Shows
The StorytellersEpisode 124: Dickie Smothers TV Icon and Trailblazer: PART IIDickie Smothers is an American TV legend, composer, actor, musician, and comedian. While he distinctly stands out in his own right, he was one half of The Smother Brothers with his elder brother Tom. The Smothers Brothers formed in the late 1950s and appeared on numerous television shows, including two shows of their own, a sitcom from 1965 to 1966 and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour which ran through 1969. Dickie has six film credits and numerous TV appearances to his name. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour featured top musical numbers like The Who and The Beatles, and poked fun at politics...2024-08-3021 min
The StorytellersEpisode 123: Dickie Smothers TV Icon and Trailblazer: PART IDickie Smothers is an American TV legend, composer, actor, musician, and comedian. While he distinctly stands out in his own right, he was one half of The Smother Brothers with his elder brother Tom. The Smothers Brothers formed in the late 1950s and appeared on numerous television shows, including two shows of their own, a sitcom from 1965 to 1966 and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour which ran through 1969. Dickie has six film credits and numerous TV appearances to his name. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour featured top musical numbers like The Who and The Beatles, and poked fun at politics...2024-08-3019 min
The StorytellersEpisode 122: Kristin Owens Sets Sail with her Debut Novel, Great Characters, and High Seas AdventureKristin Owens, Ph.D, is an award-winning faculty member with over 25 years university experience. Now a full-time writer in sticky southwest Florida, Kristin has over 100 bylines with celebrated magazines such as Writer’s Digest, Wine Enthusiast, and 5280. Her personal essays have won New Millennium Writing Awards honorable mention, awarded finalist for the New Letters’ award in nonfiction, and included in RISE! a Colorado Book of the Year. She holds certifications with the Court of Master Sommeliers and Cicerone and travels the world writing about wonderful wines, beautiful beers, and surprising spirits. You can usually find her working and playing on a...2024-08-3022 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 44 with Nancie Abuhaidar, Charlotte Rains Dixon, Sharon Dukett, and Ann GoltzJoin these authors as they share their newest books filled with exotic and lush landscapes, personal and professional battles, high-tech crimes, and fractured families. Greed, betrayal, virtue, science, and sentiment fill these debut books. We explore the books and these authors’ journey to book launch. This special episode is made possible through a collaboration with “Twelve Weeks to Book Launch Success.” https://www.laineycameron.com/book-marketing
Find out more about these authors at:
Nancie Abuhaidar - https://nancieabuhaidar.com
Charlotte Rains Dixon - https://wordstrumpet.substack.com/
Sharon Dukett - https://sharonduke...2024-06-1231 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 37 with Noel Caraccio, Clifford Garstang, Evelyn Kohl LaTorre, and Elizabeth Sumner WaflerTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
In this episode of LAUNCH PAD join She Writes Press and Black Rose Writing authors share a marriage memoir, evocative women’s fiction, dual timelines in paradise, and a long-deceased grandmother’s quest to solve a family kidnapping! Fall in love with your next author and find your next favorite read!
Find out more about these authors at:
Noël Caraccio - http://ncaraccio.com/
Clifford Garstang - https://cliffordgarstang.com/
Evelyn Kohl LaTorre - http://www.evelynla...2024-02-2029 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 36 with Anoop Judge, Edward J. Leahy, Kim McCollum, and Susan SageTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Join an amazing cast of characters and the Black Rose Writing authors who created them in this episode of LAUNCH PAD. Murder, mayhem, ghosts, intrigue, secrets, altruism, and the power of story all come together as we discuss writing, novels, point of view, and so much more. Listen and fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Anoop Judge - https://anoopjudge.com/
Edward J. Leahy - https://www.facebook.com/e...2024-02-0832 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 35 with M. Lee Musgrave, Saborna Roychowdhury, Fred Rutman, and Kirsten G. SchuderTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Join these Black Rose Writing authors and delight in a contemporary romance thriller, a coming-of-age novel set in India, a memoir of the repeatedly dead, and a novel where an unexplained phenomenon might just save all humankind from destruction!
Find out more about these authors at:
M. Lee Musgrave - http://www.leemusgrave.com/
Saborna Roychowdhury - https://www.sabornaroychowdhury.com/
Fred Rutman - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089019863835
Kirsten G. Schuder - http...2024-01-2131 min
The StorytellersEpisode 120: Karen Eber the Penultimate Expert on the Art and Power of StorytellingKaren Eber is an author, international leadership consultant, professional storyteller, and keynote speaker. Her talk on TED.com: How your brain responds to stories – and why they’re crucial for leaders, has almost 2 million views. As the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group, Karen helps Fortune 500 companies build leaders, team, and culture one story at a time.
Karen works with companies like General Electric, Microsoft, Kraft Heinz, Facebook, Kate Spade, and Big 4 Consulting Companies. She guest lectures in universities including London School of Business, Stanford and MIT. She frequently contributes to publications like Fast Company.
2024-01-2120 min
The StorytellersEpisode 119: Tracey Enerson International and USA Today Bestselling Playwright, Screenwriter and NovelistTracey Enerson Wood is the international and USA Today bestselling author of The Engineer’s Wife, The War Nurse, and, most recently, The President’s Wife. While working as a Registered Nurse, starting her own Interior Design company, raising two children, and bouncing around the world as a military wife, she indulged in her passion as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Currently, Tracey focuses on finding amazing women in history whose stories need to be brought to life. A New Jersey native, she now lives with her family in Florida.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on i...2024-01-2121 min
The StorytellersEpisode 118: Pat Rullo Radio Host, Patient Advocate, Generous Spirit, and Celebrator of All Things StoryPatricia J. Rullo is an author, national radio talk show host, and sought-after speaker. In 2012, Pat teamed up with Salem Media Group to produce a radio talk show based on her book Speak Up and Stay Alive, the patient advocate hospital survival guide. The radio program was the first nationally syndicated show to address patient safety and the patient experience. It is heard on stations throughout the country via satellite as well as iHeart Radio and 50 additional online venues.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world t...2024-01-2119 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 34 with Louella Bryant, Sherry Hobbs, Cary Lowe, and Amanda SchiavoTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
LAUNCH PAD welcomes these Black Rose Writing Authors as they share their memoirs, biographies, and novels. Travel with us from the Renaissance to the times of the Titanic and World War II to the present day. Meet historical figures and marvel at personal journeys all on your way to finding your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Louella Bryant - https://louellabryant.com/
Sherry Hobbs - facebook.com/sherry.a.hobbs
Cary Lowe - ht...2024-01-1129 min
The StorytellersEpisode 116: Renea Winchester: Award-winning Author, Workshop Leader, and BotanicalistRenea is an internationally-released, award-winning author of: Outbound Train, the French translation, De l’autre cote’ des rails. Her nonfiction titles include: Farming, Friends & Fried Bologna Sandwiches, In the Garden with Billy and multiple essays and short stories.
