Shows
Northwest Book TalkBook Events: Lessons, Costs & Connections with Author Caren HahnPatty talks with mystery author Caren Hahn about what really works—and what doesn’t—when authors attend live book events. Caren shares insights from her first author conference, discovering that not all events attract readers, and the importance of clear pricing and presentation. Together, they explore how authors can build deeper reader relationships, manage event costs, and collaborate with others for better exposure.Caren also reveals her favorite event tools—from tall banners to QR codes—and how small, focused gatherings often lead to the most meaningful connections.
2025-11-1229 min
Northwest Book TalkCaren Hahn on Dragons, Suspense, and Fantasy: Best-Selling Author’s Journey – Northwest Book TalkBest-selling author Caren Hahn talks aboutdragons, suspense, and fantasy. This Northwest author started writing for fun and passion before becoming an increasingly in-demand author with 14 books and counting. In this episode, she shares her journey and how the joy of reading and writing helps her deal with life’s stresses.
2025-03-0627 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink15. Prologue to "The World Over" by Cassiopeia Fletcher“Get up the dam,” Eryn ordered, waving the others toward the ropes while keeping her eyes pinned on the woods. “Right now.”
“We can’t just leave!” Jules said, her eyes darting nervously from person to person as she wrung her too-thin hands. “We have to get our stuff—”
“There’s no time,” Eryn hissed, doing her best to keep her voice down. But if it really was those things, it wouldn’t matter. From the few encounters she’d had, Eryn knew their hearing was as good as hers.
The World Over is the first in...
2021-03-0226 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink14. "Love Between Friends" by Deb GoodmanFor a moment, their gazes locked. His face was Liam-cheerful, but there was something in his eyes, a searching.
They had a history—a pull of interlocking years. They’d been friends since the fifth grade. A dozen bits and pieces of memory coiled in her head—a flash of his gaze across the room at prom, laughing as she stole his favorite afghan when she was at his house watching a movie. All of it tumbled through her.
But she shrugged, not wanting to feel anything even remotely touchy-feely. He wasn’t hers, not really.
2021-02-1620 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink13. "The Shark Waves Back" by Christopher JonesDo you feel trapped? Norman thought. Do you look out onto this huge other world, with beings walking and talking and moving as they choose, in and out, and think--why can’t my life be like that? Why am I stuck inside this tiny shell, and no one understands what I want, not really?
This gem of a story will take you into the mind of a unique young man with a fascinating perspective on the world. "The Shark Waves Back" by Christopher Jones is a story of looking beneath the layers to find connection. Even more im...
2020-12-2237 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink12. "Cutthroat" by Crystal BrinkerhoffJane appraised the room. She chose the seat nearest her mother, not because she enjoyed the woman’s presence, but because that seat was nearest the window and would leave her brothers squinting against the afternoon light when they looked at her. She sat ramrod straight in her seat and left her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her. This was her power move. She was ready for war.
Crystal Brinkerhoff's Cutthroat is a humorous short story about the tension and posturing within a family who are gathered for the reading of a will. It...
2020-12-0820 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink11. "The Most Wonderful Sound" by Cassiopeia FletcherReaching up, Alexa rested her palm against her collar bone where she felt Emrys’s arms rest. There was nothing there. Six years ago, that would have bothered her, but now she found it fascinating. The human brain was a truly amazing thing to be capable of simulating sensations that felt so achingly real.
Today’s story, The Most Wonderful Sound by Cassiopeia Fletcher, features two characters with an unexpected relationship that leaves readers with some questions by the end. Keep listening after the story to hear some of those questions answered in my interview with Cassie.
2020-11-2427 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink10. "The Follower" by M.K. MartinI watch her sleep, her short bristle of hair twisted into sweaty knots. I can’t help her and it’s killing me.
Today's short story is sure to get you in an apocalyptic mood. The Follower, by MK Martin, is a poignant tale of love and loyalty in the midst of a harsh fight for survival. I really enjoyed my visit with MK and I think you’ll enjoy hearing about her unique life experiences. She’s certainly much more adventurous than I am!
The Follower is narrated by Carli Schofield.
Read The Foll...
2020-11-1026 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink9. "Mistress Mary" by Caren HahnShe threw back the quilt and grabbed the doll. It was large and heavier than she expected, and just the weight of it demanded to be held close to her body.
Snuggled.
Crystal Brinkerhoff hosts today's episode featuring Mistress Mary by Caren Hahn. As Managing Editor of Verso.ink, Caren doesn't typically promote her own work, favoring instead to put other authors in the spotlight. This episode is an exception, as she shares a creepy tale just in time for Halloween.
Mistress Mary is narrated by the author.
Read Mistress Mary o...
2020-10-2739 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink8. "Dollie" by Miranda Renaé"This is Dollie." She adjusted the doll's dress. "She's nothing special. Old and maybe a bit creepy, but nothing special." She rubbed her finger across the doll's porcelain cheek.
"At least that's what her previous owners thought at first."
It’s October and for many of us that means carving pumpkins and sharing spooky stories as the nights get cooler. I have a chilling tale for you today from Miranda Renae. Dollie puts a different spin on your typical campfire ghost story, and if you keep listening after the story, you’ll get to hear the u...
2020-10-1317 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink7. "Red Wrath" by Gerhard GehrkeWe were out of the bar in minutes, him opening the door for me while trying to call up the closest ride on one of his apps. I didn’t let it show I was wishing he had a car. Too many things could go wrong going back to his place, and any more witnesses besides the bar patrons were possible complications.
