Desideratum

  This is a story about a young woman, a small town wedding party planner, whose curiosity and gut instincts lead to some amateur sleuthing and some shenanigans. We're talking about the audio book Party Planning Can Be Murder, and our conversation, like the book, starts off talking about funerals. You're gonna hear why funerals have made their way into so many of this author's stories.You'll also hear about her favorite part of the writing process. It's this aha moment she gets sometimes late in the story. And, you'll find out why a Viking is an integral part of her own life story. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Kerry Ann King, also known as Kerry Schafer. As much as I did.Here's how to find out more about Kerry:https://allthingskerry.com/Here's the link to get the audiobook:https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=970873&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781666692297

 This is a story full of secrets and surprises and suspense. In one of the first scenes, it's 2018, and you are stumbling through a snowstorm with an art appraiser who might just be freezing to death. You're not sure. Again and again, author Debra Spark caught me off guard and drew me in. She pulled together a storyline about a teenage boy sent to an abusive boarding school in the 1970s (based on a real school she researched). She ties that storyline back to the art appraiser's own messy relationship with her teenage son today, and to an art theft and mystery that the appraiser gets sucked into. The art mystery spirals around these three valuable portrait paintings of children from the 1930s. It wasn't easy for me to talk to Debra about her work without spoilers for you, but we did it and I hope you'll be intrigued enough after listening to seek out the rest of the story. The novel is called Discipline, and this is my conversation with author Debra Spark on the Desideratum Podcast.

This is a story set in an inhospitable land, where the characters are struggling to find a home for the living and a place to bury their dead.We're talking about the novel No Place to Bury the Dead with audiobook narrator Maria McCann.Maria is a Los Angeles native, a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television, who’s appeared in dozens of films and television shows, such as Lucifer, Shameless and Grey’s Anatomy.  She also works as an acting coach. I’ve personally had the delight of being coached by her.  But, maybe my favorite thing about her - as you’ll hear - is that Maria is an open book and very fun to listen to!I hope you find Maria’s commitment to joy as contagious as I did, and that you want to hear more of her voice in your ears.  I want to thank you Harper Audio for sharing the audio samples from No Place to Bury the Dead by Karina Sainz Borgo, translated by Elizabeth Bryer. If you want to listen to the rest of the story,here's an affiliate link to the audiobook marketplace Libro.fm. I partner with Libro.fm because they support local bookstores. When you buy your audiobooks from them you can pick a local to you indie bookstore to support with every purchase.Thanks for listening!

Step into the world of 1917 with author Donna Alward's debut historical fiction, "When the World Fell Silent." This gripping tale explores the lives of two distinct women, Nora and Charlotte, against the backdrop of the Halifax explosion—an event that reshaped a city and its people. Known for her success in romance, Donna takes on the challenge of weaving historical facts with compelling character arcs, creating a story that is as much about love and community as it is about tragedy. Join us as Donna shares her journey from romance to historical fiction, the serendipity that led her there, and the detailed research behind this novel. Discover how she brings to life the experiences of these two women—one a nurse, the other a war widow—each navigating the societal expectations of their time. Listen to how the Halifax explosion, the largest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb, becomes a pivotal element in their stories. Hear excerpts from the audiobook, narrated by Ivana Rakic and Laurence Bouvard, as they capture the essence of Halifax and its resilient women. Explore the themes of motherhood, trauma, and the power of community through Donna's insightful storytelling. With a backdrop of historical events, this episode delves into the philosophical questions of destiny and self-determination, leaving us with a sense of hope amidst adversity. If you enjoyed the audiobook snippets and want to experience the full story, consider supporting local bookstores by purchasing the audiobook through Libro.fm. Follow our affiliate link to support both this podcast and a bookstore of your choice with every purchase. Thanks for listening! https://desideratumpodcast.com/ https://donnajonesalward.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@stepintothestorybooks 00:00 Author Donna Allward writes historical fiction set in 1917 03:09 You're telling the story through two main characters, Nora and Charlotte 06:38 The Halifax explosion is at the heart of this story 07:15 The Halifax explosion was the largest man made explosion in history before the atom bomb 10:42 You write about eye injuries caused by Halifax explosion in historical fiction 15:11 One of the other things that I wanted to talk about these two women is motherhood 17:44 Ivana Rakic narrates the audiobook from Charlotte's Awakening 20:08 When we were choosing narrators, I was concerned about the accent 22:06 The narrator is Laurence Bouvard, originally from Boston, Massachusetts 26:42 You talk about how you gravitate towards serendipities in your book 31:10 We dug into some stuff that I haven't talked about on any podcast before 31:54 Dealing with trauma in 1917 is very different than how we deal with it today Show notes created by https://headliner.app

The Codger And The Sparrow is a story about an old man, a teenage boy and the trouble they get into. It's a friendship that at first you will not quite understand and yet totally be cheering for! Author Scott Semegran shares the inspiration behind the novel, which stemmed from a vivid image he had during the stressful days of the pandemic. He envisioned an older man and a teenage boy, vastly different in age and background, yet sharing a comfortable camaraderie as they drove together in a car. This image sparked a story that explores the deep and often humorous bond between friends. One of the highlights of our conversation was Scott's approach to character development. He is a keen observer of people, and this is reflected in the rich, detailed descriptions of his characters. Narrator Brian Craig, who has primarily worked on non-fiction before this, found a deep connection with the characters. His narration was praised in AudioFile Magazine for its "perfect mix of wonder, empathy, and enthusiasm", bringing Scott's characters to life in a way that moved even the author to tears. One of the most touching aspects of the story is the unique vehicle they use on their quest – a hot pink hot rod that has its own backstory, inspired by Scott's late father-in-law. I hope you enjoyed getting to know author Scott Semegran and narrator Brian Craig as much as I did. If you enjoyed the audiobook samples published by Vibrance Press, I suggest you listen to the rest of the story on Libro.fm. Here's ⁠⁠an affiliate link⁠⁠ to purchase the audiobook that also supports this podcast. Libro.fm is running a 'Shop small, Shop local Promotion'. So, you can get three audiobooks for the price of one ⁠⁠when you start a new Libro.fm membership with the code SMALL⁠⁠. You can chose a local bookstore near you to benefit from every purchase you make. I think you should start with Scott Semegran's The Codger And The Sparrow. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, we delve into a poignant summer romance that transcends time and societal boundaries. Join us as we explore the intricate layers of "All the Flowers of the Mountain" with author Christina Holbrook. Set against the backdrop of a picturesque lake, this story follows the love between a local boy and a girl from an affluent family, unraveling the secrets and uncertainties that linger long after their summer together. Christina Holbrook opens up about her personal connection to the story, sharing how her family history and her own experiences have influenced her writing. We discuss the themes of art, nature, and personal growth that permeate the novel, and you'll hear an exclusive snippet from the audiobook. One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation is Christina's candid discussion about her serious illness and how it has reshaped her perspective on life and writing. Her insights into the importance of connection, both in storytelling and in life, are profoundly moving. Don't miss this heartfelt episode that not only celebrates a beautiful love story but also delves into the deeper, essential things that make life meaningful. Thanks to Walker Vreeland Productions for the audiobook sample and to Christina Holbrook for sharing her journey with us. You can find more about Christina and purchase the audiobook through the links in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theresa-bakken/support Show notes created by https://headliner.app https://www.walkervreelandproductions.com/ https://christinaholbrook.com/ https://theresabakkennarrator.com/  

This is a story about a family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan a hundred years ago. Their lives in the densely populated tenements offer a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of immigrant life in early 20th-century America.  We’re talking to author Gail Lehrman about her novel Across Seward Park. I found so many essential things in this conversation. For me this is not just a chat about a historical fiction; it's a mirror reflecting our own times, our own challenges, and our own capacity for greatness. In her storytelling, Gail Lehrman explores the potency of words as tools for persuasion and instigation. She delves into the conflicts that arise when ideology meets practicality, and she explores the delicate balance between self-interest and altruism. I hope listening to this conversation and the audio excerpt will inspire you to seek out the rest of the story in Across Seward Park. Thanks for listening.