She is a passionate supporter of literacy and libraries. Renea is the winner of multiple awards including: The Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Fiction, NC Press Associations Award, Wilma Dykeman Award for Essay, Appalachian Writers Award, and the Blue Ridge Writers Award. She has judged multiple literary contests and has a reputation for helping fledgling authors. Renea is the owne...2023-12-3120 min
The StorytellersEpisode 117: Laurie Frankel NY Times Bestselling and Film-Optioned Author Talks Family and BooksLaurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of four novels, including her most recent, One Two Three, and This Is How It Always Is. She is the recipient of the Washington State Book Award and the Endeavor Award. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and been optioned for film and TV. Her new novel, Family Family, comes out in January 2024. She hopes you will love it. A former college professor, she now writes full-time in Seattle, Washington where she lives with her family and makes good soup.
The Storytellers hosted...2023-12-1224 min
The StorytellersAngela Cairns: Author, BBC broadcaster, and Amazon Best-sellerBorn in the U.K., owner of two successful healthcare businesses and BBC broadcaster, Angela has been involved with coaching since 1986. She began her writing career with non-fiction articles and progressed to a blend of fiction and non-fiction in the creation of Play Pause Unwind a series of relaxation visualization resources.
Her ambition to write a novel was realized in 2019. Successful in gaining agency representation, then came the long wait - over two years and three novels later, still no traditional publishing contract.
Endless time ahead is promised to no-one. Angela made a commitment to...2023-12-1220 min
The StorytellersEpisode 114: Rona Maynard, Happiness, and a Starter DogRona Maynard found happiness at 65—a story she tells in her new memoir Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World. She first broke into print at 14 with a short story about bullying and still receives fan mail from teens who are reading it in class. Rona capped a stellar career in magazines with a decade at the helm of Chatelaine, Canada’s leading magazine for women. Her editor’s column garnered a loyal following. When she disclosed a struggle with depression, she helped kickstart a national conversation about mental health. After Chatelaine, Rona had to learn...2023-12-1220 min
The StorytellersEpisode 113: Sarahlyn Bruck Award-Winning Author, Reader, and RunnerSarahlyn Bruck writes contemporary, book club fiction and is the award-winning author of three novels: Light of the Fire (coming January 2024), Daytime Drama (2021), and Designer You (2018). When she’s not writing, Sarahlyn moonlights as a full-time writing and literature professor at a local community college. From Northern California, she now lives in Philadelphia with her family.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. Each episode engages guests and listeners in the story behind the story of authors, artists, reporters, and others who...2023-12-1120 min
The StorytellersEpisode 112: Virginia Kantra New York Times Bestselling AuthorVirginia Kantra is the New York Times bestselling author of almost thirty creative and cleverly imagined novels. She is married to her college sweetheart, a coffee shop owner who keeps her well supplied with caffeine and material. They make their home in North Carolina, where they raised three (mostly adult) children. She is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love. Learn more online at http://virginiakantra.com.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the a...2023-12-0421 min
The StorytellersEpisode 111: Peter Spears Oscar-Winning ProducerPeter Spears is the Oscar-winning producer of NOMADLAND. Based on the book by Jessica Bruder, the film from Searchlight also won Academy Awards for director Chloé Zhao and star Frances McDormand, and won the Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, BAFTA, PGA, Venice Golden Lion, and Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture. Spears produced Luca Guadagnino’s film CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, based on the book by Andre Aciman, for which he was also nominated for the Oscar in 2017. The film won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Spears also produced the MGM feature BONES AND ALL, reuniting wit...2023-11-2731 min
The StorytellersEpisode 110: Karen Allen, a Legend on Stage and ScreenKaren Allen is an award-winning American film, stage, and television actress. She made her film debut in Animal House (1978). Her career-changing role was her portrayal of Marion Ravenwood opposite Harrison Ford in the blockbuster movie Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), a role she reprised for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). She also co-starred in Starman (1984) and as Laura in the Paul Newman-directed film version of the Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie, with John Malkovich and Joanne Woodward, in 1987. You can also see her as Bill Murray’s lon...2023-11-2036 min
The StorytellersEpisode 109: Melissa Giiberson Found Her Authentic Self in Mid-LifeMelissa Giberson is an author, occupational therapist, and a proud mama bear to two children. A storyteller, she captures moments by taking pictures and writing. Her essays have appeared in multiple publications, and she received an Honorable Mention in the Memoirs/Personal Essays category of the 91stAnnual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. Her essay, “Art is the Antidote,” appears in the 2022 anthology, Art In The Time of Unbearable Crisis. Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self At Midlife is Melissa’s first book.
A native New Yorker, she currently resides with her partner and their two cats; splitting their tim...2023-11-1320 min
The StorytellersEpisode 108: Deborah Klee Award-Winning Author of Page-Turning StoriesDeborah Klée is an award-winning author of page-turning, uplifting stories about friendship, community, and emotional courage. After a career in health and social care: an occupational therapist, health service manager, freelance journalist, and management consultant, she now enjoys writing happy endings for her protagonists.
Deborah lives on the Essex coast, where she loves to walk by the sea or the surrounding countryside filling her pockets with shells, and acorns, and her head with stories.
Website: www.abrakdeborah.wordpress.com
Twitter: @DeborahKlee
Instagram: deborahkleeauthor
Facebook: Debo...2023-11-0620 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 29 with Celine Keating, Elayne Klasson, Lally Pia, and Judy ReevesFrom outer journeys to inner ones, this episode of Launch Pad has us traveling the globe, thinking about points of view, wondering about fortune tellers and bonds to nature, family, and blood.
THIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Find out more about these authors at:
Celine Keating - http://www.celinekeating.com
Elayne Klasson - http://elayneklasson.com
Lally Pia - https://lallypia.com/
Judy Reeves - https://judyreeveswriter.com/
LAUNCH PAD combines the best of book celebration and solid...2023-11-0631 min
The StorytellersEpisode 107: Laura Morelli USA Today Bestselling Historical NovelistLaura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling historical novelist. Laura has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy. She has covered art and authentic travel for TED-Ed, National Geographic Traveler, Italy Magazine, CNN Radio, and other media. Laura is the author of the popular Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes Made in Italy. Her historical novels, including The Night Portrait and The Gondola Maker, bring the stories of art history to life.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on individuals who choose t...2023-10-3020 min
The StorytellersEpisode 105: Kyle Ann Robertson Jumps Right InKyle Ann is a “fingers crossed, jump right in” kinda girl. Just sink your teeth into her years of journal entries and poetry for details. (Actually, please don’t!) Born in Japan, Kyle traveled around the world and east coast of the United States as a Navy brat. She mostly grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, traveled through Kentucky, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Florida before retiring from the world of physical therapy and turning to a second career in creative writing. She has successfully raised four wonderful kids who are presently out living their own adventures. She now lives in Florida...2023-10-1620 min
The StorytellersEpisode 104: Amy Ferris Facing Life Head-OnAmy Ferris is an author, a writer, a screenwriter, an editor and a playwright. Her memoir, Marrying George Clooney, Confessions From a Midlife Crisis (Seal Press) was adapted into an Off-Broadway play in 2012. Amy has written for both the small screen (TV) and the big screen (Feature Films). As a screenwriter, she was nominated for a Best Screenplay Award (BET, Black Reel Award) for her adaptation of the film, Funny Valentines (Director, Julie Dash) As an editor, she curated Shades of Blue, Writers on Depression, Suicide and Feeling Blue (Seal Press), and co-edited the anthology, Dancing at the Shame Prom...2023-10-0921 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 27 with Terry Crylen, Ann Anderson Evans, Cheryl A. Hunter, and Mary PascualTHIS SHOW WASRECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Two memoirs, two novels, mental health challenges, family secrets, the world of the supernatural, searching for family and so much more - all covered in this episode of LAUNCH PAD where you will find your next favorite author and fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Terry Crylen - http://terrycrylen.com
Ann Anderson Evans - http://www.annandersonevans.com
Cheryl A. Hunter - http://www.cherylahunter.com
...2023-10-0931 min
The StorytellersEpisode 103: Edie Cay: Writes Feminist Historical Romance That Packs a PuncEdie Cay writes steamy feminist historical romance. Her debut, A LADY’S REVENGE won the Golden Leaf Best First Book (2020), as well as the Indie Next Generation Book Award (2020). The second in her series, THE BOXER AND THE BLACKSMITH won the Hearts Through History Legends Award, A Man for All Reason in 2019 as an unpublished manuscript, and then went on to win the Best Indie Book Award (2021). The third book, A LADY'S FINDER was a finalist for a Lambda Award, the most prestigious LGBTQ+ literary award in the world. A VISCOUNT’S VENGEANCE published in 2023. Previously, she has published short...2023-10-0220 min
The StorytellersEpisode 102: Jane Rubin: In the Hands of WomenA terrifying diagnosis, a genetic defect, and a lifelong fascination with the history of medicine led Jane Rubin to put pen to paper. After an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2009, Jane, then a healthcare executive, poured her energy into raising research dollars for ovarian cancer and learning more about her familial roots. In the Hands of Women (Level Best Books) is now available at most online bookstores, and its prequel, Threadbare, is expected to launch 5/24.