Red Wrath is a dark superhero thriller by Gerhard Gehrke geared toward an adult audience. We had a chance to talk about Red's character arc, so if you have questions—as I do—keep listening after...
2020-09-2923 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink6. "Black Dragon" by Genevieve Ann Atwater MaxwellThe gods were among them.
And the gods were called dragons.
Today's episode features our youngest author to date, Genevieve Ann Atwater Maxwell. Enjoy the prologue and first chapter of Black Dragon, a fantasy adventure story with additional content available on Verso.ink. If you'd like to hear how Harry Potter saved her from a life of illiteracy, keep listening after the story for my interview with Genevieve.
Black Dragon is narrated by the author.
Read Black Dragon on Verso.ink.
Join the growing community for free at Verso...
2020-09-1543 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink5. "Semper Romanus" by Christopher JonesFather gives a great cry, as of a wild boar spitted on a shaft of ash, and then he is still. I do not need the doctors to pronounce him dead. But I do need to know why my brother isn't here.
Semper Romanus, by Christopher Jones, is a historical fiction piece based on Hannibal’s siege at Saguntum. If you don’t know anything about it (as I didn’t!), keep listening after the story for my interview with Chris.
Semper Romanus is narrated by Carli Schofield.
Read Semper Romanus on Verso.ink.
2020-09-0141 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink4. "The Emerald City" by Cassiopeia FletcherHow naïve he’d been! Growing up wasn’t just about cleaning things, it also meant going to the store on your own and crossing the big street by yourself and tripping and falling and getting bloody and forgetting money and being scolded and feeling dumb because you want to cry but you can’t because you’re grown up now and grown-ups. don’t. cry.
Today’s selection is more literary in nature, and focuses on a small boy making a big step in the world. The Emerald City is written by Cassiopeia Fletcher. After the story, yo...
2020-08-1845 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink3. "DRIVEN" by The BehrgThey will call her Monster. Child killer. A seething psychopath.
DRIVEN is a haunting yet highly empathetic piece that will leave you changed by the end of it.
Keep listening after the story for my interview with The Behrg.
DRIVEN is narrated by Micah Mason.
Read DRIVEN at verso.ink/thebehrg/driven.
Connect with The Behrg at www.thebehrg.com.
Join our growing community for free at verso.ink and discover the best emerging fiction.
2020-08-0425 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink2. "Supervillain High" by Gerhard Gehrke“So, your father is one of these superheroes who dresses up and gets into a lot of trouble.”
“Not a hero. One of the bad guys."
Supervillain High is the first in Gerhard Gerhke's YA Superhero Adventure series. This first chapter introduces us to Brendan and his complicated daddy issues.
Keep listening after the story for my interview with Gerhard.
Supervillain High is narrated by the author.
Read Supervillain High at verso.ink/gerhardgehrke/supervillain-high
Connect with Gerhard at www.gerhardgehrke.com
Join the growing commun...
2020-07-2120 min
First Fiction: Noteworthy Fiction from Verso.ink1. "Tethered" by Crystal BrinkerhoffThe bodies wouldn't sink...
Our first episode features a complete short story by Crystal Brinkerhoff. At the time of recording, Tethered is not only one of our Noteworthy selections—which means it's been chosen by Verso.ink moderators—but also sits in the #1 spot in Popular votes by our readers.
Keep listening after the story to hear my interview with Crystal about Tethered.
Tethered is narrated by Carli Schofield.
Read Tethered at verso.ink/crystalbrinkerhoff/tethered
Connect with Crystal:
www.crystalbrinkerhoff.com/
www.facebook.com/crys...
2020-07-0819 min
How Brands Are BuiltMini episode: Career adviceThis is the first of several "mini episodes" of How Brands Are Built. Hopefully, you saw this mentioned on social media or in the newsletter: between now and the next season (TBA), I'll release a few short episodes on a range of topics—no consistent through-line, just some interesting, snack-sized branding content. I reached out on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook asking for feedback on which mini episodes would be most interesting or useful. If you're one of the many people who weighed in, thank you! And now that the results are in, I'm happy to share th...
2020-03-0913 min
How Brands Are BuiltSeason three wrap-up: How to build a brand experienceSeason three of the podcast featured my most wide-ranging conversations yet. I talked to guests about topics such as naming, social influence, and fusing brand and culture. Like last season, I talked to a mix of popular authors and speakers, like Jeremy Miller and Denise Lee Yohn, as well as some people I've worked with closely at agencies like Interbrand, Siegel+Gale, and BrandingBusiness. Thank you to all my guests this season: Jeremy Miller, founder of Sticky Branding; author of Sticky Branding and Brand New Name Ken Pasternak, president of Two by Four (formerly president and COO of...
2020-01-1522 min
Hummel, Hummel - Mord, Mord!Angriff aus dem Cyberspace (mit Caren Miosga)Hummel, Hummel - Mord, Mord!
Folge #02: Angriff aus dem Cyberspace
Ein mysteriöser Hacker hält die Hansestadt in Atem. Der HVV, die Uhren am Hauptbahnhof, alle sind betroffen. Hauptkommissar Mentenberg nimmt den Fall auf die leichte Schulter. Was er nicht weiß – sein eigenes Navi führt Ihn in eine unheilbringende Falle.
Sprecher:
Hauptkommissar Mentenberg - John Ment
Kriminalassistentin Hahnsen - Birgit Hahn
Kriminaldirektor Harsch - Rainer Hirsch
Navigationssystem - Caren Miosga
Mona Mentenberg - Simone Terbrack
Linda Harsch - Linda Kayleigh
Erzähler - Michael Lott
2018-05-0611 min