Ever wondered what makes a story both romantic and riotously funny? This episode invites you into the minds of a creative couple who turned a series of "what ifs" into a comedic and heartfelt narrative. Learn how they intertwined their personal experiences with a fictional couple's chaotic journey, reflecting on the deep connections and empathy that arise from shared struggles. As they dissect their characters' misadventures and moments of empathy, you'll be enticed to explore the audiobook that brings us closer to understanding the complexities of love. We’re talking about the romantic comedy Emergency Contact with co-writers New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne and her real life husband Anthony LeDonne. Thanks to Pozotron and BlackStone Publishing for sponsoring this episode. The audiobook scenes from Emergency Contact in this episode come from BlackStone Director and Producer Jesse Bickford and Kyle Willoughby.  The narrators are Tim Paige and Brianna Cohen. Thanks for listening. https://www.pozotron.com/ ⁠https://www.blackstonepublishing.com/⁠ https://www.briannacohen.com/about https://timpaige.lpages.co/ttp-welcome-page/ https://www.laurenlayne.com/

This is a mystical story about a magical circus.  Not the kind of magic that involves pulling rabbits out of hats, but the kind where individuals' inner talents manifest into genuine magical abilities—known as sparks. These sparks choose to use their gifts not for conquest but to inspire and bring joy to those who need it most. But, this story is not all whimsy and light. This historical fantasy takes place in the hopeful but ominous years between World War 1 and World War 2.  We’re talking about the audiobook for The First Bright Thing with narrator Petrea Burchard and author JR Dawson. You’re going to hear author JR Dawson (Jen) open up about her personal experiences with theater, which served as an outlet for her creativity and weirdness. She speaks passionately about how theater education validates and how it influenced her characters and setting in this debut novel. You'll also hear from narrator Petrea Burchard about her performance and how she connected to this magical story. She and Jen both gush about her co-narrator's (Tim Campbell) performance too. You'll hear a clip from Tim voicing the dark Circus King. Thanks to all the fine folks at Tor Publishing Group including producer Steve Wagner for sharing the spellbinding clips and for bringing The First Bright Thing audiobook to life. I hope you’ll want to listen to the rest of the story wherever you get your audiobooks. When you buy your audiobook from libro.fm you can can chose a local book store to support and when you follow this affiliate link you also support this pod. I also want to sincerely thank this episode’s sponsor Pozotron. Pozotron provides fantastic services for audio artists and producers like me. I use Pozotron for prepping and proofing the audiobooks I narrate. I use exactly what I need each month through their subscription service. You can sign up for a free demo of all they offer at pozotron.com. 

This is a story about a woman using all her abilities to complete a spy mission and also get exactly what she wants. We’re talking to Helen Day about the sexy and determined characters she narrated as Hedra Knight for the Regency Romance The Duke in Question by Amalie Howard. I loved learning how Helen physically gets into character, how she performed so many different action and spicy scenes, and how performing world tours with Cirque du Soleil was part of her storytelling journey. Thanks to Dreamscape Media you’ll hear several fun moments from the audiobook. I want to thank the Colorado Sun for shining their light on author Amalie Howard’s work. I listen to the Daily Sun Up podcast and on Sundays I check out the SunLit features on authors put together by editor Kevin Simpson. You can check it out at coloradosun.org or look for the Daily Sun Up wherever you found this podcast. The Duke in Question was a Colorado Book Award finalist in the Romance category. I love that Colorado Humanities celebrates storytellers in my home state. You can find the winners and finalists in all the genre categories at coloradohumanities.org.  A big thank you to author Amalie Howard,  narrator Helen Day reading as Hedra Knight, and all the fine folks at Dreamscape Media for bringing The Duke in Question audiobook to life and sponsoring this episode. Dreamscape Media’s catalog includes bestselling audiobooks, children’s educational videos, prominent independent authors, and much much more  They strive to publish and distribute titles that both inspire and entertain listeners, readers, and viewers around the world. I’m honored that they support this podcast and I hope you’ll connect with them. Visit them at dreamscapepublishing.com to sign up for their weekly newsletter that has audiobook news, deals and giveaways.  As always, thank you for listening. https://coloradohumanities.org/programs/colorado-book-awards/ https://coloradosun.com/sunlit/ https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/ https://www.instagram.com/littlebird7/?hl=en https://amaliehoward.com/

This is a thriller. It’s the story of an FBI agent and a homicide detective working together to catch a serial killer with a chilling perspective on killing. You'll hear narrator Erin deWard bringing all the chills and characters to life in your ear. We'll talk about why and how she does it, and you'll hear author Leanne Kale Sparks talk about how she maps out and finds the 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' in her crime stories. Thanks to Dreamscape Media you’ll hear several tense moments from the audiobook. Dreamscape is an independent, award winning audiobook publisher. I’m honored that they support this podcast and I hope you’ll visit them at dreamscapepublishing.com where you can sign up for a weekly newsletter that has audiobook deals and giveaways.       Thanks to The Colorado Sun for shining their light on Leanne Kale Sparks work. I listen to the Daily Sun Up podcast and on Sundays I check out the SunLit features on authors put together by editor Kevin Simpson. Check it out at coloradosun.org and look for the Daily Sun Up wherever you found this podcast. The Wrong Woman won the Colorado book award in the thriller category. I love that Colorado Humanities celebrates storytellers in my home state. You can find the winners and finalists in all the genre categories at coloradohumanities.org.  A big thank you to author Leanne Kale Sparks, narrator Erin deWard, audiobook Producer Erick Black and all the fine folks at Dreamscape media for bringing The Wrong Woman audiobook to life and sponsoring this episode. Dreamscape Media’s catalog includes bestselling audiobooks, children’s educational videos, prominent independent authors, and much much more.  I connected with author Leanne Kale Sparks through Kim Weiss at PR by the Book. You'll find links for all these great folks below. As always, thank you for listening. https://coloradohumanities.org/programs/colorado-book-awards/ Colorado Humanities home of the Colorado Book Award https://www.erindeward.com/ Erin deWard https://www.leannekalesparks.com/ Leanne Kale Sparks https://coloradosun.com/sunlit/ The Colorado Sun https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/ Dreamscape Media