Jane’s other publications include an essay memoir, Almost a Princess, My Life as a Two-Time Cancer Survivor (2009 Next Generation Indie Book...2023-09-2521 min
The StorytellersEpisode 101: Marybeth Massett - producer, actress, and a woman of great Claire-ity!Marybeth Massett has worked as a story consultant, script editor and development executive both independently and for Harvester Road for 20 years. She produced the festival award winning short, THE SEER, with Thirteen Films. In addition to producing Marybeth is also an actress. She has appeared in films such as, The SOCIAL NETWORK and most recently in GOLD starring Mathew McConaughey. Television credits include STAR TREK, NCIS LA and RAY DONOVAN and most recently Marybeth created and stars in the television satire CLAIRE-ITY which she and Patrick Massett produced for Harvester Road and streaming now on Apple tv and Amazon. Curre...2023-09-1822 min
The StorytellersEpisode 100: Tracy Barone: film executive and producer, writer, and critically acclaimed novelist.Tracy Barone is a storyteller who has honed her skills in her multi-faceted careers. She began her career in theatre as a playwright and director in New York City, her plays, including award winning “August Grace”, were performed Off-Broadway in venues including the Public Theatre, Playwrights Horizons and La Mama. Her desire to learn how to develop and produce the material she wrote propelled her into the studio system in Los Angeles.
Her debut novel, Happy Family, garnered her a high six-figure advance and was met with critical acclaim. Published by Little Brown, Happy Family has been publi...2023-09-1121 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 23 with Corie Adjmi, Gretchen Cherington, Irena Smith, and Amy TurnerTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
On this episode of LAUNCH PAD delve into moving memoirs, poignant family sagas, powerful men that shaped history, cleverly imagined storytelling and more. Join these four authors and celebrate the launch of their new books just as you fall in love with your next best read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Corie Adjmi - http://corieadjmi.com/
Gretchen Cherington - http://www.gretchencherington.com/
Irena Smith - https://www.irenasmith.com/
Amy Tu...2023-08-1330 min
The StorytellersEpisode 99: Alka Joshi - A Literary SensationAlka Joshi is a literary sensation, celebrated for her bestselling Jaipur Trilogy series, which includes The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris. With her debut novel, The Henna Artist, Joshi quickly gained widespread recognition, earning a coveted spot on the New York Times bestseller list and being chosen as a Reese Witherspoon Pick. The book has since been translated in 29 countries and 35 territories, and its success has led to a Netflix adaptation currently in development. Born in India, Joshi moved to the U.S. with her family as a child, and went on to r...2023-07-3120 min
The StorytellersEPISODE Twenty-two with Guest Host Lisa Montanaro and Grace Sammon, Mary Helen Sheriff, Stephanie Larkin, and Emma DhesiThis episode celebrates the start of Season 3 of LAUNCH PAD the radio show and market support experience. This experience was created to celebrate book releases and the authors that create them. It delightfully expanded into the creation of a three-book series on writing, publishing, and marketing your book. Join these authors and guest host to learn more about the LAUNCH PAD process.
Find out more about these authors at:
Lisa Montanaro: www.LisaMontanaro.com
Grace Sammon: www.GraceSammon.Net
Mary Helen Sheriff: www.MaryHelenSheriff.com
Stephanie Larkin: www.RedPenguinBooks.com2023-07-1932 min
The StorytellersEpisode 98: C. Evan Stewart and The Man Nobody KnewC. Evan Stewart is a senior partner in a New York City law firm. Mr. Stewart is also a visiting professor at Cornell University and an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School. In addition, he is a contributing columnist for the New York Law Journal, New York Business Law Journal, and the Federal Bar Council Quarterly; he has published approximately 300 articles on a variety of legal subjects.
