The Story Blender: Recent Episodes
Steven James
Listen to the fascinating conversation I have with humorist and acclaimed storyteller Andy Offutt Irwin. He shares insights on coming up with stories of your own to tell by looking at quests, obstacles, choices, and new wisdom. We talk about the difference between a comedian and a humorist, what (actually) makes something funny, vegetarian roadkill, and more. Check it out, give it a listen and subscribe!
This week I catch up with #1 international best selling author Robert Dugoni. As both an acclaimed writer and popular conference speaker, Robert is an expert at both understanding story and delivering thrilling novels. Join us as we chat about trusting your reader, leaving out what readers can presume, what it really means to show and not tell, and creating honest and authentic characters. We also talk about his latest release THE KILLING ON THE HILL. Check it out, give it a listen, and subscribe!
This week I chat with New York Times bestselling author Christopher Reich, about his latest novel, Matterhorn, and his writing process. We talk about the importance of believability in stories (even if they’re spy thrillers and international intrigue novels), some of his favorite authors, how to get started if you have the passion to write a story, and the dangers of reaching for a sandwich on a mountain in the Alps. Check it out, give it a listen, and subscribe!
Listen as I chat with novelist and screenwriter Janice Hallett from London. We talked about her latest book, her writing process, her world travels, and her unique style or writing epistolary novels. She has a new novel out now and she shares from her heart about the importance of fiction, or emotion and empathy in stories, and what she hopes you as a reader will take away from your books. Give it a listen!
On this week’s episode of The Story Blender, I speak with noted reality television, and unscripted TV show expert Troy Devolld. We talk about how reality TV has matured and grown in recent years, the not-so-secret secrets to developing a great show (hint, hint, it has to do with authenticity not just conflict.) We also discuss what it means to reinvent yourself (and it might not mean what you think it does) and why it’s important to get the mustard water out as you write your stories. Give it a listen!
Join me as I speak with the NYT #1 bestselling author of the blockbuster Gray Man series, Mark Greaney. He shares his insights into writing action scenes that really work, avoiding fire and steam warehouses, reaching readers on an emotional level even when you’re writing a kinetic story, training with SWAT teams for authenticity, and more. Check it out and be sure to check out his latest book, THE CHAOS AGENT, available now wherever books are sold.
Join me as I speak with New York Times and international bestselling author, Jean Kwok. We chat about her latest book, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN, and her journey from studying poetry to becoming a novelist (via a physics degree from Harvard). Also, you’ll learn about her approach of outlining what she’s done as well as where she’s going, and the job that she really wanted to get in order to become a writer but couldn’t land, (PS it has to do with watering plants and removing dead leaves.) Give it a listen!
In this wide-ranging conversation with award-winning author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan, we chat about the importance of cause and effect in fiction (an insanely important and yet rarely talked about aspect of storytelling), the difference between mystery and suspense, following the gold coins your imagination lays out for you, trusting the creative process and her latest novel ONE WRONG WORD. Give it a listen!
You’ve seen him on television on shows like BOSCH and TRUE DETECTIVE. Now, listen to Jon Lindstrom as he shares insights into the writing process and how his acting career prepared him to write his debut novel HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE. Give is a listen!
This week I talk with Amina Akhtar about her latest book, ALMOST SURELY DEAD, and her advice for overcoming self-doubt, the importance of persistence and finding your voice, how to write a “zero draft,” and being honest in your stories—whether you write humor or thrillers or anything in between. Check it out and subscribe to get our weekly podcast so you never miss an episode.
For more information on Amina, you can visit her website at https://www.aminaakhtar.work/
If you’ve ever thought about writing a screenplay and don’t know where to start, you’re going to love this week’s episode of The Story Blender. Listen as I chat with Bob Saenz, a screeenwriter, author, and film writing instructor on secrets to humor, horror, characterization, and tons of inside tips to writing for Hollywood (which, you’ll soon learn doesn’t even exist…) Keep your pen handy to take notes as Bob shares valuable insights from his screenwriting career and his book THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS, a no-nonsense guide to the craft and business of screenwriting. Check it out!
Listen as I chat with world-renowned artist and motivational speaker, Joe Castillo. He has performed his sandart stories in front of Pope Francis, presidents, kings and in 28 countries. Learn what he looks for in a story, how he connects with audiences world wide and some of the mentors that have encouraged him along the way.
Check him out at https://joecastillo.com
Listen as I chat with novelist Emily Bleeker as we talk about improv (and what writers can learn from it), honesty in fiction, slipping into the skin of your characters, the important of telling yourself that you’re a writer, showing compassion to yourself and the drawbacks and rewards of reading your reviews. We also discuss her latest book WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES.
Check her out at https://emilybleeker.com/
In this episode, I caught up with acclaimed author, Carol Van Den Hende. Carol’s mission is unlocking optimism as a writer, speaker, strategist, Board member and Climate Reality Leader. Listen as we chat about writing tips and her latest book, Always Orchid.
You check her out at https://carolvandenhende.com
Listen to my conversation with international bestselling author Tess Gerritsen as we discuss the weapons at our disposal (that you might include in a story without planning to), writing without an outline, surprising yourself, the importance of writing yourself into a corner, emotional bridges into stories, the centrality of conflict, and what to do if you’re a chicken farmer and you find a body in your driveway. Give it a listen and check out her new book THE SPY COAST.
https://www.tessgerritsen.com/
Listen as I chat with best-selling international best-selling author, Karen Dionne, about her breakout novel, The Marsh King’s Daughter, the differences between the major motion picture, and her story writing tips, perseverance, and the joys of writing in Michigan.
You can check her out at https://karen-dionne.com/
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 45 books, including the long-running Lucy Kincaid series. She is currently writing the Quinn & Costa FBI and the Angelhart PI series; North of Nowhere is her first stand-alone thriller. Allison lives in Arizona with her husband and her youngest two of five children. She loves cats, hiking, baseball, classic movies, and -- of course -- reading. You can check her out at allisonbrennan.com.
Join Steven James as he talks with siblings Boyd and Beth Morrison on this episode of The Story Blender. They chat about the Black Plague, writing gripping historical thrillers, creating stories that entrain as well as inform readers, the ins and outs of collaboration, and the importance of finishing your novel and striving for brilliance rather than perfection.
You don't want to miss this one!
thestoryblender #readstevenjames
Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of New York Times bestseller I LET YOU GO, and Sunday Times bestsellers I SEE YOU, LET ME LIE, AFTER THE END, HOSTAGE and THE LAST PARTY. Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart. Her latest novel is A GAME OF LIES, the second in a crime series featuring Welsh Detective Morgan.
Join Steven James and Clare Macintosh on this episode of The Story Blender podcast.
I had the chance to chat with Former judge and award-winning legal thriller author, Martin Clark, about writing legal thrillers, coming up with intriguing moral dilemmas for your characters to face, fly fishing in Montana and Tennessee, trusting in the justice system, the songwriting of Robert Earl Keen, and the provocative ending to his latest thriller, THE PLINKO BOUNCE.
You’ll also hear about Martin’s choice of the best collection of short stories ever (the choice might surprise you!).
Give it a listen!
Listen as Steven James chats with award-winning nationally known storyteller, Tim Lowry. As one of the country’s premier storytellers, Tim has told stories to more than a quarter million children as well as at festivals and conferences throughout the United States.