This is a story about a beautiful, powerful woman who captured the imagination of historical fiction author Shana Abè. We’re talking about Arabella Huntington, the intriguing woman at the heart of An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age Inspired by the True Story of Arabella Huntington Who Became the Richest Woman in the Country. This week we return to a favorite author of mine. Shana Abè first wowed me with her story about the 2nd Mrs Astor who was widowed by John Jacob Astor as she survived their honeymoon aboard the Titanic. In Shana’s new novel An American Beauty, she introduces us to another remarkable woman from history. The way she brings Arabella Huntington’s life into focus got me thinking about how we can all invent and reinvent ourselves. I hope spending time with Shana Abe made you as happy as it did me. A big thanks to Shana, her publisher Kensington Press, her incredibly talented narrator Gail Shalan, Gail’s director Hilary Eurich and all the fine folks at Tantor Audio for bringing An American Beauty’s audiobook to life.   https://www.gailshalan.com/ https://www.shanaabe.com/

This is a murder mystery. It's the second book in a 1920s series starring the prim, poor but clever, Annalee Spain - a fan of Sherlock Holmes - who solves murder and crime in Colorado's dangerous Klan era. We’re talking with Colorado author Patricia Raybon about race and faith, why we love a good mystery, and how transparency is essential. I want to thank The Colorado Sun for shining their light on Patricia’s work. I listen to the Sun's podcast called The Daily Sun-Up, and every Sunday I check out their SunLit feature for author spotlights. Sunlit editor Kevin Simpson often talks to authors on The Daily Sun-ups Friday podcast. Look for it wherever you’re listening to this podcast. Patricia is part of a panel discussion at the Colorado Sun’s SunFest ideas conference this week. You can get more info at coloradosun.com .One more big thank you to her publisher Tyndale House, the audio publisher One Audiobooks for the excerpts from Double the Lies.  And, as always, thank you for listening.  https://www.patriciaraybon.com/  this is a link to Patricia's website https://coloradosun.com/sunfest/ this is a link for the Colorado Sun's SunFest conference

This is a real life story set in a vast land, the San Luis Valley of Colorado. It’s a huge flat prairie flanked by mountains, and it's far off the beaten path. Author Ted Conover takes us there in this Desideratum. A desideratum is an essential thing and this story got me thinking about lots of essential things - like wide open spaces, what to do with a rattlesnake, the peace you find in silence, and the need for connection. Ted Conover is perhaps best known for spending a year as a prison guard at the maximum security prison Sing Sing in New York. The book he wrote about that experience was called Newjack and it earned a National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and made Ted a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. His work expands and deepens what we think of as Journalism.  He submerges himself in often uncomfortable situations and then takes readers along with him. Today we’re talking about his latest immersive experience and book called Cheap Land Colorado. In his observation of small details side by side with his big picture perspectives, he paints a very complete picture with his own voice as narrator in your ear. I hope you enjoy getting to know Ted Conover as much as I have. I want to thank The Colorado Sun for shining their light on Ted’s work. I listen to the Sun's podcast called The Daily Sun-Up, and every Sunday I check out their SunLit feature for author spotlights. Sunlit editor Kevin Simpson often talks to authors on The Daily Sun-ups Friday podcast. Check it out at coloradosun.com or wherever you're listening to this podcast.  Ted will be in Denver for the Colorado Sun’s SunFest ideas conference. Here's a link for tickets: https://coloradosun.com/sunfest/ And here's a link to the La Puente organization Ted volunteers with so you find out more about the good work they do. https://lapuentehome.org/ One more big thank you to the audio publisher Random House Audio for the excerpt from Cheap Land Colorado.  And, as always, thank you for listening. 

This is a story about a young woman running away and finding her home. It begins with the moment she decides to run, when she faces a painful truth about her boyfriend.  We’re talking about A LIGHT IN THE FOREST - a Colorado Book Award Finalist - on this Desideratum. A Desideratum is an essential thing. I’m audiobook narrator Theresa Bakken and I think this story is full of essential things.  This week we’re talking about being a work in progress with author Melissa Payne whose new novel A Light in the Forest got us talking about small towns, and pigs, and intuition. I want to thank the Colorado Sun for shining their light on Melissa, I listen to the Sun's podcast called The Daily Sun-Up.. It's a great way to start your day if you’re curious about Colorado culture, history,  news of all kinds delivered to your ears. Then every Sunday I check out the SunLit feature at coloradosun.com for author spotlights and local independent bookstore recommendations. SunLit editor Kevin Simpson often talks to authors on The Daily Sun-up's Friday podcasts. Check it out at coloradosun.com or wherever your'e listening to this podcast.  Also - a big thank you to the author Melissa Payne, the talented and authentic voice of narrator Kay Eluvian, the audiobook publisher Brilliance audio, and the audiobook production team at Deyan audio Devon Hammond and Yanni Caldas for their work on A Light in the Forest. And, as always thank you for listening.  https://coloradohumanities.org/programs/colorado-book-awards/ https://www.melissapayneauthor.com/ author Melissa Payne's website link https://www.kayeluvian.com/audiobooks/ narrator Kay Eluvian's website link https://coloradosun.com/category/sunlit/sunlit-interviews/ a Link to the Colorado Sun website's SunLit page

Have you heard the story about the author who was in a grocery store, set up with a little table and a folding chair, selling his books one book at a time... when something life changing happened. We’re talking about the crazy experience author Shawn Warner is having with his debut novel Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons Pierce Manor - how a small act of kindness from a stranger set off a ripple effect of good will for Shawn. You’re going to hear about his YA book featuring a girl and some ghosts who solve a murder mystery. You’ll hear some of his favorite scenes from the audiobook (read by me for Black Rose Writing and Podium Audio). And, Shawn talks openly and honestly about ADD, his military service, and his greatest adventure (his family!) on this Desideratum. https://www.shawnwarner.com/ https://www.blackrosewriting.com/ https://podiumaudio.com/

This is a story about a group of women in the late 1960’s. Their shared love of art and some unusual coincidences bring them together. Author Linda Rosen decided to anchor her fiction to a real event in New York City in 1970 that ended up being more relevant today than she first imagined. From Black Rose Writing, with the audiobook published by Tantor Audio, we're talking about The Emerald Necklace. You'll hear a scene from narrator Traci Odom who's narrated more than 300 audiobooks and whose narration style was described by AudioFile Magazine as "...one of high-quality invisibility. Her technique is sort of like air.. a crucial thing." I want to thank  Grace Sammon for introducing me to Linda. Grace is the host of The Storytellers Radio Show and Podcast. She focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. I highly recommend you search for The Storytellers Podcast wherever you consume your pods. As always thanks for listening. https://www.traciodom.com/ https://www.linda-rosen.com/ https://www.gracesammon.net/

This is a story about a woman who slips through time..   It's the day before Casey's 40th birthday, and her acting career and personal life are a disaster. Frantic to escape her own emptiness, she hops a plane to England and heads to the countryside to hide. That’s when a lightning strike, a skidding car and a horse that might be magical send her through a gap in time to the Dark Ages. We’re talking to author and narrator Petrea Burchard about her historical fantasy Camelot & Vine.  A big thank you to this episode’s sponsor Pozotron. I use Pozotron in my audiobook prep and proofing process to save time and ensure accuracy..  Their AI powered software suite cuts hours from the audiobook, voiceover and any scripted audio production process. You can sign up for a free demo of all they offer at pozotron.com. Before her audiobook narration work won her an Earphones Award, Petrea had a diverse acting career in film, television and theater. She is best known for voicing the powerful and hilarious space pirate Ryoko Hakubi in the english language version of the 90's Japanese anime series “Tenchi Muyo!”. You can find all her current projects in the audiobook world and other fun facts at Petreaburchard.com I hope you enjoyed spending some time with Petrea Burchard as much as I did. I hope you’ll listen to the rest of her audiobook Camelot & Vine. If you follow the affiliate link to Libro.fm when you purchase the audiobook you are also supporting this podcast. 