He is frequently featured in the national media, such as Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN and regularly speaks across the country on securities, professional responsibility, and complex litigation issues. In 2016, he received the...2023-07-1721 min
The StorytellersEpisode 97: Judy Prescott Marshall Writes Fiction with a Touch of RomanceJudy Prescott Marshall is a multi-award-winning writer. She earned her certificate Write Your First Novel from Michigan State University. Judy enjoys writing about real people facing life's many challenges. She writes fiction with a hint of romance. When she is not writing or reading, she enjoys tending to her gardens and hiking on her property with her husband. On sunny days, you might catch her kayaking down the majestic Ten Mile River. She lives in Dutchess County, New York with her husband of almost fifty years. Judy is currently working on her new series, a standalone and one of...2023-07-1021 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 21 with Donnaldson Brown, Laura Whitfield, P. Suzanne Parry, and Donna StonehamTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
This is a deeply personal episode with epic love stories, painful choices that impact generations, living a life untethered, struggle, survival, tyranny, and love lost – and sometimes found, and of comfort, healing, and hope. Join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with the authors and find your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
· Donnaldson Brown: https://www.donnaldsonbrown.com/
· Laura Whitfield: https://laurawhitfield.com/
· P. Suzanne Parry...2023-07-0932 min
The StorytellersEpisode 96: Susan Meissner Only the Beautiful and So Much More!Susan Meissner is the USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than half a million books in print in fifteen languages. Her novels include As Bright as Heaven, which received a starred review from Library Journal; Secrets of a Charmed Life (a 2015 Goodreads Choice award finalist); and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014. She is also RITA finalist and Christy Award and Carol Award winner. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University and is also a writing workshop volunteer for Words Alive, a San Diego non-profit dedi...2023-07-0321 min
The StorytellersEpisode 95: Hannah Mary McKinnon has a Revenge ListInternationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in
Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. Her suspense novels include THE NEIGHBORS, and
bestsellers HER SECRET SON, SISTER DEAR, YOU WILL REMEMBER ME, NEVER
COMING HOME, and THE REVENGE LIST, which is her seventh novel. She also writes
romantic comedies under the pseudonym Holly Cassidy. Hannah Mary lives in Oakville,
Ontario, with her husband and three sons. Connect on Facebook and Instagram
@hannahmarymckinnon, and on Twitter @HannahMMcKinnon. For more, visit
www...2023-06-2621 min
The StorytellersEPISODE 20! with Micki Berthelot Morency, Tracey D. Buchanan, Trisha Ricketts, and Stephanie RaffelockTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
With books that are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching . . . and those filled with strong characters, curmudgeons, and ghosts . . . with stories told from mixed points of view and the power of nature . . . and with books that will inspire you to embrace your creative surge this episode of LAUNCH PAD will inspire and enlighten. Join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with the authors and find your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
2023-06-2529 min
The StorytellersEpisode 94: Laura Whitfield is UntetheredLaura grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, the daughter of a journalist and a teacher. She has
been an advertising copywriter, newspaper columnist, staff writer for an international relief
agency, travel writer, blogger, teacher, communications director for several nonprofits, and a
personal assistant to a New York Times bestselling author. Laura is passionate about her faith,
books, travel, nature (especially the beach), social justice, and her family. She lives in Winston-
Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, Stephen
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon focuses on individuals wh...2023-06-1921 min
The StorytellersEpisode 93: Joy Ross Davis - Stories of the Magical, Mysterious, and EnchantingJoy Ross Davis is of Irish descent and a student of the lore and magic found in the back
hills of Tennessee where many of her Irish ancestors settled upon coming to America. After
a twenty-five-year career as a college English professor, she retired from teaching and
followed her dream of going to Ireland. As it happened, she was offered a “summer of work”
as a writer and photographer at an Irish travel agency where she wrote and published
numerous articles and photos designed for first-time American visitors to Irel...2023-06-1221 min
The StorytellersEPISODE Eighteen with Jenn Bouchard, Richard W. Wise, Elvy Howard, and Adele Holmes THIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
From 33,000 BC in France to small towns and quirky characters, and from coastal fiction and rom-coms to a turn-of-the-last century herbalist struggling for social justice this is an extraordinary episode of LAUNCH PAD. Join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with the authors and find your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
· Jenn Bouchard: https://jennbouchard.com/
· Richard W. Wise: https://www.richardwbooks.com/
· Elvy Howard: http...2023-06-1229 min
The StorytellersEpisode 92: Dionne Ford Shares Go Back and Get ItDionne Ford is the author of the memoir Go Back and Get It and co-editor of the anthology Slavery's Descendants: Shared Legacies of Race and Reconciliation. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, LitHub, New Jersey Monthly, Rumpus, and Ebony among other publications, and won awards from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Newswomen's Club of New York. In 2018, she received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Creative Writing.
Grants from the Sustainable Arts Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Hedg...2023-06-0520 min
The StorytellersEpisode 91: Annie McDonnell and Her Song!Annie McDonnell is a lifelong reader and advocate for writers and books. In 2006, Annie won a contest with Elle and became a book reviewer for the magazine. When Elle stopped running book reviews in print, Annie moved to blogging, the creation of The Write Review Facebook community, live author interviews and events, and the World of the Write Review Book Club. In addition, Annie writes a column in the formidable literary journal “Well Read Magazine” called “Annie’s Antics.”
Annie’s debut book, Annie’s Song: Dandelions, Dreams & Dogs, debuted in March of this year. It is an experiential...2023-05-2921 min
The StorytellersEpisode 90: Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas - agent, studio head, producer, writer - Hollywood legendBeginning her career at the William Morris Agency, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas rose in spite of the boys club of the late 1980’s to become one of the top agents in the entertainment industry, guiding the careers of actors such as JULIA ROBERTS, MEG RYAN, JENNIFER LOPEZ, NICHOLAS CAGE, TIM ROBBINS, MADONNA, SUSAN SARANDON, GEENA DAVIS, PATRICK DEMPSEY, JENNIFER CONNELLY, ANDIE MACDOWELL, MATT DILLON, and working with filmmakers such as, JOHN HUGHES, ROBERT ALTMAN, JONATHAN LYNN, ROGER MICHELE, CURTIS HANSON, DARREN STAR, SPIKE LEE among many others. She left agenting in 2000 and became a studio head and later a writer and producer o...2023-05-2220 min
The StorytellersEPISODE SEVENTEEN with Hope Gibbs, Donna Norman-Carbone, Linda Rosen, and Meredith R. Stoddard THIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
This special episode of LAUNCH PAD features authors from Bookish Road Trip – a community of over 5,000 readers and writers. In this episode, we celebrate book debuts, families, folklore, envy, redemption, and all that is sacred. Join these seasoned and debut authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
· Hope Gibbs: https://www.authorhopegibbs.com
· Donna Norman-Carbone: https://www.donnanormancarbone.com
· Linda Rosen: https://w...2023-05-2230 min
The StorytellersEPISODE SIXTEEN with, Edie Cay, Rebecca D’Harlingue, C.V. Lee, and Linda UlleseitTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
These Paper Lantern Writers band together on this special episode of LAUNCH PAD to discuss historical fiction, feminist romance, pugilism, Amsterdam’s Golden Age and map making, betrayal, roses and rebels, and the American Frontier. Join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with the authors and find your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
· Edie Cay: https://www.scarabskinbooks.com
· Rebecca D’Harlingue: https://rebeccadharlingue.com
· ...2023-05-2230 min
The StorytellersEpisode 89: Linda Rosen And The Emerald NecklaceFitness Professional turned novelist, Linda Rosen’s books are set in the “not-too-distant past” and examine how women reinvent themselves despite obstacles thrown their way. A central theme is that blood is not all that makes a family– and they always feature a piece of jewelry! Her novels, The Disharmony of Silence, Sisters of the Vine and The Emerald Necklace are published by Black Rose Writing. In addition to writing novels, Linda was a contributor to Women in the Literary Landscape: A WNBA Centennial Publication for the Women's National Book Association and the craft book, Launch Pad The Countdown to Writi...2023-05-1520 min
The StorytellersEpisode 88: Meryl Ain and The Shadows We CarryMeryl Ain is a writer, author, podcaster, and career educator. Her new novel, Shadows We Carry is the sequel to The Takeaway Men, her award-winning debut novel, which was published in 2020. Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications and she is the author of two nonfiction books. A member of The International Advisory Board for Holocaust Survivor Day, she is the host of the podcast “People of the Book”, and the founder of the Facebook group “Jews Love To Read!” She holds a BA from Queens College, an MA from Columbia University, and a doctorate in education from Hofs...2023-05-0819 min
The StorytellersEpisode 87: Jody Feagan and Katie Rountree and 100 Women Who CareKatie Rountree is a former radio personality and TV weather anchor for the NBC station. Currently, she does voice-over recording for companies all over the world. She is the Director of Development for Performance Santa Fe. In 2012 she co-founded 100 Women Who Care in Santa Fe. She is also the co-founder of Santa Fe Women to Women, through which she and her business partner Jody Feagan produce monthly luncheons, weekend writers’ workshops, podcasts, and an annual conference meant to inspire, enrich, entertain, and connect women in Santa Fe and throughout the world. She is the mother of two and lives in...2023-05-0120 min
The StorytellersEPISODE FIFTEEN with Shelley Blanton-Stroud, Gretchen Cherington, Ashley E. Sweeney, and Debra ThomasTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
From crimes, cocktails, and clothes; to butchers, embezzlers, and fall guys; to underrepresented women who changed the west; and to women who rise to the occasion to save their families and in so doing find tenderness and healing join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Shelley Blanton-Stroud: https://shelleyblantonstroud.com/
Gretchen Cherington: https://www.gr...2023-04-2530 min
The StorytellersEpisode 86: Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman are The Thread CollectorsSHAUNNA J. EDWARDS has a BA in literature from Harvard College and a JD from NYU School of Law. A former corporate lawyer, she now works in diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a native Louisianian, raised in New Orleans, and currently lives in Harlem with her husband. The Thread Collectors is her first novel. Find her on Instagram, @shaunnajedwards.