We talk about his journey toward becoming a storyteller (and how the circus played a part!), how to find moments in your life that are story worthy, and the Ladder to the Moon and how it can help you connect with an audience. Check it out!
During a circus performance, Tim was bitten by the show biz bug at six years of age. Waiting for his big break, he filled his childhood with performance opportunities. Cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in a second- grade production of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” Tim later played Jed Clampett in “A Beverly Hillbillies Christmas.” Demonstrating that he could raise one eyebrow and thereby look “wicked” Tim’s Sunday school teacher cast him as King Herod in the annual Christmas pageant.
As a young teenager Tim produced puppet shows for children’s birthday parties. His fee was $20 per show, but he offered a $5 discount if you could give him a ride because he was not yet old enough to drive. As an award-winning high school drama student Tim toured the East Coast in 1987 with a Broadway style musical. As a theatre major in college he studied Shakespeare and Romantic Opera, but when he took an elective class in storytelling he found himself.
After graduation, Tim taught English Language Arts for five years. Drawing on his love of show business his teaching methods were often considered “unorthodox and disruptive.” In 2000 Tim left the classroom to pursue a career as a professional storyteller. To date he has shared his “unorthodox and disruptive” teaching methods with more than a quarter million children!
In 2012 Tim began touring the National Storytelling Circuit performing at over fifty different festivals. Occasionally, Tim provides workshops for corporate clients such as the North Carolina County Commissioners, Dollywood Dream More Resort, Ballad Health, and Daramic LLC.
Listen as Steven James interviews award winning, critically-acclaimed crime novelist W.C. Ryan. W.C. shares his insights into writing historical mysteries, on the importance of conflict and risk, on writing scenes drenched in intrigue ,how to keep people flipping the pages and the importance of the sense of place in the stories you tell. They discuss W.C.'s latest book, THE WINTER HOUSE, and his upcoming release, The Constant Solider. This episode of The Story Blender is a good one, don't miss it!
Jess is an Amazon Charts bestselling, ITW, Anthony and 2023 Minnesota Book Award-winning author who's also been shortlisted for Edgar and Agatha awards. She writes crime fiction, nonfiction, children's books, YA adventure, and magical realism.
She is also a retired professor of creative writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft's Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter (check out her TEDx Talk about inspiration behind her first published novel).
When she’s not leading women's writing retreats, reading, traveling, or fostering kittens, Jess Lourey is drafting her next story. She lives in Minnesota, where twenty-three of her books are also set.
Jess Lourey shares some backstory on her crime fiction: “I grew up in St. Cloud, MN, in the ‘70s, at a time where there were at least two serial killers operating in my neighborhood. We then moved to Paynesville, MN in the ‘80s, when eight boys were abducted and returned in this small town, leading up to the murder of Jacob Wetterling, an eleven-year-old boy who lived nearby. There was so much violence all around me. My entire childhood, I saw women and children being harmed and not much in the way of justice or accountability. That has left an indelible mark on me, and in my thrillers, I strive to give a voice and perspective to those who are hurt.”
This book will be a favorite of true crime lovers as will this interview! Don't miss it!
Listen to a fascinating conversation between Steven James and acclaimed novelist, Will Dean, as they talk about creativity (and how it can thrive in solicitude), living in the middle of a vast forest and staring at the wall, “Exorcism” drafts, and how to get to know characters over time.
Dean’s new book THE LAST ONE is available now.
Visit thestoryblender.com for more information.
Wow!
What a great conversation Steven James had with Lee Goldberg, a veteran TV writer and novelist. Get your pen ready to take notes as Lee talks about what characters do in a story (surprise, surprise; they don’t change), how to make compelling characters, where humor comes from, the secret to Monk’s character, how to use a “living outline,” and his latest novel MALIBU BURNING. Check out this episode of The Story Blender.
Author and screenwriter Lee Goldberg has topped bestseller lists, earned wide critical acclaim, and garnered a worldwide devoted fan base for his compelling and meticulously researched police procedurals and spy thrillers. His latest book, MALIBU BURNING, which Thomas & Mercer will publish on September 1, 2023, marks a brand-new direction in crime fiction for the talented storyteller. It’s a relentless thriller tracking both a master thief with a conscience and the dogged investigators out to stop him from pulling off the ultimate heist in the midst of a raging wildfire.
Lee Goldberg is a two-time Edgar Award and two-time Shamus Award nominee and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nearly 40 novels, including Lost Hills, True Fiction, fifteen Monk mysteries, and the first five “Fox & O’Hare” books, co-written with Janet Evanovich. He’s also written and/or produced many TV shows, including Diagnosis Murder, SeaQuest, and Monk, and co-created the Hallmark movie series Mystery 101. As an international television consultant, he has advised networks and studios in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, China, Sweden, and the Netherlands on the creation, writing, and production of episodic television series.
Listen to the newest episode of The Story Blender as Steven James chats with Chris Pavone, the author of 5 international thrillers whose latest book TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON is available now.
They talk about what to include and what to avoid in writing stories, the importance of setting, credibility and characters and other secrets to keeping people flipping the pages.
Kelly J. Ford has earned wide critical acclaim for her gritty novels of queer Southern suspense ever since the release of her award-winning debut, Cottonmouths, a Los Angeles Review Best Book of the year, followed by Real Bad Things, which critic Jon Land called “an outstanding literary crime thriller in all respects.” Ford, who is Southern by several generations and grew up in the foothills of the Ozarks, says that “Arkansas is in my roots and made me who I am.”
Ford returns to the rural South for the setting of her third novel, THE HUNT, which Thomas & Mercer will publish on July 25, 2023. Partly set at a plastics factory similar to where she worked as a press operator in college, the story centers on blue collar workers in a small, insular town. It was important to her to highlight family influences and circumstances that can potentially lead people to become accidental criminals, or to be perceived as such due to bias within the criminal justice system.
Kelly shared in an interview for CrimeReads: “Everything I write seems to come from a nugget of my Arkansas upbringing that I can’t shake…[like] the sounds of my favorite local radio DJ revealing the latest clue to the annual Hunt for Golden Egg once Easter rolled around. For some reason, this family-friendly event and associated clues filtered through my mind and ears as creepy. I never even went on a hunt. As always, I was in the background as an observer, so I could only imagine what it was like. For years, I’ve been noodling on how to write a story about that feeling I got. THE HUNT is the outcome of all that noodling.”
Acclaimed online personality and author Sara Divello shares her insights into writing “true crime fiction,” what it means, the challenges of capturing the essence of a story and being faithful to it while also telling it in an engaging way.
Sara DiVello is a true crime novelist and the creator/host of Mystery and Thriller Mavens, a popular interactive Facebook group. For her weekly Mystery and Thriller Mavens live events, she has interviewed more than 300 authors, ranging from the bestselling and world-renowned (Dean Koontz, Patricia Cornwell, Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Tamron Hall, Karin Slaughter, Ruth Ware, Lisa Unger, and many more) to the buzziest debuts.
While creative and active on her own social media platforms, DiVello also serves as the director of social media strategy for the International Thriller Writers association. Sara has appeared on CBS, ABC, and CNBC, as well as in the New York Times, Forbes, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more. Her articles have been published in Marie Claire, Elle, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and Woman’s Day, among others.