This is a story about a struggling writer who gets invited to a writing retreat. She's thrilled because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity with a famous horror novelist. The retreat takes place at a remote estate, where even the house has a dark and storied past. We’re talking about the NY Times bestseller The Writing Retreat, with author, therapist and creative coach Julia Bartz. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for providing the foreboding moments from the audiobook narrated by the wonderful and award winning Gail Shalan. https://www.gailshalan.com/ To hear the rest of the story, you can purchase the audiobook and support this podcast by following this link to Libro.fm where you can also select a local book store to benefit from your purchase. Thanks to episode sponsor Pozotron. Here's a ⁠link⁠ to get a free demo of all the great ways they help audio storytellers. And finally, here's a link to connect to Julia's latest news. https://www.juliabartz.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please interact in some way with the podcast - like, share, follow, subscribe, leave a review - wherever you listen. Thanks!

This is a story about a detective, a cold case forensics expert named Elise. But this isn’t just a cold case, crime solving detective story. This story begins with our detective caught in the middle of an active crime scene. She fires her weapon for the first time. She takes a man’s life to save another man. Then, the saved man disappears from the scene, and Elise is drawn to him looking for answers. What she finds when this man enters her life is a very dangerous game.   We’re talking about Wendy Walker’s new thriller What Remains.  You’ll hear how excited Wendy gets talking about the science of memory and the psychology of trauma recovery. I love how she balances the characters' back stories and psychology with the urgent, nail biting suspense of the plot. We also talk about how her narrators Gabra Zackman and Peter Ganim dramatically and subtly delivered the clues in the audiobook for What Remains. Supporting this episode with Wendy walker is BlackStone publishing. Blackstone is providing a discount code to listeners for 50% off the audiobook for What Remains. Another big thank you to Pozotron. They are a subscription service for audio storytellers like me. I use their audiobook prep and proofing tools, and their features for collaboration - which make working together on a project seamless, efficient and fun. You can sign up for a free demo of their system at https://www.pozotron.com/ Here is the code from Blackstone Publishing for a discounted listen. Go to https://www.downpour.com/ select the audiobook What Remains by Wendy Walker, click 'buy now' and apply the promo code BLACKSTONE50 for fifty percent off the audiobook. Thanks again to Blackstone, Pozotron and Wendy Walker for making this episode possible. I’m Theresa Bakken. Thank you for listening

This is a story about movies - classic films - that a psychology professor at Yale University adored, explored and built a long standing popular college course around. Author and Professor Dr. James Charney brings you the Yale course that explores the portrayal of mental illness in films in his book Madness at the Movies. The audiobook is narrated by Golden Voice (too many awards to list, more than a thousand titles to his name) Grover Gardner.  We’re talking about Grover's work on Madness at the Movies, as well as some of his other favorite projects. And, he also shares his insights on the audiobook industry, authors, auditions, building relationships, and the presence of AI. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Pozotron is an audiobook prep and proofing subscription service that helps narrators and publishers do their jobs. If you’re an audio storyteller go to Pozotron.com, sign up for a free demo and tell them thanks for sponsoring this episode. And BlackStone Publishing, the independent publisher and producer of powerful page turners across all genres with new award winning authors and collectable classics. Blackstone is providing a discount code for listeners for 50% off the Madness at the Movies audiobook. Instructions:  Go to Downpour.com, select the audiobook https://www.downpour.com/madness-at-the-movies?sp=756180 Click Buy Now Click Apply Promo Code BLACKSTONE50 , enter code Finish the checkout process Download your title and enjoy!

This is a scary story. A classic horror story - with a haunted house, a monster, and unflinching violence. But, there’s something else here too…  we’re talking about Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca with narrator Andrè Santana.  This episode is sponsored by Dreamscape Media, an independent award-winning audiobook publisher. Dreamscape produces a wide range of titles from motivational self help to mysteries, thrillers and happily ever afters. This title is in the horror genre, but Andrè and I take good care of the listener in our conversation and we stay away from spoilers and triggers. I am excited for you to hear some of Andrè's narration - it's chilling. And, I loved hearing about his storytelling process and how he ended up in a box talking into a microphone. His exceptional narration work earned him a 2023 Audie Finalist. He is easy to connect with on social media and on his website Andreonthemic.com Please look for his work in many genres including the book we featured, Everything the Darkness Eats written by Eric LaRocca (a Bram Stoker Award nominated and Splatterpunk Award-winning Author). You can find more of Eric's scary stories on his website. Thanks again to Dreamscape and thank you for listening. https://www.andreonthemic.com/ https://ericlarocca.com/ https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/

This is a story about a life - a beautiful life - lived across 4 countries, with struggle, multiple languages and loves.  We’re talking about Elizabeth Graver’s new novel Kantika and we begin with home recordings she made decades ago with her grandmother Rebecca. You’ll also hear some of narrator Gail Shalan’s skillful and delightful narration.  She is an incredible guide as the story takes us from Istanbul, to Barcelona, to Havana and New York. For her - Gail says - narrating Kantika was a meaningful act of generational healing and love.  A special thank you to Kantika’s audiobook publisher and this episode’s sponsor  - Dreamscape Media. Visit them at dreamscapepublishing.com for audiobook news, deals and updates on regular audiobook giveaways.  You can see photos of the family members who inspired the characters in Kantika on Elizabeth's website elizabethgraver.com https://elizabethgraver.com/ https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/⁠

This is a story set in the Wild West in the early 1900’s. The story centers around a woman named Ruby who is living a mostly quiet and mostly lawful life… when out of the blue her past comes hustling into town and takes her and us on a journey filled with missteps and mayhem. We’re talking about KT Blakemore’s Wild-Willed Women of the West series - book one is called The Good Time Girls. I hope you get on the road with The Good Time Girls and have as much fun as I did with dire circumstances, a mule named Theodore, and a bouquet of doubt named Verna. You can find them and all the other characters KT creates on her website. You might also know KT as Kim Taylor Blakemore. You can find all her storytelling at Kimtaylorblakemore.com A special thanks to our episode sponsor Dreamscape Media. Dreamscape audio productions are riveting and beautiful. They create accessible entertainment in a wide variety of genres. Please visit their website and connect to their newsletter for audiobook news and giveaways. And as always, thank you for listening. https://www.kimtaylorblakemore.com/ https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/