ALYSON RICHMAN is the USA Today bestselling and #1 international bestselling author of several historical novels including The Velvet Hours, The Garden of Letters, and The Lost Wife, which is currently in development for a major motion picture. A...2023-04-2423 min
The StorytellersEPISODE FOURTEEN with Amy Bernstein, Julia Brewer Daily, Linda Moore, and Marian O’Shea WernickeTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
From ancient places with stories and secrets to people and characters with stories and secrets of their own, join these fascinating authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
∙ Amy Bernstein: https://amywrites.live/
∙ Julia Brewer Daily: https://www.juliadaily.com/
∙ Linda Moore: https://lindamooreauthor.com/
∙ Marian O’Shea Wernicke: https://www.marianosheawernicke.com/
LAUNCH PAD combines the best...2023-04-1931 min
The StorytellersEpisode 85: Jeff Arch: Screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle, Novelist of Attachments, HumanJeff Arch grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent two of his high school years at a boarding school much like the one depicted in ‘Attachments.’ In the 70’s, Jeff studied film/tv/theater production at Emerson College in Boston, and then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a concert lighting designer and toured the country with national rock and reggae acts, while teaching himself to write screenplays on the side. When a comedy he wrote opened and closed off-Broadway in the same week, Jeff went into a rebuilding period where he studied tae kwon do with a G...2023-04-1726 min
The StorytellersEpisode 84: Beth Broday Executive Producer, Pioneer of Music Television, Mentor and MemoiristBeth Broday is an award-winning executive producer with over thirty-five years’ experience in identifying, developing and selling content that results in millions of dollars in sales and revenue. Creative leadership and an innate ability to recognize advantageous opportunities ahead of the curve, Ms. Broday successfully married top entertainment brands and properties with digital media. Ms. Broday specializes in business development, production, original content development, executing brand strategy and spearheading long term, cross-platform initiatives. Ms. Broday is currently writing a memoir and continues as a career consultant to young women entering the entertainment business.
Widely known as a pio...2023-04-1021 min
The StorytellersEpisode 83: Marta Kauffman: Creator, Writer, Producer and American Legend for “Friends,” “Grace and Frankie” and so much more!Marta Kauffman is an American television writer and producer. She is best known as the co-creator of the NBC sitcom Friends and as the creator of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie but her credits and awards fill pages. From creator to documentarian of Seeing Allred, Kauffman is a Hollywood legend.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. Each episode engages guests and listeners in the story behind the story of authors, artists, reporters and others who leave a legacy of s...2023-04-0322 min
The StorytellersEpisode 82: Brooke Warner She Writes PressBrooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press. She currently sits on the boards of the Book Industry Study Group, the Bay Area Book Festival, and the National Association of Memoir Writers. She writes a monthly column for Publishers Weekly.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the...2023-03-2720 min
The StorytellersEpisode 81: Jocelyn Jones Artist ExtraordinaireJocelyn has been an in-demand acting teacher for over thirty years. From A-list movie stars to hand-picked beginners, Ms. Jones is known for offering insights and techniques that enhance an actor’s confidence, guide them to their own unique perspective, and consistently provide them with inspirational results.
Known as a “secret weapon” to some of the biggest movie stars in the industry, Ms. Jones has also served as a confidential Creative Consultant, working on some of the highest-grossing pictures of all time.
From advising stars on which projects to choose, to private coaching, rewriting, and develo...2023-03-2021 min
The StorytellersEPISODE THIRTEEN with Susan Cole, Lisa Franco, Patti Gaustad Procopi and Rebecca RosenbergTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Let’s sail into Episode 13 of LAUNCH PAD with adventure, memoir, stumbled on lost love letters, family tragedy and disfunction, and glorious women of the champagne industry! This episode promises to deliver entertainment, information, and a growing to-be-read pile! Join these glorious authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Susan Cole: https://www.susan-cole.com/
Lisa Franco: https://mydearestdarlingbook.com/
...2023-03-2030 min
The StorytellersEpisode 80: Landis Wade Recovering Trial Lawyer with Deadly DeclarationsLandis is a recovering trial lawyer turned author turned host of the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast (where he has conducted more than 300 author interviews), whose third book—The Christmas Redemption—won the Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, and whose recent novel, Deadly Declarations, received praise by Kirkus Reviews, BookLife Reviews and Midwest Book Reviews, and was named a Finalist in the Thriller/Adventure category of the 2022 International Book Awards. He won the 2016 North Carolina State Bar short story contest for The Deliberation and received various awards for non-fiction pieces by the Charlotte Writers’ Club and th...2023-03-1321 min
The StorytellersEpisode 79: Lisa Rosenberg and Embers on the WindLisa Williamson Rosenberg is an author and psychotherapist specializing in developmental trauma and racial identity. She is also a former ballet dancer with the Pacific Northwest and Pennsylvania Ballet companies. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Lisa’s short fiction has appeared in Literary Mama and The Piltdown Review; essays in Lithub, Longreads, Narrative.ly, The Common, Grok Nation, Oldster, and Mamalode. Lisa’s debut novel, EMBERS ON THE WIND, about an Underground Railroad safehouse turned 21st Century Airbnb, was released on August 1, 2022 by Little A Books. A born-and-raised New Yorker, Lisa now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband and...2023-03-0622 min
The StorytellersEPISODE TWELVE with Antonia Deignan, Cynthia James, Susan Wands, and Anastasia ZadeikTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
In this special episode of LAUNCH PAD we will explore memoir and memories; acting, singing, dancing and the spoken word; historical characters reimagined and what it means to create a life of meaning and purpose. Tuck in psychology, abuse, fantasy, and family secrets and this episode promises to deliver entertainment, information, and a growing to-be-read pile! Join these She Writes Press authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with these authors and think about your next great read.