Join Steven James for a new episode of The Story Blender featuring Alice Hoffman.
As one of our country’s most distinguished novelist, Alice has written more than 30 novels, as well as short fiction that has appeared in more than 100 editions worldwide. Her newest novel THE INVISIBLE HOUR releases August 15.
Listen as we chat about the importance of fairytales, the power of storytelling to not only capture imagination but shape (and change) lives, and the incredible depths storytelling can take us to.
Join me as a chat with Taylor Adams, the acclaimed novelist of the latest book title as we talk about the dynamics and mechanics of writing twists (while keeping them believable and also surprising) without cheating and while satisfying readers in the process. His book NO EXIT is a Hulu movie and has been published in 32 languages. If you’re a writer, or you just love a good story and want to know why the twist works, check it out!
Alli Frank and Asha Youmans bring their very different cultural backgrounds and perspectives together to write in one seamless, cohesive voice, united in their belief that humor and fiction can inspire empathy and learning, and that exposure to diverse experiences can only enrich one’s life.
Alli Frank and Asha Youmans share a passion for telling stories that bring a smile to your face and bridge the gaps that lay between us. Listen in as they share insights into writing, storytelling, their approach to collaborating together for their novels. Their latest book, The Better Half is available now. Give this episode a listen for insights and laughs.
Recently I met up with Grammy-award-winning storyteller and family entertainer Bill Harley. We chat about the importance of rehearsing stories, of finding your voice, how to connect with an audience, and how to tap into your own personal experiences for poignant (and often funny!) stories to tell. Give it a listen and check out Bill’s storytelling at www.billharley.com.
Are you looking for exciting, adventurous stories for your kids or grandkids to read? Bryan Davis has written dozens of fantasy and science-fiction novels for teens and adults. His books feature unlikely heroes who must rise to the occasion using courage, hope, and tenacity. His books have sold over 700,000 copies and you’ll love hearing his insights in how he got started, why he’s not an outliner and the three novels he recommends everyone should read before they die…one of them for certain will surprise you! Give it a listen!
Megan Collins is the author of Thicker Than Water, The Family Plot, Behind the Red Door, and The Winter Sister. She taught creative writing for many years at both the high school and college level and is the managing editor of 3Elements Literary Review. She lives in Connecticut, where she obsesses over dogs, miniatures, and cake.
Listen as she and Steven James discuss how as writers they love being surprised at their character's decisions, book recommendations and more.
Listen as Steven James chats with Wendy Walker, acclaimed author of new novel psychological thriller, What Remains.
She talks about her journey as a writer, the importance of letting your characters deal believably with traumatic events. They discuss the psychological depth of characters, and giving them struggles readers can identify with.
On this week's episode of The Story Blender podcast, join me as I talk with Isabella Maldonado whose book "The Cipher" is based becoming a new Netflix series. Listen as we discuss the ins and outs of writing police procedurals and making them both believable and authentic and as well as original and thrilling.
We also discuss her latest book, A Killer’s Game.
thestoryblender #isabellamaldonado #readstevenjames #thriller
Listen to an encouraging conversation with Nicole Baart as she shares the inside scoop on her latest novel, THE LONG WAY BACK. We also discus her writing process (it may surprise you) and who inspired her to pursue the writing life. We talked the difference between suspense and mystery, how to create concern and curiosity in the minds of your readers and letting your stories reflect the struggles and questions your’e wrestling with in your own life. Her book is available now.
Don't miss this episode of The Story Blender #thestoryblender #nicolebaart #thelongwayback #readstevenjames
Listen in this week as I chat with critically- acclaimed novelist, Buzzy Jackson as we discuss her research about the incredible young woman featured in her new novel, To Die Beautiful.
Buzzy shares insights for anyone interested in writing, or reading historical novels as she spent 7 years crafting this story. From the importance of creating memorable characters, to the powerful themes that inhabit fiction and impact us every day. Buzzy shares hard-earned insights into the writing process.
Check it out!
Listen in to a powerful conversation with Tyler Merritt as we discuss the curse of being artistic, the importance of both passion and the pursuit of excellence, how Tyler fell in love with Bon Jovi, the power of telling (and listening to) stories, and the importance of viewing others as people of worth.
Tyler is the author of I Take My Coffee Black and his videos have been viewed more than 100 million times.
Give it a listen!
David Corbett is the author of seven novels, which have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar. His short fiction has twice been selected for Best American Mystery Stories, and a collaborative novel for which he contributed a chapter—Culprits—was adapted for TV by the producers of Killing Eve for Disney+ in the U.K. He’s also written the writing guides The Art of Character and The Compass of Character, and is a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.
www.davidcorbett.com
Meg Mitchell Moore released her debut novel, The Arrivals, in 2011 and her newest novel, her eighth, Summer Stage, releasing soon, is being called a “must-read” for the summer of 2023! (summer 2022), is her seventh. Before turning to fiction Meg worked as a freelance journalist for a variety of business and consumer magazines, where she often managed to pitch stories involving dogs. Before that she worked on the staff of a family of technology magazines.
Meg received a B.A. from Providence College and a master’s degree in English Literature from New York University.
In 2012 Meg, her husband, their daughters moved from Massachusetts to northern California. Despite California’s many charms, they lasted exactly one year and returned to the beautiful coastal town of Newburyport, Massachusetts, where their busy household now includes a golden retriever who is a certified therapy dog and three daughters who somehow turned into teenagers when nobody was looking.
Setting is an important aspect of her stories.
Damyanti’s Indian debut literary crime novel You Beneath Your Skin was an Amazon bestseller, and optioned for the screens by Endemol Shine.
Listen as Steven James interviews Indian author, Damyanti, Biswas, and they have an incisive conversation about writing, about the importance of both hubris and humility in the writing process, respecting your readers, trusting your characters, and being honest with your stories. Also, they talk traffic in Hyderabad India and capturing the essence and paradox of Mumbai for Damyanti's novel THE BLUE BAR, released January 2023. Check it out!
My guest his week on The Story Blender Podcast is MP Woodward, a veteran of both US intelligence ops and the entertainment industry. As a naval intelligence officer with the US Pacific Command, he scripted scenario moves and countermoves for US war game exercises in the Middle East. In multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf and Far East, he worked alongside US Special Forces, CIA, and NSA. Most recently, Woodward led international distribution for Amazon Prime Video and launched Amazon original content in more than forty countries. His new book DEAD DROP will be released May 23!
Bethany Jett is an author, as well as a literary agent and a book marketing expert. She co-founded Serious Writer, Inc. and recently completed an MFA in Communication. When she’s not writing or speaking at events nationwide, she reads reads suspense-novel, manages a busty household with three boys and consults on teh business of writing. Listen as talk agenting, marketing, pitching your book, what agents look for, the important of opening pages, hooks and promises… if you’ve ever wanted to have a conversation with an agent and not had the chance, this is your opportunity to listen in as we discuss the craft of writing and secrets to getting agent to read—and love—what you’v written. Check it out!
What an interesting conversation I had with Elle Marr, the author of the new tense, thriller, THE FAMILY BONES. We discussed the ideas of psychology to develop characterization what makes a psychopath, a psychopath, and the most terrifying moment that I personally ever had writing one of my novels.