This is a story about a remarkable woman. She was trusted by American presidents and generals. Her impact on our nation can still be felt today. But, you’ve probably never heard of her, and you might never have if not for a high school history teacher. We’re talking about the first biography written about the incredible Anna Marie Rosenberg (appropriately titled The Confidante) by teacher and debut author Christopher C. Gorham on this Desideratum. Narrator Ann Richardson shines in non-fiction work like this. She’s won several Audiofile Earphone awards for her work. I hope you enjoyed hearing Christopher talk about Anna Marie as much as I did. You can hear the rest of the audiobook, narrated by Ann Richardson at Libro.fm . Following the Libro.fm affiliate link supports this podcast.  You can also use the podcast’s discount code DP20 to save 20 percent off your whole purchase on the publisher's website.  I always learn something new from Kensington authors. Thanks to Ann Pryor at Kensington for connecting me to Christopher. Thanks to Tantor Audio for the moments from the audiobook. And, a special thank you to Pozotron for sponsoring this episode. Please reach out to me or visit the Pozotron website for more about how they help audio storytellers. As always, thank you for listening.   affiliate link to Libro.fm https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9780806542003/the-confidante/ https://www.christophercgorham.com/the-confidante https://www.pozotron.com/

This is a story about a family.  It is a close up look at a father and daughter, at two sisters, at a husband and wife. But, it’s also this huge story about tradition and patriarchy and freedom. It felt like poetry to me at times.. and this conversation about it was so rich. We’re talking about In the Time of our History with author Susanne Pari on this Desideratum.  The narrator Mozhan Marnò is an Iranian-American film and television actress and a playwright. She speaks English, French, German, Farsi, and Spanish.  She is known for her roles in The Blacklist, House of Cards, and Fleishman is in Trouble.  She is also the voice of Mirabelle and Namira in the video game Elder Scrolls- Skyrim. This audiobook scene you'll hear is from the beginning of In The Time of Our History, written by Susanne Pari, and produced by Highbridge, a division of Recorded Books.  I hope you enjoyed getting to know Susanne Pari as much as I did. You can hear the rest of the audiobook and support this podcast and a local book store of your choice by following this affiliate link⁠ to Libro.fm You can also use the podcast’s discount code DP20 on the publisher's website kensingtonbooks.com to save 20 percent on this book and the whole Kensington library.  I always find entertaining and enlightening reads at Kensington, and I like that going into their 5th decade of publishing, they are still a multigenerational family led business. Thanks to Ann Pryor at Kensington for connecting me to Susanne, and thank you for listening.

This is a collection of 10 classic short stories written over a hundred years ago, brought together in a carefully curated anthology. Each story gives a feminine perspective on marriage - its role in society and the personal beauty and pain that can be found within its bonds. We’re talking about Marriage from the Feminine Perspective annotated, published and narrated by Christine Mascott. The anthology earned Christine an Audiofile Earphones Award and a coveted Audie Finalist in the Short Stories and Collections category. Listen to what led her to these public domain, royalty free, stories from the past in the first place and find out why she thinks they still have something to say today. Find the audiobook here: https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Feminine-Perspective-Classic-Stories/dp/B09MRVDZJL/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Our sponsor for this episode is Pozotron - the audio proofing platform designed to help narrators, proofers, and publishers produce more accurate and efficient audiobooks. Find out more and sign up for a free demo here: https://www.pozotron.com/

This is a story about a girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1930’s - her family suffers one tragedy after another and she decides to escape the city and head to Yosemite…  Where she crosses paths with a real person in history - a Park Ranger named Enid Michael.  We’re talking about the historical fiction, The View From Half Dome, with author Jill Caugherty.  Jill shares how her storyline and characters evolved.  It always fascinates me to hear how one idea built up from the last - how one thing leads to another. I also really liked hearing Jill explain contrast and its importance to this story. The scene you’ll hear from the audiobook is young Izzy’s first real hike in Yosemite.  She’s with Enid and Ansel and Virginia Adams. Thanks to the publisher Black Rose Writing for giving me the joy of narrating this story. And, thank you for listening. Remember when you enjoy a book in any format, please leave a review - reviews actively help with marketing and improve visibility and sales - plus it’s just nice.  https://www.jillcaugherty.com/ https://www.amazon.com/The-View-from-Half-Dome/dp/B0C3J9JPH4/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Full Transcription with time stamps available here: https://otter.ai/u/z2o5nwxAu7vXc_XOb4bvFO7G-mQ?utm_source=copy_url

This is a story about a young boy named Philbet. He’s growing up in the deep south in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. He loves cars and his grandaddy’s garden and an older boy named Knox.  In this story, you see how Philbet hides himself and then finds himself. We’re talking about Red Clay Suzie, a fictionalized memoir written by Jeffrey Dale Lofton. Lofton is a natural storyteller and not just on the page. His voice has a timbre and a rhythm and accent that draws you in, and I felt like instead of asking questions, I just kept saying some version of 'tell me a story' and he would. We begin with him telling the story behind the story of his debut novel. Another great voice connected to Red Clay Suzie is the audiobook narrator Pete Cross - who Jeffrey was a big fan of and was so excited when he auditioned. Pete’s work has been recognized with a SOVAS, an Odyssey Award and an Audie. He’s a talented storyteller and I’m so grateful to Blackstone Publishing for sharing this scene with us. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jeffrey as much as I did. Thanks again to the sponsor for this episode - Pozotron - and of course thank you for being here thanks for listening. Sponsor: https://www.pozotron.com/ Narrator: https://petecrossvo.com/ Author: https://www.jeffreydlofton.com/ Red Clay Suzie Audiobook https://www.audible.com/pd/Red-Clay-Suzie-Audiobook/B0BFC47JJY?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Organizations mentioned by the author: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/strategic-plan/https://bornthisway.foundation/ Books mentioned by the author: To Kill a Mockingbird https://www.audible.com/pd/To-Kill-a-Mockingbird-Audiobook/B00K1HQVOQ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Call Me by Your Name https://www.audible.com/pd/Call-Me-by-Your-Name-Audiobook/B071H4FK2Y?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Episode transcript and timestamps: https://otter.ai/u/EKPT8WfipuqHekgveT7zKI1L7nE?utm_source=copy_url

This is a story set in what looks like a perfect neighborhood -  rocking chairs on covered porches, manicured lawns and families looking out for each other.   But in this story,  the illusion of perfect families and close friendships fractures when a child goes missing.  We’re talking about the novel The Perfect Neighborhood with author Liz Alterman.  Liz made me laugh and think deeply. I loved her perspectives on rejection and serendipity.  The scene you will hear from the audiobook is from one of my favorite narrators - Gail Shalan. The novel's suspense unfolds through five key perspectives, and the audiobook features five fantastic narrators. The audiobook was produced by Dreamscape. I want to thank Dreamscape for sponsoring this episode.  They are an independent, award winning audiobook publisher that produces a wide range of titles, including everything from motivational self-help to suspenseful mysteries like The Perfect Neighborhood. Their goal is to provide the best and most high-quality audiobooks to listeners everywhere. They would love to connect, so please visit them at dreamscapepublishing.com, where you can sign up for their weekly newsletter that has audiobook news, deals, and updates on their regular audiobook giveaways. You can also visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Find more of Liz Alterman's storytelling here: https://www.lizalterman.com/ And, for more from the audiobook publisher Dreamscape visit: Website: https://dreamscapepublishing.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamscapeAudio Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dreamscapeaudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamscape_media/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dreamscape_media

This is a story set firmly in Kentucky bluegrass - a story swirling around a retired history professor who finds herself in one murder mystery after another. We’re talking with the author of the Josiah Reynolds cozy mystery series Abigail Keam, and we begin our conversation with something she has in common with her main character… beekeeping.   While Death By Greed (Book 18 in the series) just released, you are going to hear the very beginning, the very first scene. We’re going back to book 1 page 1 - and there will be bees in this reading from Death by a Honeybee. I hope you enjoy getting to know Abigail - hearing about her bees and her characters. You can find her active on all social media platforms as @abigailkeamauthor. I first met her through @wellreadmagazine. Thanks to Mandy Haynes for shining her light on new-to-me authors. And, as always, thank YOU for listening.