2023-03-0525 min
The StorytellersEpisode 78: Anna Quinn On Story, Craft, and Authentic VoicesAnna Quinn is the author of The Night Child, (Blackstone) listed as #1 Best Real Psychological Fiction on Goodreads, and Ingram’s 2018 Best Book Club Book. Her second novel, Angeline, (Blackstone) will be released Feb 7th, 2023. Quinn’s writing has also appeared in Psychology Today, Writer’s Digest, Washington 129 Anthology, and Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19. She is the founder of The Writers’ Workshoppe in Port Townsend, WA., and has thirty years of experience teaching and leading writing workshops across the country. When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, biking or hiking somewhere on this beau...2023-02-2722 min
The StorytellersEPISODE ELEVEN with Anju Gattani, Barbara Boehm Miller, Andrea J. Stein and Nancy YeagerTHIS SHOW WILL BE RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
These four authors and their unique novels invite us into India's family dynasties, carnival side shows and unspeakable acts, family living situations and old beaus, and female ex-cons and complicated friendship. This episode of LAUNCH PAD promises to be engaging, fun, and informative. Join these authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with these authors and think about your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Anju Gattani: https://www.anjugattani.com
...2023-02-2131 min
The StorytellersEpisode 77: Michelle Cox Mixing Mystery and Romance in a Fizzy 1930s CocktailMichelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there.
Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’...2023-02-2021 min
The StorytellersEpisode 76: Georgia Court Independent Bookstore StorytellerGeorgia Court retired from teaching English Composition and Writing for HealthCare at the University of Cincinnati. Her career path included writing about healthcare for the Cincinnati Post (a
daily newspaper), publishing a weekly newspaper for healthcare professionals, owning a PR-event management company and working as a systems engineer for IBM (go figure). She moved to
Sarasota in 2009 and opened Bookstore1Sarasota in March 2011. Find out more about Bookstore1 here: https://www.sarasotabooks.com/
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the...2023-02-1322 min
The StorytellersEpisode 74: Leslie Rasmussen and What Happens After Happily Ever AfterLeslie A. Rasmussen is the award-winning author of the novel, After Happily Ever After. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, as well as The Wild Thornberrys and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, she attained a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Recently, she’s written over twenty essays for Huffington Post, and MariaShriver, and spoken on panels discussing empowering women in midlife. Leslie is...2023-01-3022 min
The StorytellersEpisode 73: Hallie Balogh and Auttie Grace Are Building An EmpireEverything started in 5th grade when Hallie Balogh and Auttie Grace first met. They quickly became known for always being together. You never only saw one of them. That 5th grade school year didn’t only spark their friendship, but it set the foundation of the Auttie and Hallie writing power duo. From 5th grade and all through middle school, they spent their lunches, free time, etc. writing stories together. Once Covid-19 hit, they took it as an advantage to write their first novel, Empire: To Earth and Back. Honestly, it started as a joke, but here they are, tw...2023-01-2321 min
The StorytellersEpisode 72: Carol Van Den Hende Inspires Hope & Empathy for People and PlanetCAROL VAN DEN HENDE is an award-winning author who pens stories of resilience and hope. Her novels Orchid Blooming and Goodbye, Orchid series are inspired by wounded veterans and have won 20+ literary awards, including the American Fiction Award, IAN Outstanding Fiction First Novel Award, and 2020 Royal Dragonfly for Disability Awareness. Buzzfeed, Parade, and Travel+Leisure named “heartwarming, heartbreaking” Goodbye, Orchid a most anticipated read. Glamour Magazine recommended this “modern, important take on the power of love.” The International Pulpwood Queens, selected Goodbye, Orchid as a 2022 Bonus Book-of-the-Month. Carol’s mission is unlocking optimism as a writer, speaker, strategist, Board member and Climate Rea...2023-01-1622 min
The StorytellersEpisode 71: Debra Thomas Enlightens Us with Her Novel LuzDebra Thomas is the author of Luz, winner of the 2020 Sarton Award for Contemporary Fiction and the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Multicultural Fiction. Originally from Binghamton, New York, she has lived in Southern California most of her adult life. A writer, teacher, and immigrant rights advocate, Debra is a former Los Angeles public high school literature and writing teacher and English as a Second Language instructor to adults from all over the world. She currently lives with her husband and dog in Simi Valley, California, just minutes away from her two horses. Her second novel, Josie and...2023-01-0921 min
The StorytellersEpisode 70: Lisa Lucca’s Profound Memoir Ashes to InkLisa Lucca is the author of the award-winning memoir, Ashes to Ink, released in October 2021, a story of forgiveness that shines a light on the challenges of living true to who we are. She was recently awarded the 2022 Literary Legacy Award from El Paso Community College and named an Outstanding Woman of Mesilla Valley for her contributions to the Borderland community in literature and media. Lisa was a #Blogher Voice of the Year Honoree and her work has been published in several anthologies, including the collection, Crone Rising. She is the co-author of the epistolary memoir, You Are Loved...2023-01-0221 min
The StorytellersEpisode 75: Zibby Owens Talks books, Books, BOOKS!Zibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. She is the founder of Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. The three divisions include Zibby Books, a publishing house for fiction and memoir, Zcast, a podcast network powered by Acast including Zibby’s award-winning podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and Moms Don’t Have Time To, a new content and community site including Zibby’s Virtual Book Club, events, and the former Moms Don’t Have Time t...2023-01-0122 min
The StorytellersEPISODE NINE with Beverly Armento, Amy Q. Barker, Gloria Coppola, and Michael RossTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Harrowing tales, life crises, coming of age, and a quest for freedom fill this episode. Told through the genres of memoir, women’s fiction, saga, and historical fiction, join these authors and learn about their unique tales and lives just as you fall in love with these authors and think about your next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Beverly Armento: www.beverlyarmentoauthor.com
Amy Q. Barker: www.amyqbarker.com
Gloria Coppola: www.PPP-publishing.com
Michael Ross: www.HistoricalNovelsRUs.com
LAU...2022-12-3031 min
The StorytellersEPISODE EIGHT WITH Kerry Chaput, Heidi Hackford, J, Ember Hintz and Sheila MyersTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Join this award-winning group of authors as they share their new releases! Historical fiction, double lives, unexpected twists and turns, life decisions, and romance and gothic fiction fill this episode! Journey back in time, meet murderous disembodied spirits, and dive into a world of research - all while falling in love with your next author and finding your next book on LAUNCH PAD.
Find out more about these authors at:
Kerry Chaput: www.kerrywrites.com
Heidi Hackford: www.heidihackford.com
J. Ember Hintz: www.j...2022-12-2230 min
The StorytellersEPISODE EIGHT WITH Kerry Chaput, Heidi Hackford, J, Ember Hintz and Sheila MyersTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Join this award-winning group of authors as they share their new releases! Historical fiction, double lives, unexpected twists and turns, life decisions, and romance and gothic fiction fill this episode! Journey back in time, meet murderous disembodied spirits, and dive into a world of research - all while falling in love with your next author and finding your next book on LAUNCH PAD.