Don Bentley is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Matt Drake series and two Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Jr. novels. Don spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot, and while deployed in Afghanistan, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with “V” for valor.
Following his time in the military, Don worked as an FBI special agent focusing on foreign intelligence and counterintelligence and was a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member.
Don lives with his family in Austin, Texas.
Vibhuti (“Vib”) Jain lives with her husband and daughter in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she works in international development. She began her career as a corporate lawyer in New York City. She holds degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. She grew up in Guilford, Connecticut.
Our Best Intentions is her first novel.
Steven James, host of The Story Blender, is a critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including the New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master’s degree in storytelling.
Bethany Jett is an author, as well as a literary agent and a book marketing expert. She co-founded Serious Writer, Inc. and recently completed an MFA in Communication. When she’s not writing or speaking at events nationwide, she reads suspense novels, manages a busy household with three boys and consults on the business of writing.
Kaleo Griffith was raised in the Hawaiian Islands and has been been performing since the age of 15. Griffith graduated cum laude from Franklin Pierce University with a B.A. in Theatre, holds an M.F.A. in Acting from Rutgers University, and is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has also lived, and trained classically in the United Kingdom through Roger Williams University. Recently Kaleo has been nominated for his second Audie for Tools of Titans written by Tim Ferriss. Griffith's voice work encompasses many TV/ Radio commercial campaigns and over 250 audiobooks. Griffith won an Audie for Lincoln In The Bardo (multicast) and has been honored by The Library Journal, and AudioFile Magazine with six "Earphone" Awards. He is the narrator for the audiobook of Steven James' newest novel, BROKER OF LIES.
Leopoldo Gout is a Mexican immigrant, award-winning producer and filmmaker, visual artist and author, who has written, packaged, published and developed books for more than a decade, both under his own name with several major publishers, and with other writers under his own imprint at Simon & Schuster: Leopoldo & Co. He was co-president of the James Patterson Entertainment company for many years; and he is currently producing award-winning author Marlon James’ original debut for television: GET MILLIE BLACK (Channel 4 & HBO).
Him and his brother, award-winning writer-director Everado Gout (Netflix's Kaleidoscope) are show-runners of AMERICAN JESUS, a Netflix / Mark Millar series. Leopoldo along with Radical Media won the Critics Choice Award for FILTHY RICH (Netflix), a documentary series on Netflix. He is the creator and writer of NO MAN’S LAND (Starz), and SPYMASTERS (Madison Welles Media). Gout is also developing a Pulitzer Prize finalist book IN THE DISTANCE into a film with the Larrain Brothers and he was the originating producer on the Oscar-nominated, MOLLY’S GAME, a project that he worked from book to screen.
Other producer credits include INSTINCT (CBS), ZOO (CBS), MIDDLE SCHOOL: The Worst Years of My (Participant Media and LIONSGATE) and Everardo Gout’s directorial debut DAYS OF GRACE which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and won over 20 awards internationally. He has a thriving art studio in NYC and lives there with his wife and two kids: a cat called Lola and a dog called Lupe.
Michael Sears' first novel, the best-seller BLACK FRIDAYS, a financial thriller with heart, took the Shamus award and was short-listed for the Edgar and three other major awards. MORTAL BONDS, the critically-acclaimed second novel in the Jason Stafford series, won the Silver Falchion at Killer Nashville. Continuing the series, LONG WAY DOWN, was described as "one of the best thrillers of 2015." SAVING JASON is the fourth in the series.
Tower of Babel begins a brand new series, exploring the world of Queens, NY -- its denizens, their tormentors, and their heroes.
Until 2005, Mr. Sears was a Managing Director for two different Wall Street firms, where he worked in the bond market for twenty years and, earlier, in foreign exchange and derivatives. Prior to returning to Columbia University for his MBA, he was, for eight years, a professional actor appearing at the Shakespeare Theatre of Washington (Folger Theatre), Playwright's Theater of Washington, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Comedy Stage Co., and, in the course of a single year, every soap opera shot in New York City.
He is married to the artist and poet, Barbara Segal. Together with the not-altogether-domesticated cat, Penelope, they live in Sea Cliff, NY, within sight of the towers of New York.
Eric Wilson is the author of over twenty books, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as five movie novelizations including Facing the Giants and Flywheel. His third novelization, Fireproof, earned him a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list for 13 weeks.
Eric has released two suspense novels with Bay Forest Books, One Step Away and Two Seconds Late.
His nonfiction includes Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson, released in 2014, as well as From Chains to Change, a memoir he co-wrote with Steven Allen Young, founder of Home Street Home Ministries. He is finishing Six Little Words: How One Simple Question Transformed Lives Around the World, as well as American Leftovers: Surviving Family, Religion, & the American Dream, a family memoir written with his younger sister and brother.
Wilson was born in California, but now lives in Nashville with his wife, songwriter Carolyn Rose. Together they have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
Stephanie Landsem writes historical fiction because she loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she’s explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she’s not writing, she’s feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.
Fonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic fantasy Green Bone Saga, consisting of Jade City, Jade War, and Jade Legacy. She is also the author of the acclaimed young adult science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo, and Cross Fire. Fonda is a winner of the Locus Award, a four-time winner of the Aurora Award, and a finalist for the Nebula Award and Hugo Award. The Green Bone Saga has been translated into a dozen languages and named to TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. A black belt martial artist and former corporate strategist, she resides in the Pacific Northwest.
Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the podcast Morbid. As an autopsy technician by trade, paired with her degrees in Criminal Justice, Psychology and Biology, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue. Alaina hails from Boston where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost puggle named “Bailey.” She is about 75% coffee and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends. In September 2022, Urquhart published her first ever novel, the psychological thriller, The Butcher and The Wren.
Carolyn Korsmeyer is both a novelist and a philosopher. She is especially interested in how the senses and emotions are engaged by works of art, themes prominent in three of her philosophy books: Things: In Touch with the Past, Savoring Disgust: The Foul and the Fair in Aesthetics, and Making Sense of Taste: Food and Philosophy. She is keen to explore the ways that fiction can revive lives from long ago by engaging the reader in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the past. Her first novel, Charlotte's Story, imagines the life that Charlotte Lucas (of Pride and Prejudice) might have had after her hasty marriage. Little Follies is her second novel.
Dolores Hydock is an actress and story performer whose work has been featured at a variety of concerts, festivals, and special events throughout the U.S. She has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, has been Teller-in-Residence at Jonesborough’s International Storytelling Center, and her twelve CDs of original stories have all received Resource Awards from Storytelling World Magazine. Dolores studied for her master’s degree in storytelling back in the 90s… with me. And I knew even then that she was destined to be an acclaimed storytelling performer in the years to come.
Maureen Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Stevie Bell YA mystery, Nine Liars, as well as more than a dozen young adult novels, including the Truly Devious series, the Shades of London series, Suite Scarlett, and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Her books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and have been published in more than thirty countries. She grew up in Philadelphia, graduated from the University of Delaware and has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University. She lives in New York City.
