possibility.

When not lost in the pages of her imagination, she's an avid fitness enthusiast, fashion lover, and animal advocate. From snowboarding the slopes to exploring new cultures,

N.D. Testa finds inspiration everywhere. She believes in the power of books to change lives and is committed to crafting tales that resonate with readers of all ages. At night she enjoys being by the fire with a cup of tea in her hands.

Award-winning author Lee Lindauer has a BS in Architectural Engineering and a MS in Civil Engineering and was a principal of a consulting structural engineering firm he founded in Western Colorado.

He is a member of the International Thriller Writers, has appeared on author panels at ThrillerFest and has served as co-editor on the Big Thrill magazine. He and his wife Teri divide their time between Colorado and Nevada.

“The Girl Who Changed the World” is an entrancing narrative written by Machiel Hoek that you’d be drawn to devour in a single sitting. It walks in the footsteps of “Alice in Wonderland”, “Sophie’s World”, “The Celestine Prophecy” and “The Alchemist”.

The inspiration behind this book is a tale of its own. From his early days, Machiel Hoek felt destined to unravel the secret of life. Guided by a profound inner calling, Machiel pivoted in his life’s direction nine years ago, devoting himself to this tale. Now, he’s ready to share it with the world.

Stay in touch with this author @machielhoek or https://machielhoek.nl/

Exciting News! This Sunday, January 19th, I’ll be joined by the incredible on the podcast.

AS A FORENSIC CPA, PATRICIA HARTMAN experiences suspense, drama and intrigue in her everyday professional life. She has been uncovering lies, deceptions and criminal activity as part of her regular practice for over 25 years. Patricia weaves her life experiences into captivating plots that expose the evil that trap otherwise innocent people in very dark places. 

Patricia's first novel, "Poisoned," won third place in the Selah awards. She has extensively traveled to and researched Wild West Virginia, interviewing law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, veterinarians and common folk to gain insight into making this an amazing fiction series.

Patricia lives in Florida with her husband, one happily married son and daughter-in-law, and one perfect grandson. 

Debra Gaskill is the former managing editor of the Washington Court House (Ohio) Record-Herald.  She was an award-winning journalist for more than 20 years, writing for a number of Ohio newspapers covering the cops and courts beat, and the Associated Press, covering any stories thrown her way. During her tenure at the Record-Herald, the paper earned two Associated Press General Excellence awards.

Gaskill brings her knowledge of newspapers to her Jubilant Falls series. The bools 'Barn Burner' (2009), 'The Major's Wife' (2010), 'Lethal Little Lies' (2013), 'Murder on the Lunatic Fringe' (2014) and 'Death of A High Maintenance Blonde' (2014) all center around crimes committed in the fictional small town Jubilant Falls, Ohio, and often center around the damage family secrets can do. 'The Major's Wife' received honorable mention in the 2011 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards and 'Barn Burner' was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award at Killer Nashville. 

Her novel, 'Counterfeit Life' (2020) returns tangentially to Jubilant Falls, and those familiar characters.

Her Fracktown Gumshoe series  features retired cop turned private investigator Niccolo Fitzhugh.The series brings her cops and courts experience together in a mystery that "creates complex characters and places them in real settings" according to customer reviews on Amazon.com. 

Gaskill has an associates degree in liberal arts from Thomas Nelson Community College (now Virginia Peninsula Community College) in Hampton, Va., a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from Wittenberg University and a master of fine arts in creative writing from Antioch University, Yellow Springs.

She and her husband Greg, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, have two children and three grandchildren. They raise llamas and alpacas on their farm in Enon, Ohio.

You can also connect with her at https://www.debragaskillnovels.com/

Dale T. Phillips has published novels, over 80 short stories, collections, articles, jokes, and poetry, Stephen King was Dale’s college writing teacher, and since then, Dale has found time to appear on stage, television, radio, in an independent feature film, and compete on Jeopardy (losing in a spectacular fashion). He’s a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the Sisters in Crime. He’s traveled to all 50 states, Mexico, Canada, and through Europe.