Find out more about these authors at:
Kerry Chaput: www.kerrywrites.com
Heidi Hackford: www.heidihackford.com
J. Ember Hintz: www.j...2022-12-2230 min
The StorytellersEpisode 69: Suzanne Simonetti and The Sound of Wings!Suzanne Simonetti is a USA Today bestselling author who grew up in the New York suburbs just outside of the city. After earning a BS in marketing, she spent several years writing press releases, until she left her corporate job to focus on her passion for crafting fiction. She lives on Cape May Harbor with her husband. When not on her paddle board or yoga mat, she can be found at the beach trailing the shoreline for seashells, scribbling in her notebook, and channeling dolphins for meaningful conversation. The Sound of Wings is her first book. Find out more ab...2022-12-1919 min
The StorytellersEpisode 68: Meg Nocero Transforms Us, Brings Bliss, and S.H.I.N.E.S!Meg Nocero is the award-winning author of the Butterflies & Bliss Trilogy: The Magical Guide to Bliss: Daily Keys to Unlock Your Dreams, Spirit & Inner Bliss is the book of insights that empowered and paved the way for her inspirational journey in Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. Her book of affirmations Sparkle & Shine: 108 M.A.N.T.R.A.s to Brighten Your Day and Lighten Your Way keeps the reader moving forward on their own hero’s journey through a meditative mantra practice to further come alive to the beauty of their life.
After sh...2022-12-1221 min
The StorytellersEpisode 67: A Bestselling Author Who Has Gone Beyond the Story with Alexa BigwarfeAlexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author, publisher, and founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. Her courses and training focus on author platform growth and fun, creative ways to market books. The membership program she created for authors, WIP School, focuses on mentoring and training authors through the process of growing their author businesses and developing savvy book marketers. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit, a conference and community dedicated to empowering and educating authors and professionals in...2022-12-0523 min
The StorytellersEPISODE SEVEN WITH JOSIE BROWN, LEE BUKOWSKI, LOVELACE COOK, and DEBRA GREENTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Buckle up for an episode filled with secrets and assassins; dentists, doctors and doctor’s wives; trips through Asia on a shoe-string budget; reckless choices and past decisions; and, sagas and serials. This diverse group of authors will have you deeply engaged as you discover their newest works and, hopefully, have you finding you next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Josie Brown: www.josiebrown.com
Lee Bukowski: www.leebukowski.com
Lovelace Cook: www.lovelacecook.com
Debra Green: www.debragreenwriter.com
...2022-12-0131 min
The StorytellersEPISODE SIX with Antonina Duridanova, Kelly Hitchcock, Marleen Pasch, and Rob SambornTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE
Join these award-winning, fascinating and diverse authors as they celebrate their memoir, humorous women’s fiction, literary fiction, and novel series. On this episode of LAUNCH PAD, we focus on stories that will inspire, challenge your thinking, delight you, rattle you, and hopefully, have you finding you next great read.
Find out more about these authors at:
Antonina Duridanova: www.antoninaduridanovabooks.com
Kelly Hitchcock: www. kellyhitchcock.com
Marleen Pasch: www. marleenpasch.com
Rob Samborn: www.robsamborn.com
LAUNCH PAD combines the best of boo...2022-11-1732 min
The StorytellersEpisode 64: “A Long Awaited Dream Comes True” with Claire DouglasClaire Douglas has worked as a journalist for fifteen years, writing features for women’s magazines and national newspapers. But she wanted to be a novelist since the age of seven, a dream that came true with the publication of her first novel, The Sisters, which won the Marie Claire Debut Novel Award. She lives in Bath, England with her husband and two children.
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. Each episode engages guests and listeners in the story behind the st...2022-11-1420 min
The StorytellersEpisode 63: Debra Engle Brings Skill, Grace, and Style to the Art of StoryDebra Landwehr Engle is the bestselling author of The Only Little Prayer You Need, Let Your Spirit Guides Speak, Be the Light that You Are and her debut novel Twenty. Her work has been endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and other notable authors and leaders. She also is the recipient of two Nautilus Awards, which honor “better books for a better world.” Debra is a long-time student and teacher of A Course in Miracles. Her books of spiritual nonfiction are based on the timeless principles of the Course and have been translated into four...2022-11-0722 min
The StorytellersEpisode 62: Passion, Vulnerability, and Risk with Barbara Linn ProbstBarbara Linn Probst is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of contemporary
women’s fiction. She lives on an historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed
novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver
medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton Award for Women’s Fiction and
the Nautilus Book Award. The Sound Between the Notes was also the recipient of a Kirkus
starred review and was selected as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has publis...2022-10-3122 min
The StorytellersEpisode 62: Passion, Vulnerability, and Risk with Barbara Linn ProbstBarbara Linn Probst is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of contemporary
women’s fiction. She lives on an historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed
novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver
medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton Award for Women’s Fiction and
the Nautilus Book Award. The Sound Between the Notes was also the recipient of a Kirkus
starred review and was selected as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has publis...2022-10-3120 min
The StorytellersEPISODE FIVE with Gabi Coatsworth, Patricia Sands, Marilyn Simon Rothstein, and M.K. TodTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE: Join these authors for stories of resilience, strength and hope. From historical fiction to memoir, to laugh out loud funny, to the heart wrenchingly poignant. Their new releases, all with themes of family – some with secrets, will have you adding to your reading list.
Find out more about these authors at:
· Gabbi Coatsworth: https://linktr.ee/gabicoatsworth
· Patricia Sands: https://patriciasandsauthor.com/
· Marilyn Simon Rothstei https://www.marilynsimonrothstein.com/
· M.K. Tod: https://mktod.com/
LAUNCH PAD combin...2022-10-2730 min
The StorytellersEPISODE FOUR with Judith Brenner, Janis Daly, Gail Olmsted, and Debbie WeissTHIS SHOW WAS RECORDED IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE: Join these fascinating authors for a dive into their paths to publishing, family history, and the gift of second chances as they discuss f their amazing new books. This episode will have you deeply engaged in women’s fiction, family drama, strong and determined characters, criminal activity and so much more. We explore history, family dynamics, mothers, and we get to the core of what makes a great story. When we mix these authors and their new releases, we have the recipe for a great episode!
Find out...2022-10-2030 min
The Storytellers“A Southern Woman Gains Her Bookish Wings” with Julia Daily“A Southern Woman Gains Her Bookish Wings” with Julia Daily
Julia Brewer Daily is a Texan with a southern accent. She holds a B.S. in English and a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has been a Communications Adjunct Professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and Public Relations Director of the Mississippi Department of Education and Millsaps College, a liberal arts college in Jackson, MS. She was the founding director of the Greater Belhaven Market, a producers’ only market in a historic neighborhood in Jackson, and even shadowed Martha Stewart. As the...2022-04-2521 min
The Storytellers“Creating Mysteries and Community One Book at a Time” with Saralyn RichardAward-winning mystery and children’s book author, and BOI (born on Galveston Island), Saralyn Richard, is a writer who teaches on the side. Before fulfilling her lifelong dream as an author, Saralyn worked in urban high schools as a teacher, administrator, and school improvement consultant. Saralyn's humor- and romance-tinged- mysteries and children's book pull back the curtain on people in settings as diverse as elite country manor houses and disadvantaged urban high schools. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. Learn more about Saralyn at www.saralynrichard.com
The Storytellers,hosted by...2022-02-2123 min
The StorytellersLittle Satchmo: A Daughter’s Story with Sharon Preston-FoltaSharon Preston-Folta has spent a thirty-plus-year career in advertising sales and marketing, predominantly as an account executive in radio. She's worked with such companies as Fairchild Publications and WLNY TV in Long Island, and ABC/Disney and CBS Radio and Emmis Communications in New York City. She is currently Sr. Account Executive with WUSF Public Media in Tampa, FL. Sharon became a published author with her memoir "Living in The Shadow of my Father, Louis Daniel Armstrong" in 2012, which made public the private family life of Louis Armstrong, Lucille 'Sweets' Preston, his mistress for 21 years and their child, Sharon. In 2019...2022-01-3121 minThe StorytellersBrilliantly Disturbing Historical Fiction with Thea SuttonThea Sutton has a PhD in English literature with books and articles to her credit. She has worked in marketing and communications while dividing her time between Toronto and Southern California.