Gregg Hurwitz is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of 23 thrillers, including the ORPHAN X series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in 33 languages. Gregg currently serves as the Co-President of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Additionally, he’s written screenplays and television scripts for many major studios and networks, comics for DC and Marvel, poetry, and political and culture pieces for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and many more publications.
Brad Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), is a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, popularly known as Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedomand Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as classified operations around the globe. His final military post was as assistant professor of military science at The Citadel. Brad has written sixteen New York Times bestsellers and is a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, SC with his wife and two daughters.
Janice Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office, and Department for International Development. Her enthusiasm for travel has taken her around the world several times, from Madagascar to the Galapagos, Guatemala to Zimbabwe, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. A playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and cowrote the feature film Retreat. She lives in London and is the author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code.
Jaime Jo Wright is the author of eight novels, including Christy Award and Daphne Du Maurier award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat, her husband, and their two children.
Edward Zuckerman began his career as a journalist, writing about zombies, killer bees, talking apes and other subjects for Rolling Stone, Spy, the New Yorker, Harper’s, Esquire, and many other magazines. He wrote two well-reviewed nonfiction books, The Day After World War III and Small Fortunes, and then moved into writing for television dramas, including “Law & Order” (50+ episodes), “Blue Bloods,” and “Law & Order: SVU.” He has won two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America and an Emmy for his work on “Law & Order.” He lives in Manhattan and Manhattan Beach, California. Wealth Management is his first novel.
Jamie Mason was born in Oklahoma City and grew up all over the Washington, DC area. She’s most often reading and writing, but in the life left over, she enjoys films, Formula 1 racing, football, traveling, and, conversely, staying at home. Jamie lives with her husband and two daughters in the mountains of western North Carolina. She writes more whydunnits than whodunnits because the why in stories is her favorite part, and she is the author of Three Graves Full, Monday’s Lie, and The Hidden Things.
Cindy Callaghan is an award-winning middle-grade writer best known for Just Add Magic, which was developed into an Emmy-nominated Amazon original series now distributed world-wide via Nickelodeon. Her book Saltwater Secrets, which is pitched as “Big Little Lies for tweens,” has been acquired by a major studio. In addition to those, she has five well-loved “Lost in…” books, Sydney Mackenzie Knocks ‘Em Dead, The Girl Who Ruined Christmas, and My Big Heart-Shaped Fail. Her niche, if you haven’t guessed, is middle-grade. Cindy is unique in that she straddles the book and screen worlds. In addition to her published novels, she has a broad portfolio of screen projects ranging from 6-11 animation through YA.
Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels, including SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX, LAST GIRL GHOSTED, and CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45—now in development at Netflix, starring Jessica Alba. With books published in thirty-two languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense. Her critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, and many more. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few authors, including Agatha Christie. Lisa is the current co-president of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
James Patterson is the world’s best-selling author. He has written some of the most popular series of the past two decades - Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett and Private novels – and many other #1 bestsellers, including romance novels and standalone thrillers.
James is passionate about encouraging children to read. Inspired by his own son who was a reluctant reader, he also writes a range of books for young readers. He is also a strong advocate of booksellers and has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops. For his championship of literacy in America, James was awarded the 2019 National Humanities Medal. Among his many other honors, he is the recipient of an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America, and nine Emmy Awards. He lives in Florida with his family.
Yasmin Angoe is the Anthony-nominated and first generation Ghanaian American author of the critically acclaimed Her Name Is Knight and the second of the series, They Come At Knight. She is the recipient of the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award from Sisters in Crime. Reviews of her work can be found in the New York Times, Kirkus, and Publisher’s Weekly, to name a few, and was listed as Amazon’s “Best Book of the Month” and “Editor’s Pick.” They have also appeared in outlets such as Oprah Daily, PopSugar, Women’s World, and The Guardian.
Join me for an engaging discussion with award-winning novelist Carol Van Den Hende as we discuss her latest book, Orchid Blooming, and explore the dynamics of a well-told story, humility, humanity, and why you should be the tiger.
Returning guest Adam Hamdy is a Sunday Times, Kindle, and international bestselling author and screenwriter.
Adam writes the Scott Pearce series of contemporary espionage thrillers and has written two books with James Patterson, Private Moscow and Private Rogue. He is also the author of the Pendulum trilogy, a trilogy of conspiracy thriller novels. Patterson described Pendulum as "one of the best thrillers of the year," and the novel was a finalist for the Glass Bell Award for contemporary fiction. Pendulum was chosen as book of the month by Goldsboro Books and was selected for BBC Radio 2 Book Club.
Prior to embarking on his writing career, Adam was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in the medical systems, robotics, technology, and financial services sectors.
Dive into the world of science-based thrillers with international bestselling author Mark Alpert. As a former editor at Scientific American, Mark weaves together the curiosity of a scientist with the wordsmithing of a poet. Get a glimpse of his process as he asks “what if” and watches the stories unfold.
Listen in as I chat with critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling novelist William Kent Krueger, who writes intriguing mysteries that occur in the north woods of Minnesota. He shares how place leads to character, finding the stories that have found you, and getting to know your characters over time. He also explains how his latest book, Fox Creek, ties in with his other novels in a somewhat surprising way.
DP Lyle has consulted with some of the top crime shows in Hollywood, written extensively on forensics investigations, and is a stellar novelist, bringing his medical and technical expertise to the page. Join us as we discuss getting away with murder and writing mysteries that will snag and engage readers.
John Galligan is the author of many books including a standalone novel, Red Sky, Red Dragonfly, the Fly Fishing Mystery Series, and the Bad Axe County Series, which includes Bad Moon Rising, Dead Man Dancing, and his latest at the time of this interview, Bad Day Breaking. When he's not writing, John teaches college writing in Madison, Wisconsin.
Julie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST FLIGHT, which earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. The New York Times called it “thoroughly absorbing” and it was named an Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads Pick, and a Best Book of 2020 by Amazon Editors and Apple Books. Her debut, THE ONES WE CHOOSE, was published in 2018 and has been optioned for television by Lionsgate. Her latest book, THE LIES I TELL, releases in 2023.
Julie lives in Los Angeles with her two sons and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.
Kevin Maurer is an award-winning journalist and the three-time New York Times bestselling co-author of No Easy Day, No Hero, and American Radical, among others. For the last eleven years, Maurer has also worked as a freelance writer covering war, politics, and general interest stories. His writing has been published in GQ, Men's Journal, The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, and numerous other publications.
Tom Morrisey is deeply in demand as one of the world’s top speechwriters and executive-engagement specialists. A speaker on writing and storytelling on both sides of the Atlantic, he has worked with leading executives from Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and The Walt Disney Company, and frequently writes articles and papers in the areas of executive engagement and coaching. He currently works in public affairs management for The Walt Disney Company, where he mentors speechwriters and storytellers on three continents.
Tom holds a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from The University of Toledo as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction from the world-renowned Creative Writing program at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. When not writing speeches, he pens thrillers and literary fiction.
Samantha Bailey has been called the Queen of the Domestic Thrillers. She is the USA TODAY and #1 national bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, her psychological thriller debut that received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was a PW Best Books Pick of the Week.
In addition to her writing, Samantha also works as a journalist and freelance editor; her work has appeared in NOW Magazine, The Village Post, The Thrill Begins, and The Crime Hub, as well as other publications. Samantha lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.