He worked for over thirty years as a Technical Writer in a number of major industries, translating the work of software developers into clear instructions for using computer software. Before that, he’s worked as a farm laborer, entrepreneurial bait salesman, yard worker, golf course pro shop assistant, factory assembler, clean room machine operator, holiday Santa, construction worker, hotel worker, office assistant, theater apprentice, busboy, waiter, bartender, wine steward, assistant maitre’d, website designer, lab experiment subject, and blackjack dealer.

📅 Mark your calendars: Sunday, December 29, 2024

Check out an exciting conversation with award-winning author Elise Burke Brown! From growing up in a family of detectives to crafting captivating investigator thrillers, Elise’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Her debut novel, Chase Harlem, has garnered prestigious awards, including the 2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award, and is now part of an exciting series with Rising Action Publishing.

Mel Harrison is an amazing author whose story will inspire and uplift you.

Don’t miss this special episode as we dive  into “overcoming adversity as an author”

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics, Mel Harrison joined the US Department of State Foreign Service, spending the majority of his career in the Diplomatic Security Service.

Over the next 28 years, he served in American embassies as either a Special Agent/Regional Security officer or Economic Officer in Saigon, Quito, Rome, London (twice), Islamabad, and Seoul. While in Islamabad, as the Senior Regional Security Officer, he won both the State Department Award for Valor, and its worldwide Regional Security Officer of the Year Award.

Following government retirement, Mel spent ten years in corporate security and consulting work with assignments often taking him throughout Latin America and the Middle East.

Mel met his wife, Irene, while both served in Quito. Irene, a Foreign Service Management Specialist, and Mel married in Rome, beginning their lifelong love of travel and all things Italian.

They now reside in Florida.

In this electrifying episode of Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem Laced with Morality, we sit down with award-winning thriller and horror author Marie Still (@mariestillwrites).

From Tampa Bay, Marie has captivated readers with her twisted plots and complex characters in novels like My Darlings (currently being adapted into a television series with Amazon MGM Studios), Bad Things Happened in This Room, and We’re All Lying—a 2023 Buzzfeed most-anticipated thriller. Join us as Marie shares her journey from writing women’s fiction under the pen name Kristen Seeley to penning edge-of-your-seat thrillers that leave readers breathless. She delves into her creative process, the art of tormenting her characters, and the thrilling experience of seeing her stories come to life on screen. 

Off the page, Marie juggles life with her supportive husband, four kids, five cats, and an affectionate 150-pound Rottweiler. Don’t miss her hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes, writing tips, and a sneak peek into her future projects. 

🎙️ Chuck Richardson writes speculative fiction with a Christian worldview for people who question everything and seek truth, and he blogs about the Bible. Chuck is a former engineer, technical writer, and freelance newspaper writer. 

Chuck’s debut novel, True Status (2023), was a 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist. Chuck believes the most important thing for everyone to learn is what God thinks about them. His writing explores questions about sin, redemption, sanctification, and the battle between good and evil. Chuck’s second novel, Erimean Genesis, imagines a world where the first parents did not sin.

Chuck is a native of Rome, New York, and he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Ruby. He earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Education degree.

🎙️ Ann Harrison is a blind author. She wrote The Spirit of Creativity: Inspirational Poems for the Creative at Heart. She is currently working on a middle-grade mystery with supernatural and fantasy elements in the mix. She plans to self-publish Shadows on the Wall, the first book in her debut middle-grade series, Spirit Writer Society.

Ann has been published in several anthologies, including a devotional entitled God Things: Hope for the Hurting. Aside from her work as a children’s book author and poet, Ann is a professional freelance writer and editor, offering developmental and line editing services.

She also hosts a podcast titled Inspirational Journeys: Stories that Matter, where she gives children’s book authors a platform to share their stories. When she’s not interviewing special guests, she hosts solo episodes with book reviews, reading selected poems, and sharing tips and encouragement for aspiring authors.

Please visit Ann’s website to sign up for her newsletter: www.annharrisonauthor.com

🎙️ Pamela Henry is the owner of Soul Custody Press in Redlands, California, assisting writers in creating “memoirs with a message” on family topics including divorce, custody and visitation, children, and related subjects, written by professionals, parents and public figures.