This is a story about a string of murders - assassinations - of media pundits. They were extreme peddlers of their party's agendas, and their murders feel politically motivated. Assigned to the case is a group of grizzled and green FBI detectives. We're talking about the crime novel Code Gray with narrator Champ Westwood on this Desideratum. Listen as Champ reveals what he appreciates about author Benny Sims intent. He loves how Sims grain of sand becomes a pearl as the story unfolds. Champ also explains his controversial process for prepping his audiobooks. And, you'll hear how his background in musical theater shapes his approach to the very intimate performance of audiobook narration. I hope you have as much fun as I did getting to know Champ (he also narrates under the name Mike Eberhardt). Here's his website with all his narration and VO projects listed. https://www.superfunstudios.com/ As always, thanks for listening

Narrator by Landon Beach is a mystery thriller that will have you asking - what just happened and whodunnit?! Listen as Landon describes how he got inside the head of this hot mess of a main character - an audiobook narrator. And, find out how Landon first met his real life narrator the legendary award winning Scott Brick. Congratulations to Scott on being an Audie 2023 Finalist for Best Male Narrator for this project. Visit www.landonbeachbooks.com for all his books and his newsletter. 

(00:00) Introduction with scratchy recording from a lone singer who inspired the novel Gradle Bird by JC Sasser (02:52) Oral storytelling and walking around with a tape recorder gathering stories (04:18) Setting in small town feels timeless  (05:35) Rooted in reality to distill the truth looking back on life experiences using fiction (07:00) Abandoned structures sparked imagination starting in childhood with her father who was paralyzed taking her to a pig slaughterhouse (09:34) Audiobook introduction of scene with a confrontation  (10:17) Audiobook excerpt from Gradle Bird by JC Sasser (20:38) Human cruelty themes balanced with themes of love  (22:18) Siamese fighting fish as a betting game in the story the beauty of frailty and fierceness  (24:39) Moonflowers thrive in darkness but only live one day and they are deadly toxic to people which is a key to the story (26:45) Ghost in the novel and from Sasser's childhood she loves to be haunted (29:30) Musician in the novel based on a real person who struggled with mental illness who befriended the author when she was a young girl (33:42) He was a real true friend who was taunted and ridiculed and harassed and she imagined in this fiction dire consequences that could have come from his mistreatment (35:55) There's a quote from Corinthians scripture that underpins the whole novels message and how it looks at guilt and forgiveness  (39:20) Conclusion what is essential for JC Sasser  This is a story that begins with a lone singer recording original songs on cassette tapes for the author a long time ago. She remembers listening using the tape deck in her mama’s white Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme out at the edge of town where abandoned things and the music made her wonder. We’re talking with author J.C. Sasser (Jana) about her novel Gradle Bird on this Desideratum. Jana's southern tale has an incredible cast of characters .The title character is a 16 year old girl named Gradle being raised by her Grandpa. Then, there's a teenage boy named Sonny Joe who is a Siamese Fighting Fish aficionado. And there's Delvis Miles, a professional dumpster diver and a genius musician, whose mental health makes him both fragile and fierce.  But we start our conversation with Jana herself, because she’s as intriguing as any of her characters. Throughout this novel there are three characters who commit serious crimes with dire consequences that haunt them.  You’re going to hear a scene near the beginning of the book, that starts in a grocery store with a confrontation and gives you some history for one of the characters.   Thank you to Jana for sharing her recording of the real Evans Miles singing When the Whippoorwills Holler at Night for this episode. Thank you to the Pat Conroy Literary Center for shining a light on Sasser's storytelling.  And, as always, thank you for listening. Here are links to learn more about J.C. Sasser https://www.jcsasser.com/  and the Pat Conroy Literary Center  https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/

(00:00) Introduction this is Such A Pretty Girl by T Greenwood (02:15) Words are powerful and 1970's advertising cringe  (04:52) Me too movement lens and two time lines give characters a reason to revisit their past  (06:42) Child narrator storytelling give out of the mouth of babes moments (08:27) Desire for something right out of reach and key to all stories is   (10:51) Settings with danger children always need to be kept safe (12:57) Anxiety and panic language and what soothes these feelings (15:13) Photographers and taking or making an image  (17:12) Art has context and changes over time and characters with grounded moral compass are critical to this story (18:15) Audiobook excerpt introduction about Mara Wilson (19:15) Audiobook excerpt narrated by Mara Wilson (24:44) Predatory paparazzi thievery of image is allegory for losing agency over our bodies  (27:04) Book is about complicity and women and betrayal  (29:52) Mother Daughter relationships  (31:43) French connection  (32:39) Westbeth artists residence in NYC and historical fiction research serendipity and magic (38:09) Conclusion what is essential to Tammy Greenwood  This is a story set in NYC. It centers on a controversial photo taken of a young girl in 1977. Author Tammy (T) Greenwood tells the story through the eyes of this child model and actress who’s all grown up today with a daughter of her own. There is a striking generational mother daughter story here too, so that’s where we begin talking about the novel Such a Pretty Girl. You'll hear an excerpt from the audiobook set in the Westbeth artist community in NY (which was a real place we’ll talk more about).  In the section of the audiobook we are featuring, you’re with the main character Ryan when she’s a child. And, your guide is narrator Mara Wilson - who herself is known for film acting rolls from her childhood. She was Natalie in Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, and she played the lead role in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda in 1996. Today she is a stage actress, a voice artist, a writer, and a playwright. I hope you enjoyed meeting Tammy and talking about the '70's and motherhood and art as much as I did.  I hope you got lost in Mara Wilson’s narration - that hearing a few minutes of the audiobook for Such a Pretty Girl produced by Tantor left you wanting more.   Thanks to Kensington Press for making this episode possible.  Kensington generously provides Desideratum listeners the discount code DP20 to save 20 percent across their incredible library - you just enter DP20 at checkout at Kensingtonbooks.com Also, please check out Libro.fm to find Such A Pretty Girl narrated by Mara Wilson. Using this affiliate link to Libro.fm supports this podcast and a local book store of your choice.  You can find more about T. Greenwood’s other novels on her website: https://www.tgreenwood.com/ As always, thank you for listening.