Meg Gardiner is the author of fifteen acclaimed, award-winning novels. Her thrillers have been bestsellers both in the U.S. and internationally and have been translated into more than twenty languages. China Lake won an Edgar Award and UNSUB, the first in her acclaimed UNSUB Series, won a Barry Award. Her third UNSUB novel, The Dark Corners of the Night, has been bought by Amazon Studios for development as a television series.
In addition to her writing, Meg is a former lawyer, three-time Jeopardy! champion, and two-time president of Mystery Writers of America.
Meg's latest release is Heat 2, co-written with 4x Oscar-nominated writer-director Michael Mann.
Landon Beach’s book Narrator has been described as “Misery meets Gone Girl” and he worked closely with Scott Brick, the audiobook’s narrator, to blur the lines between the fictional world and the real one to deliver a story readers won’t soon forget. This lively discussion will take you into the sound booth as you learn the inside scoop behind this unique collaboration.
Alex Finlay is the author of the 2021 breakout novel, Every Last Fear, and one of Goodread’s most popular books of 2022, The Night Shift. His work has been an Indie Next pick, a LibraryReads selection, an Amazon Editor’s Best Thriller, as well as a CNN, Newsweek, E!, BuzzFeed, Business Week, Goodreads, Parade, PopSugar, and Reader’s Digest best or most anticipated thrillers of the year. Alex’s novels have been translated into seventeen languages, and Every Last Fear is in development for a major television series.
Lisa Phillips is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London. She is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author who is releasing her 61st book this fall. In this interview on The Story Blender, she shares her strategy for publishing and writing, how she deals with upcoming deadlines, and her thoughts on character arcs. If you like romantic suspense, especially inspirational suspense, check it out!
Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers, artists and other creatives to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. Gabriela earned her MFA in writing from The New School and speaks at college campuses and national conferences. She is also the host of DIY MFA Radio, a popular podcast where she interviews bestselling authors and book industry professionals and author of the book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community.
A special episode to celebrate Be A Kid Again Day.
Remember to tell a story, listen to one, imagine the impossible… and maybe even venture out for a little game in the twilight.
Listen in as famed writing instructor, NY literary agent, and best-selling author Donald Maass unpacks some of the secrets to best-selling novels, the important of an emotional journey (for the reader!) and why you should not follow storytelling or literary trends. While you listen, check out his latest book on the craft of writing, The Emotional Craft of Fiction. Grab a cup of coffee, settle back, and click play.
After spending half her life living in diverse cultures throughout the world, Nova McBee spent seven years studying writing before penning her first Young Adult novel, CALCULATED, which is now in development for film. In this interview she shares her passion for complex stories, the importance of fractals, and how to write young adult novels that also appeal to 80-year-olds! You’ll also be amazed to find out how many times she reads through her books while editing them.
John Gilstrap’s first novel, Nathan’s Run, hit the market in 1996 and set the literary world on fire. Publication rights sold in 23 countries, the movie rights were scooped up at auction by Warner Brothers, and John changed professions. A safety engineer by training and education, he specialized in explosives and hazardous materials, and also served 15 years in the fire and rescue service, rising to the rank of lieutenant. That “first” book was really his fourth, and that one call from an agent (after logging 27 rejections) changed the trajectory of his life. Twenty books and seven movie projects later, it’s been a good run, and it’s still running. John has spoken at events across the country and his YouTube channel, “A Writer’s View of Writing and Publishing” has thousands of subscribers and more are coming aboard every day.
Danielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of Chasing Darkness, the Rookie Club series, and Exhume, Excise, Expose, and Expire featuring San Francisco medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman. Girard’s books have won the Barry Award and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and two of her titles have been optioned for movies. A graduate of Cornell University, Girard received her MFA at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She, her husband, and their two children split their time between San Francisco and the northern Rockies. Far Gone, book two of her Badlands Thriller Series, is available now.
Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of seven novels. She’s mostly known for historical horror, including her latest The Fervor (Putnam), and The Hunger, which was recently named by Esquire as one of the top 50 horror novels of all time. She’s also written Red Widow, her first spy novel. She drew on 30+ years in intelligence with CIA and NSA to write this book, which was named a NYT Editors Choice and is in development for a TV series. She lives in the greater Washington DC area.
Comedian Bob Smiley has been doing standup for over 20 years all over the United States and Arkansas. He’s written three books for Focus on the Family in the series he created called “The Adventure’s of Average Boy.” The books, as well as his “The Average Boy Podcast” is aimed at making kids laugh while encouraging them to be the best God created them to be. Bob is also very good at mowing and has a massive hotel shampoo collection.
Kim Weitkamp is an award-winning storyteller, author, singer-songwriter, and humorist. Kim used applied storytelling in her work with adjudicated and at-risk youth for 12 years and now tours full-time and performs regularly at festivals and theaters around the country. She has been a guest editor and contributor for various publications and her material gets regular airplay on Sirius XM and NPR Affiliate Stations. In addition, she has recorded 8 award-winning albums and hosted a morning show for a DOVE Award-winning radio network. Kim has been honored with leadership awards for her coaching and speaking work with internationally known companies like Purina and Edward Jones, as well as nationally recognized nonprofits like Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, and Conflict Resolution Centers.
Annette Simmons is the CEO of Group Process Consulting and author of five books, including her bestselling book The Story Factor, which was named as one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. She has been featured on CNBC’s Power Lunch, NPR’s Market Watch, and on numerous talk radio programs. In this episode, she unpacks the six stories we all need to be able to tell as we share our messages or pass along our values.
Artem Mushin-Makedonskiy is a worldwide leader on using storytelling in organizations and has been studying the field for years, sharing his insights with others. Artem consults on the topics of communication and leadership and is the founder of the Academy Historia, which is dedicated to excellence in communication and storytelling. He also serves as a board member of the Storytelling In Organizations international group and is planning an upcoming international conference called Storyify Your Culture on May 18-20.
Some authors have lived incredible adventures that they can tap into in the stories they tell. That’s certainly true of this week’s guest. First, Don Bentley spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot. Then, as a decorated war hero, he spent time as an FBI Special Agent, SWAT member, and security consultant for the U.S. Special Operations Community. These days, Don writes riveting action stories that will take your breath away. On this week’s show he shares some of his inspiration for the thrillers he writes and gives us an inside scoop on his latest release, HOSTILE INTENT.
Over the last few weeks I've had the honor of working with the creative writing students at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee as an author in residence. We explored the elements of all great stories, how to write organically (without an outline), and how to critique each other’s work. So, this week on The Story Blender, I decided to take a break from interviewing other storytellers or authors and give the students a chance to share their stories. So, sit back and enjoy some entertaining (and frightening!) stories inspired by the simple prompt: Earth Day.
This is Part 2 of 2.
(We’ll be back next week with an interview with NYT Bestselling author and former FBI agent, Don Bentley.)
Over the last few weeks I've had the honor of working with the creative writing students at Elizabethton High School in Tennessee as an author in residence. We explored the elements of all great stories, how to write organically (without an outline), and how to critique each other’s work. So, this week on The Story Blender, I decided to take a break from interviewing other storytellers or authors and give the students a chance to share their stories. So, sit back and enjoy some entertaining (and frightening!) stories inspired by the simple prompt: Earth Day.