Certified as a Peer Support Specialist through RI International. Certificate in Early Childhood Education from the University of California Riverside. B.A. degree in Telecommunications and Film with a minor in Journalism from San Diego State University.

Scholarship recipient of the Professionals in Residence program at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Offers a two-hour virtual workshop titled “Soul Custody: Memoirs with a Message.” Niche of legal experience is rooted in the California Rules of Court Standard 5.20 and Family Code Section 3200.5 through the Judicial Council of California, Operations and Programs Division, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, Access to Visitation Grant Program.

 Ami McConnell is a writer, editor, and publishing consultant based in Nashville, TN.She formerly served as Editor-in-Chief and VP of Howard Books/Simon & Schuster. Before that she acquired and edited for HarperCollins where she helped launch a successful fiction imprint. Editing credits include numerous New York Times bestsellers and award-winning titles.

Today McConnell works with celebrities and artists of all stripes to create bestselling books. She founded and directs WriterFest Nashville, a gathering for writers of book, song, and film.

Rachel Bykowski, a Chicago playwright, writes to explore the many facets of the female identity. Her full-length, 28 Light Years From Now, is the winner of 2020 Getchell New Play Award. Her full-length play, Tight End, has been featured with The National New Play Network (NNPN) in a workshop at the Kennedy Center for the MFA Playwrights’ Festival in 2016, was a top 20 finalist for CulturalDC’s Source Theatre Festival in 2017, and received Honorable Mention for the Jane Chambers 2017 Student Playwriting Award.

Her full-length play, Rev, was the runner-up for the 2018 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award, the winner of the 2019 SETC/Stage Rights Ready to Publish Award, and is now available for purchase on Amazon.

Rachel's other plays have been produced and featured in festivals across the United States. Rachel is a playwriting alumna with NNPN and a member of the Dramatists Guild. She received her BFA in playwriting from the Theatre School at DePaul University and her MFA from Ohio University.

Jenny Milchman is the Mary Higgins Clark award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of five novels. Her work has been praised by the New York Times, New York Journal of Books, San Francisco Journal of Books, and more; earned spots on Best Of lists including PureWow, POPSUGAR, the Strand, Suspense, and Big Thrill magazines; and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. Four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Jenny's short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and a recent piece on touring appeared in the Agatha award-winning collection Promophobia. Jenny is about to launch a new series with Thomas & Mercer featuring psychologist Arles Shepherd, who has the power to save the most troubled and vulnerable children but must battle demons of her own to do it. Jenny is a member of the Rogue Women Writers and lives in the Hudson Valley with her family. Make sure to check out this episode🙌🏾

Connect on Instagram with @jennymilchman🎙️

Ann lives in the beautiful Northern Arizona mountains with her clever husband (Sam Lucky, with whom she co-authors The Deadwood Undertaker series), charming children, and incredibly sassy cats. After many years and several colleges, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing from the University of Washington.Her books are character-driven, mixed-genre adventures full of mystery and mayhem, comedy and spice, and whatever else feels right to her. Ann has written a bunch of contemporary, award-winning novels in multiple series full of quirky characters with whom she loves to spend time. Right now, while you’re reading this, she’s probably frolicking around in another story or running from some creepy supernatural villain she conjured in the middle of the night.Ann has been a member of several writer groups in the past, including Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Western Writers of America; however, currently she’s hanging out with Novelists, Inc (NINC) and soaking up all she can about writing and marketing books. Who knows what other groups she’ll join next in her effort to grow her craft and business skills? She’s always trying to improve and find more people who share her sense of humor.While her reading preferences range from adventure to horror to western and mystery, since trying on herfirst training bra, she has loved a good mix of romance, too.When Ann is not dabbling in fiction, she’s chatting it up on various podcasts and radio shows, as well as hanging out at various book-related conferences, making new friends and sharing what she has learned over the years about the writing craft and marketing. Make sure to connect with @ann_charles🎙️ 

J. Lee is the award-winning author of The Hubley Case, The Silent Cardinal, The Deadly Deal and The Reluctant Reckoner. He graduated from Duke University with dual degrees in Engineering and Sociology and lives in the Chicago area with his family. To learn more about him or his novels, please visit www.jleethrillers.com