Folly Park is a story about history, race, identity, and friendship. At its heart is a woman named Temple Preston and her old, crumbling, ancestral plantation in Virginia.  With the discovery of long hidden, disturbing family secrets, Temple gets wrapped up in exposing these family secrets as a way to save the ancestral home, until she begins to question whether it's really worth saving.  Author Heidi Hackford talks about the character she eventually grew to like,  about the power of semantics, and about how her work at Monticello - and how people responded to it - helped shape this story.  My thanks to Folly Park’s publisher She Writes Press and author Heidi Hackford for sharing Temple and Vee and this story full of history and surprises with me.  I would love to hear what you think about Folly Park, reach out anytime on social media or email at tbnarrator@gmail.com As always, thanks for being here.. And thanks for listening.

This is a story about a quiet, thoughtful man named Harlan Leblanc.  The story is about how and why Leblanc gets tangled up in a murder investigation. You'll hear from author James Wade about the action and the allegory he created, and about the ways he tried to mirror and balance the darkness and hope in this gritty tale.  We talk about the humor he found in indecision and inflammation.  And, how his young daughter is shifting his perspectives.  You'll feel narrator Roger Clark walking in the shoes and looking out through the eyes of the characters in an excerpt from the audiobook.  Roger has performed about a 100 audiobooks, worked in theater and film, and is best known for portraying Arthur Morgan in Rock Star games Red Dead Redemption. James thinks his reverence and grit are spot on for this story.  I want to thank Lauren Maturo at Blackstone Publishing for connecting me with James and his work.  If you would like to hear more of Roger Clark performing Beasts of the Earth please check out Libro.fm. When you use my affiliate link to Libro.fm you support this podcast and with Libro.Fm you can choose a local book store in your neighborhood to support as well.   As always, thank you for being here and thanks for listening.

This is a story about a seasoned war photojournalist named Annie Green. The timeline is 2015 and Annie is headed back to Afghanistan on assignment. She’s struggling through PTSD from the last time she was there - when a girls school she was working at exploded killing her closest friend. She’s also facing betrayal from a rival journalist, and she’s navigating a delicate balance between love, motherhood and a dangerous career. We’re talking about the thrilling fiction created by author Jeannée Sacken called Double Exposure and we're doubly lucky because the narrator for this series is also joining us.  Nicole Swanson describes how she prepared to be the voice of Annie.  But first, we hear how Nicole's other profession feeds her acting skills and her humanity.  If you would like to hear more of Nicole's performance of Double Exposure's  audiobook, please look for the title on Libro.fm . When you use this affiliate link to Libro.fm you support this podcast and when you purchase your audiobooks on Libro.fm you can also choose a local book store in your neighborhood to support.  Special thanks to Jeannée’s publisher Ten 16,  and to producer Craig Hart at the audiobook publisher Northern Lake Audio for connecting me to Nicole and providing the extended and excellent audiobook excerpt for this episode. As always, thank you for being here and thanks for listening.

This is a story that author Kerry Anne King says began with a house: a house that won't stay painted, whose shingles won't stay on, and the lawn won't stay mowed.  It's in a constant state of falling apart. Like it's grieving, or possessed by ghosts. Kerry's new novel IMPROBABLY YOURS is her 13th, and it does have some spooky elements.  But, it's also an adventure complete with a real treasure map. It begins with a memory, a young girl sitting with her grandmother who speaks in fortune teller fashion about a prediction for the little girl's future. You'll hear that scene from the audiobook. And, you'll hear how Kerry plays with the idea of hidden treasure and what's hidden below the surface. Brilliance audio produced IMPROBABLY YOURS in a dual narrator format. So, when you hear about Blythe it’s audiobook actress Terri Clark Linden - an earphones award winning narrator who’s performed some of Kerry’s other books. And, when you hear about the other main character -  Flynn the Viking  - the narrator is Aaron Shedlock who is a rising star in the world of audiobooks. Thanks to Kerry for her openness and good humor. And to her publisher Lake Union and the audiobook publisher Brilliance Audio for the excerpt you hear in this episode.  Find out what other books these narrators perform (Teri Clark Linden , Aaron Shedlock ). And, check out the fun Kerry creates for her readers on her website.  I’d love to know what you think about Improbably Yours.  Reach out anytime!  Thanks for listening. 

Her new crime mystery 9 Days got us talking about tarot card readings and wondering if how the stars aligned at the time of our birth could shape or guide us...  That's because author Jule Selbo's new murder mystery 9 Days opens with a world famous astrologist confessing to murder.  When the astrologist's 12 year old son doesn't believe his mother is guilty, he hires Private Investigator Dee Rommel to find the truth in just 9 Days. Listen as Jule explains why being underestimated can be a good thing, where a family heirloom of hers turned up in the book, and how a fascination with superheroes worked its way into this story.  Desideratum Podcast listeners save 15% on the Dee Rommel mystery series with the code DP15 on Pandamoon.com. 

The Deception is about life and death and the delicate veil between the two. The story spirals around an Illusionist running from her past, and a Medium whose past fame and spirit guide have abandoned her. The pliable Maud (the Medium known as the Maid of Light) and the clever Clementine (a master of tricks and illusions) join forces to find fame and fortune, but at what cost… does the end justify the means?  Listen as author Kim Taylor Blakemore shares how she scoured history to find her own muses for this tale of authenticity and duplicity. We talk about how she delivers readers to an 1870’s New England that was romanced by spiritualism. We discuss her seductive and charming characters and rainy rainy setting with shades of gray ethics that will seep into your very bones.  Thanks to Kim’s publisher Lake Union Publishing and the audiobook publisher Brilliance Audio. You can find other hauntingly beautiful books by Kim Taylor Blakemore on her website here. You can find other stories narrated by Gail Shalen and Hope Newhouse on their websites.   As always, thanks for being here - thanks for listening. 

Imagine a character waking you up with his story… that’s how Robb Grindstaff describes writing his new novel SLADE. For me - talking to Robb about writing SLADE was a meta moment - interviewing an author about his life and his book that is about interviewing an author about his book and his life. Turns out interviewing skills are all over Robb’s resume. The newspaper biz took him from small town Wisconsin to Washington DC. He describes himself as a small town kid who’s as comfortable in Tokyo as he is in Tuna, TX. Listen to the advice Robb got from music legend Art Garfunkel and find out how it made it into the story. And, hear narrator Timothy G Little’s big voice. His performance as SLADE is mesmerizing. And, he matches Robb in the fun facts category. Between his corporate jobs and his literary life Timothy has lived in Turkey, Greece, Costa Rica, Spain, and Italy. He’s narrated about 50 titles with his resonant tone. You can find every novel Robb’s written on his website. Thanks to Robb and his publisher Evolved publishing, and as always thank you for listening. https://www.robbgrindstaff.com/ https://evolvedpub.com/