The Storytellers, hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of story. Each episode engages guests and listeners in the story behind the story of authors, artists, reporters and others who leave a legacy of storytelling. Applying her years of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, author, and storyteller herself, Grace brings to listeners an intimate...2022-01-2423 minThe StorytellersTelling the Earth’s Story with Nobel Peace Prize Winner for Climate Change Professor Terry RootDr. Terry Root is an active conservator of the earth and all its species. She was a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Report in 2007, resulting in Dr. Root being co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Vice President Al Gore. In addition to other honors, Root was awarded the “Spirit of Defenders Award for Science” by Defenders of Wildlife in 2010, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the conservation organization Point Blue. She served on the National Audubon Board of Directors from 2010 to 2019, currently serves on the board of Defenders of Wildlife, Birds Caribbean, and is o...2022-01-0324 minThe StorytellersA Natural Event with Supernatural Repercussions with Robert GwaltneyBLURB:
Robert Gwaltney, an author of Southern fiction, resides in Atlanta Georgia, where he is an active member of the local literary community and serves as Fiction Editor for The Blue Mountain Review. By day he helps leads a national non-profit. By night he is author, author-supporter, and a bit of a Facebook maverick. His debut novel, The Cicada Tree, will be released by Moonshine Cove Publishing, February 25, 2022. To learn more about Robert, visit his website: robertlgwaltney.com
The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on individuals who choose to leave their mark on the world through the art of...2021-12-2725 minThe StorytellersAn Unexpected Life of Challenge, Quest, Contribution, and Creativity with Lily Iona MacKenzieBLURB:
A Canadian by birth, a high school dropout, and a mother at 17, Lily Iona MacKenzie supported herself as a stock girl and a cocktail waitress. She briefly broke into the male-dominated world of the docks as a longshoreman, where she almost got her legs broken. She founded and managed a homeless shelter; co-created “The Story Shoppe,” a weekly radio program for children; and eventually earned two Master’s degrees (one in Creative writing and one in the Humanities).
In addition to publishing her poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction., she has published four novels, Fling!, Freefall: A Divine Comedy, Curva Peligr...2021-12-2023 minThe StorytellersFolklore Inspired Fiction Emanates From a ‘She-Shed’ in Virginia with Meredith StoddardBLURB: Meredith R. Stoddard writes folklore-inspired fiction from her writing shed in Virginia. She studied literature and folklore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before working as a corporate trainer and instructional designer. Her love of storytelling is inspired by years spent listening to stories at her grandmother’s kitchen table. She also advocates for the preservation of traditional fiber arts and the Scottish Gaelic language.
Find out more about Meredith at http://www.meredithstoddard.com/ and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mrstoddard/ The Storytellers hosted by Grace Sammon, focuses on...2021-12-1326 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and "The Storytellers" presents author Isla MorleyIsla Morley grew up in South Africa during apartheid, the child of a British father and fourth-generation South African mother. In 1994 she was one of the youngest magazine editors in South Africa, but left career, country and kin when she married an American and moved to California. The Last Blue, her third novel, was selected by the Southern Fiction Review of Books as a “must-read” Best Book of May 2020. It has been translated into French. Her debut novel, Come Sunday, was awarded Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction, was a finalist for the Commonwealth Prize, and was longlisted for The...2021-11-2926 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and “The Storytellers:” A Peripatetic Lifestyle Leads to Creative Storytelling with Susan SammonSHOW NOTES: Susan Sammon has been a television studio manager, a food PR executive, environmental scuba diver, alternative educator and small business owner. As a result of her various jobs and interests, she has visited nearly 100 countries, touching down on all seven continents. Traveling for work and pleasure to exotic destinations, Susan had a unique opportunity to develop her image-making skills, which she honed using her iphone camera.
Susan is co-author, along with her photographer husband Rick, of 10 books. Her most recent titles, The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip (2019) and The Route 66 Photo Road Trip (2018) are published by...2021-11-2325 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and “The Storytellers:” Science, Storytelling, and Song with Dr. Ysaye BarnwellDr. Ysaye M. Barnwell is a native New Yorker now living in Washington, DC she is the only child and perfect blend of her mother, a registered nurse and her father, a classical violinist. Dr. Barnwell studied violin beginning at age 2 ½, and majored in music through high school. With this background, she went on to earn the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology (SUNY, Geneseo, 1967, 1968), Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (University of Pittsburgh, 1975), and the Master of Science in Public Health (Howard University, 1981). In 1998, Dr. Barnwell was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree b...2021-11-1624 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and “The Storytellers” From Journalist to Novelist with Christina HoagChristina Hoag is a former journalist who has had her laptop searched by Colombian guerrillas, phone tapped in Venezuela, was suspected of drug trafficking in Guyana, hid under a car to evade Guatemalan soldiers, and posed as a nun to get inside a Caracas jail. She has interviewed gang members, bank robbers, thieves and thugs in prisons, shantytowns and slums, not to forget billionaires and presidents, some of whom fall into the previous categories. Now she writes about such characters in her award-winning fiction. Find out more about Christina at www.christinahoag.com
The Storytellers hosted by...2021-11-0923 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and “The Storytellers:” Behind the Lens with Jeanne SackenA former English professor, Jeannee Sacken is a photojournalist who travels extensively in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, documenting the lives of women and children. She also presents the series, "Journeys to the Ends of the Earth," at schools and libraries. She recently published her first novel, suspenseful women's fiction, Behind The Lens, featuring Annie Hawkins Green, a war photographer armed with a camera. Jeannee lives with her husband and three cats in Milwaukee, WI, where she's working on the sequel to Behind The Lens. In her spare time, she enjoys adventure travel. Find out more about Jeannee www...2021-11-0325 minThe StorytellersGrace Sammon and “The Storytellers:” Awakening a Love for Historical Fiction with Libby McNameeLibby McNamee is an author, lawyer, and US Army Veteran. Her second novel, Dolley Madison and the War of 1812 published in August on the 207th anniversary of the burning of Washington City. Her first, Susanna’s Midnight Ride: The Girl Who Won the Revolutionary War was named #1 in Juvenile Fiction by the Independent Publisher Book Awards and Pinnacle Book Awards, and Finalist in Historical Fiction by the Best Book Awards. The Virginia General Assembly created “Susanna Bolling Day” to be held December 5th each year based upon Libby’s research. A native of Boston, Libby graduated from Georgetown University and Cath...2021-10-2625 min