Ellen Marie Wiseman is drawn to the dark corners of history, where rumors and mystery shroud the truth. It's where she finds and develops characters who shine. Listen as she shares how her own history led her to write about hidden truths and social injustices.  We're talking about her new novel, The Lost Girls of Willowbrook, which is set in a real state run institution exposed back in 1972 for its atrocious abuses.  Ellen opens the novel with quotes from a real doctor who was there in 1972.  Dr. William Bronston's physician activism helped bring an end to the institution. He is joining Ellen for some of her book launch events.  You'll hear him describe how Ellen's storytelling takes him back in time, and you'll listen to a few minutes from the chapter of the audiobook that Dr. Bronston says affected him most profoundly.  Thanks to Vida at Kensington Books for connecting me to Ellen and Dr. Bronston.  Kensington generously provides Desideratum listeners the discount code DP20 to save 20 percent across their incredible library. You just enter DP20 at checkout at Kensingtonbooks.com Check out Libro.fm to find The Lost Girls of Willowbrook audiobook narrated by Morgan Hallett. Using the affiliate link to Libro.fm supports this podcast and a local book store of your choice.  You can find more about the heartbreak and hope in all of Ellen’s fictions on her website. https://ellenmariewiseman.com/  You can get a copy of Dr. William Bronston’s book Public Hostage Public Ransom on his website. https://www.publichostagepublicransom.org/

Author Carol Van Den Hende sought solace in writing and then committed to sharing what she learned about resilience with her readers. Her novels Goodbye Orchid and Orchid Blooming are about love, personal growth, and trauma recovery.  Listen to how she drew inspiration from combat wounded veterans. Find out why her own personal love story (how she met her husband)  influenced her characters' brushes with kismet.  Hear an excerpt of Carol narrating Goodbye Orchid,  and find out how she used her first novel's backstory to create her 2nd novel - Orchid Blooming - which launches this month.  Here's Carol's LinkTree which connects you to her book events, newsletter, social media presence, and website.  A special thank you to Kathy L. Murphy who shined her light on Carol so I could find her.  Goodbye Orchid is the Pulpwood Queen's May 2022 Bonus Book of the Month. As always, thank you for listening.

With a cast of many characters, telling the story from more than a dozen vantage points - Johnnie Bernhard takes readers on a journey with a widow and a sojourner in her new novel Hannah and Ariela.  Johnnie's connection to the land, the people, and the history of Texas shine through, but listen to how writing from all these different points of view challenged her and made her "put her ego in her back pocket". We talk about the layers of miracle and faith and we dig deeper into the real life tragedy of human trafficking at the heart of this harrowing fiction.  You can find Johnnie's other award-winning literary fiction novels and more about her - on her website - HERE.  I’ve had the absolute honor of narrating her novels: Sisters of the Undertow, How We Came to Be, and A Good Girl. Finally, you should know, a portion of the proceeds from Hannah and Ariela book sales will go to the aid of victims of human trafficking. A special thank you to TCU Press, and as always, thank you for listening.

She comes from a long line of resilient, resourceful, and quirky Colorado women, and she loves finding obscure historical facts to write about.  But, while Randi Samuelson Brown's new novel is rooted in the past, it's action and suspense are current and contemporary.  We're talking about book one in her new series featuring a Brand Inspector in Colorado cattle country.  It's called Brand Chaser and it's layered with history, mystery, danger, suspense and even a little romance.  We begin with what made Randi jump from writing about Colorado's colorful past to this modern take on the wild west.  Thanks to Randi Samuelson Brown for sharing her story and her history. And, thanks to her publisher Wolfpack publishing . You can find Brand Chaser everywhere you buy books. 

Author and narrator Travis Baldree has created an escapist fantasy that  - as the first line promises -  is "for anyone who wondered where the other road led."  It's the story of a fabled artifact (a stone that promises a ring of fortune) and an Orc named Viv who is ready to change her life - ready to leave mercenary work behind and open the first coffee shop in the city of Thune.  The shop, its regulars, its slowly developing menu, and sapphic love story have all struck a chord with legions of fans (fans from all genre camps). In response, after just a few months out on its own, Legends & Lattes was acquired by Pan MacMillan's Tor Publishing imprint with a contract for another stand alone fantasy.  You'll hear from Travis about how work on the 2nd book is going; how his sense of smell became a beloved character creating legendary cinnamon rolls;  how hundreds of hours of narration work steered his writing; and of course you'll hear a few minutes of Travis performing the transporting Legends & Lattes audiobook.   Thanks to Travis and to Tor Publishing for being part of the pod... to quote a chess playing gnome in the book, "Thank you for letting me sit in the shade of what you've grown!"  You can find his social links and follow Travis's work through his website  And, when you use this affiliate link to purchase the audiobook from Libro.fm , you support this humble pod and a local book store of your choosing.  Thanks for listening!

Michelle Cox - the author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series - talks about how her spunky, sleuthing, sexy character Henrietta is based on a real woman. We’re talking about book 5 in the series - A Child Lost - where multiple story lines of crime and passion weave together. It’s easy to pick up the threads even if you’re new to Henrietta’s adventures. And, while there aren’t any cliff hanging loose ends, you will find clues to draw you to Book 6, which is coming out this fall.  You’ll hear us talk about the book’s theme of lost children and the way poetry worked its way into this 1930’s story.  You’ll also hear a few minutes from the audiobook narrated by Jayne Entwistle - an Audie Finalist -  A Voice Arts Award winner - known for her work on book series - who you might have also seen acting in television shows like The Good Place.   Thanks to Brooke Warner at She Writes Press for connecting me to Michelle. If you’d like to hear more - please look for the audiobook of A child Lost on Libro.fm - I found all 5 of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard books in Libro.fm’s library  - as well as more than 80 books narrated by Jayne Entwistle. Using this affiliate link supports the podcast and a local book store of your choice. Book 6 in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series will be out this fall. Check out Michelle's blog Novel Notes and Local Lore on her website.  Thanks for listening!

A real life, centuries old mystery surrounding the fate of Eleanor Dare and her carved stone whispered across time and gave wings to Kimberly Brock's storytelling imagination. Kimberly plants her story in 1945, and then carefully reveals its deep roots. It’s an exquisite story about being found and seen - about finding your way and feeling lost. And - wow - the truths Kimberly illuminates along the way about mothers and daughters! Find out what a marsh means to Kimberly and hear about a serendipity between the author and award winning narrator and voice actor Brittany Pressley. The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is about family legacy and the timeless desire to be remembered. Congratulations to Kimberly on The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare making the Southern Indie Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Bestseller List. You can select a local bookstore to support - and support this podcast - when you follow our affiliate link to Libro.fm to purchase the audiobook. Thank you to Margaret Kercher at Harper Muse Books for connecting me to Kimberly, and thank you for listening. #southernfiction #desideratumpodcast #harpermuse #librofm #audiobook

When was the last time you read a middle grade fiction? This week's featured author Heather Mateus Sappenfield will convince you it's time with her new novel The River Between Hearts. It’s an adventure with an almost-11 year old girl named Rill. It’s a story about friendship and compassion - and loss and longing.  You'll spend a few minutes with her main character Rill and her friend Perla in a reading that hints at the loss they both are struggling with. We also chat about why Heather creates characters with dyslexia and we find out how a former student's real life experiences informed the character Perla. Thanks to Heather’s publicist Jackie Karneth at BooksForward - a JKS Communications Company, and Heather's publisher Janie Royal at Fitzroy Books - an imprint of Regal House Publishing.  You can find all of Heather's books on her website and learn more about having her visit you at your school or favorite book store. As always, thank you for listening.