This is Part 1 of 2.
(We’ll be back next week with an interview with NYT Bestselling author and former FBI agent, Don Bentley.)
Carol LaChapelle is a writer, teacher, and the author of Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories from Marion Street Press. She received her B.A. in Psychology in 1971) and M.A. in English in 1988 from the University of Illinois/Chicago. From 1986-2011, she was adjunct faculty in writing at UIC, DePaul University, North Park University, and Truman College. She has been teaching workshops for adults in memoir writing and journal writing since 1990.
Beginning in 1992, Carol’s essays and articles have appeared in a variety of publications, both in print and online. These include Notre Dame Magazine, Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical Literary Messenger, and nextavenue.org. She is currently at work on her second book, a memoir.
Carter Wilson is a USA Today bestselling author who has written eight critically acclaimed standalone psychological thrillers as well as numerous short stories. He is an ITW Thriller Award finalist, a four-time winner of the Colorado Book Award, and his works have been optioned for television and film.
Carter lives in Erie, Colorado in a Victorian house that is spooky but isn’t haunted.
…yet.
Eva Marie Everson is a multiple-award winning author and speaker who hails from the picturesque Southern town of Sylvania, Georgia. She is president of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She enjoys coaching new authors through her company, Pen in Hand. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida and are the parents of three fabulous children who have blessed them with the world’s greatest grandchildren.
Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who co-wrote the award-winning German language courtroom thriller After the Truth with his wife, Kathy Riley. The Rileys have written scripts for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, the late Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions.
Christopher produced the independent action-thriller Red Line and executive produced the web series Bump+. He is the author of the classic screenplay format guide The Hollywood Standard, now in its third edition, and teaches screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His latest book, which he co-wrote with his wife Kathy, is “The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters.”
Eric Wilson is the author of over twenty books, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as five movie novelizations including Facing the Giants and Flywheel. His third novelization, Fireproof, earned him a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list for 13 weeks.
Eric has released two suspense novels with Bay Forest Books, One Step Away and Two Seconds Late. His nonfiction includes Taming the Beast: The Untold Story of Team Tyson, released in 2014, as well as From Chains to Change, a memoir he co-wrote with Steven Allen Young, founder of Home Street Home Ministries. He is finishing Six Little Words: How One Simple Question Transformed Lives Around the World, as well as American Leftovers: Surviving Family, Religion, & the American Dream, a family memoir written with his younger sister and brother.
Eric was born in California, but now lives in Nashville with his wife, songwriter Carolyn Rose. Together they have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
Will Storr is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in the Guardian, Sunday Times, New Yorker, and The New York Times. He is the author of five critically acclaimed books, including the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His latest release is The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It.
Playwright and debut novelist Jennifer Fawcett grew up in rural Eastern Ontario and spent many years in Canada making theatre before coming to the United States. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. Her work has been published in Third Coast Magazine, Reunion: The Dallas Review, Storybrink, and in the anthology Long Story Short. She teaches writing at Skidmore College and lives in upstate New York with her husband and son.
New York Times bestselling novelist Kate Elliott has been making up stories about escape into worlds of adventure and transformative change since she was a child growing up in rural Oregon. In this conversation, we talk fantasy, world building, and her latest book SERVANT MAGE. (Plus what outrigger canoes can teach you about characterization in fantasy stories!)
Jonathan Gottschall is a distinguished research fellow in the English Department at Washington & Jefferson College and is the author of The Storytelling Animal, a New York TimesEditor's Choice and finality for the LA Times Book Prize, and The Professor in the Cage, one of the Boston Globe's Best Books of the year, as well as his latest release, The Story Paradox. He has written for or been covered in the New York Times, Scientific American, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and The Millions. Gottschall has also appeared on popular podcasts like Star Talk, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Radiolab. He lives in Pennsylvania.
David Novak is Artistic Director of A Telling Experience, telling stories to enrich discourse, entertain imagination, engage emotion, and discover our common ground. He has been described as a “master of literary collage” for his unique narrative style. David is an internationally touring storyteller and veteran of the National Storytelling Festival as well as a recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network. He keynotes for numerous library and educational conferences, including the Sydney International Storytelling Conference, Czech Children’s Theatre Festival, and American Alliance for Theatre in Education. David lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Having grown up within a rich storytelling tradition of hearing traditional ballads and stories, Jess Montgomery found herself pursuing writing at an early age. Now, as a historical mystery author, she pens stories that feature strong female leads and deep universal themes. Listen in as she shares her thoughts about character arcs, inviting the Muse in, and the important of “not thinking about the gold.”
Tony Marr has a master’s degree in storytelling and has won numerous awards for storytelling and well, for lying, being a championship liar from the state of South Carolina numerous times. He has performed throughout the country and consulted with many businesses on storytelling and communication.
Jeff Ayers has been a freelance writer and reviewer since 1999. He has reviewed for Library Journal, where he is a former Fiction Reviewer of the Year, for Booklist, and for The Associated Press.
Jeff recently retired from his reference librarian position after almost 30 years after interviewing hundreds of authors in print, audio, and video, including James Patterson, Harlan Coben, and Dan Brown. In addition to this and moderating panels at BookExpo America, ThrillerFest, and various other conferences, he has published several titles in both fiction and nonfiction, including Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion, where he covered over 550 novels and interviewed over 350 people, including William Shatner. He currently has several manuscripts out for submission and is under contract for a nonfiction book for Grand Central Publishing.
Jeff is a Co-Executive Director of ThrillerFest, the annual conference for the International Thriller Writers.
Catriona Ward was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. She studied English at the University of Oxford and later completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University of East Anglia. Ward is a multi-award winning horror writer who won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, Rawblood, and again for Little Eve, making her the first woman to win the prize twice. She is also the author of the highly acclaimed novel The Last House on Needless Street, which was a runaway international bestseller and is currently in development for film. In addition, her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. She lives in London and Devon.
A former journalist, Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award-winning author of numerous cozy and historical mysteries and was president of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Her Mas Arai series, which includes Summer of the Big Bachi, won the Chicago Tribune’s Ten Best Mysteries and Thrillers and Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Book of the Year. She is an active member of the Japanese-American community in California as well as an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Crime Writers of Color!
Born Iain Middleton in Falkirk, Scotland, Euan Morton has been acting on stage since childhood and continued to work in theatre after graduating from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. His breakthrough role was that of Boy George in the 2002 West End production of George’s autobiographical musical “Taboo,” for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. In 2003, the musical moved to Broadway and Morton went on to win Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Award nominations. Other theatre credits include musicals such as “Sondheim on Sondheim,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Chess,” “Parade” (for which he won a Helen Hayes Award), “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” and “Hamilton,” in which he currently plays King George III. In addition to his work in theatre, he has read a number of audiobooks, voiced the male Sith Inquisitor in the MMO game Star Wars: The Old Republic, and released two musical albums. Morton has been married to theatre producer Lee Armitage since 2004. The couple’s son is theatre critic and actor Iain Armitage.
Brian Bird is the co-creator and has served as show runner and executive producer for nine seasons of the top-rated scripted cable show, WHEN CALLS THE HEART. His 30-plus years as a writer and producer feature more than two dozen feature films and documentaries, including the Paramount feature film Captive and more than 350 network television episodes from shows such as TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, STEP BY STEP, and EVENING SHADE.
Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author who is rarely found without a coffee in hand and is rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens (and also enhanced her love of coffee!). Nowadays she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own.
Windell Campbell taught school for 41 years and was selected as Teacher of the Year. As a storyteller, he has performed at hundreds of summer reading program events and at storytelling festivals throughout the south, as well as been featured at prestigious conferences and events in Florida. He also appeared at the Exchange Place at the eNational Storytelling Festival. His storytelling shows reach both children and adults with their memorable tales, including the expert use of puppets.
Michael Koryta is the best-selling and award winning author of sixteen crime thrillers and writes horror fiction under the pseudonym Scott Carson. Prior to becoming a novelist, he worked as a private investigator and newspaper reporter. His latest Carson novel is Where They Wait.
Kelley McNeil worked in the entertainment industry promoting concert tours and theatrical events for more than a decade before turning her attention to writing. She loves telling stories with a good pen and good music on hand, often with her two daughters bopping along nearby. She’s a native of Pittsburgh, but you can find Kelley living in South Florida most of the time and in London the rest of the time.
Her latest novel, A Day Like This, reached #1 as an Amazon Bestseller in numerous categories, including magical realism.
Neal Marshall Stevens has been working in the entertainment industry for over three decades, writing, producing and working as a story editor for more than 50 produced motion pictures. He has also worked on several recent web series including Trophy Heads and Ravenwolf Towers. His screenplay “Deader” was produced by Dimension Pictures as Hellraiser: Deader and he wrote the screenplay for Dark Castle’s remake of Thirteen Ghosts.
In addition to his work as a screenwriter, Neal has been teaching for the last 8 years for Script University and works as an associate professor in graduate-level screenwriting courses.
From the Story Vault: Bestselling author Katia Lief shares her thoughts on story craft and idea germination as she discusses her thriller A Map of the Dark, which she wrote under the pen name Karen Ellis. Learn techniques to improve your novel or short story, no matter what stage you’re in.
John Yorke is Managing Director of both Angel Station and John Yorke Story, where he works as a drama producer, consultant, and lecturer on all forms of storytelling. A former MD of Company Pictures where he executive produced Wolf Hall, he’s worked as both Head of Channel Four Drama and Controller of BBC Drama Production. As a commissioning editor slash executive producer, he championed huge British hits such as Life On Mars, The Street, Shameless, and Bodies. In 2005 he created the BBC Writers Academy, a year-long in-depth training scheme that has produced a generation of successful television writers, many who have gone on to have their own shows.
The author of INTO THE WOODS, the biggest-selling screenwriting book in the UK for the last six years, John is a double BAFTA winner (as programme maker) and multi BAFTA winner (as commissioner). He consults on narrative across all broadcasting platforms and is also Visiting Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He lives in London but works as a story consultant worldwide.
Irene Hannon is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than sixty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. She is also a three-time winner of the RITA award—the “Oscar” of romance fiction—from Romance Writers of America and is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. Her many other awards include National Readers’ Choice, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers’ Choice, Booksellers’ Best, Carol, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews magazine, which also honored her with a Career Achievement award for her entire body of work. In addition, she is a two time Christy award finalist. Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages. Irene, who holds a BA in psychology and an MA in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full-time. She and her husband make their home in Missouri.
Allie Esiri is a #1 children’s poetry author who has written numerous books, including one that was recommended reading for the U.K.'s National Poetry Day on October 7th, 2021. Her books have sold over 250,000 copies in hardback and been featured in the top five poetry titles in England every year since 2016. In addition to her writing, she also promotes live poetry performances and has served as a judge for numerous poetry competitions. She is an accomplished curator and host of live poetry events that have featured some of England’s best-known actors - from Helena Bonham Carter to Dominic West - at the National Theatre, the Bridge Theatre, and a number of major literary festivals. Allie lives in London with her husband and three children.
Jessica Strawser is editor-at-large for Writer’s Digest, where during her decade as editorial director she became known for in-depth interviews with such talents as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She is the author of the book club favorites Almost Missed You, Not That I Could Tell - a Book of the Month bestseller - Forget You Know Me, and A Million Reasons Why, which was named to Most Anticipated lists from Goodreads, SheReads, Frolic, and E! News ahead of its March 2021 release. In addition to her novels, she has written for The New York Times, Modern Love, and Publishers Weekly, and is a popular speaker at writing conferences nationwide. Her fifth novel, The Next Thing You Know, is coming March 2022. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati.
Robert Dugoni is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. In addition to being a two-time finalist for the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award, Robert is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for Best Novel Set in the Pacific Northwest. His narration of his novel The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell won an AudioFile Earphones Award, and several of his novels have also been optioned for movies and television series. Robert's latest book, The World Played Chess, released on September 14, 2021.
John Long is one of the world’s top adventure writers and storytellers as well as a legendary rock climber. He’s written more than a dozen books on climbing and penned numerous stories for magazines and other publications. With more than 3 million books in print, he has a knack for not just spinning a yarn but also moving readers with his poignant and thrilling adventures. His most recent book, Icarus Syndrome, is a collection of autobiographical short stories and released in the first half of 2021.
Kevin Kling is an author and storyteller extraordinaire who is best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" and storytelling stage shows such as "Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log." Kevin has been awarded numerous arts grants and fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, The Minnesota State Arts Board, and many more. In addition to traveling around the globe telling stories and teaching residencies, he has released a number of compact disc collections of his stories and published five books, including On Stage with Kevin Kling.
David Corbett worked as a private investigator for fifteen years and played an integral role in a number of high-profile criminal litigations including the Cotton Club Murder Case and the People’s Temple Trial. In the 1990s he pivoted to writing, receiving critical acclaim for both his novels and short stories. In addition to his fiction, he has written two books on the craft of writing - The Art of Character and The Compass of Character - both of which are widely used by authors and screenwriters in shaping powerful stories and creating memorable and iconic characters. David also teaches at events nationwide, coaching authors on the subtleties of writing.
Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. Her books have sold over two million copies. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Education, both from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and a Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.
Tiffany Yates Martin has spent nearly thirty years as an editor in the publishing industry, working with major publishers and New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors as well as indie and new writers. She is the founder of FoxPrint Editorial and author of the bestseller IntuitiveEditing: A Creative and Practical Guide to Revising Your Writing. Under the pen name Phoebe Fox, she's also the author of six novels including the upcoming The Way We Weren't (Berkley).
From the Story Vault: Veteran Hollywood executive Steve LaRue has worked at Paramount, NBC/Universal and 20th Century Fox where he championed such series as Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Ally McBeal, and Farscape. He gives invaluable insights on pitches, passion, and how to break into the industry.
Margot Leitman is an award-winning storyteller, best-selling author, speaker, and teacher who has taught and performed all over the world. A leading expert in the growing field of storytelling, she has written two books on the subject and has also written for NBC, DreamWorks TV, the Hallmark Channel, the PixL Network, and a variety of print and online sources. Additionally, she is a five-time winner of The Moth StorySLAM and was the Moth GrandSLAM winner in New York City, achieving the series’ first ever score of a perfect 10.
In her spare time, Margot is an amateur baker, avid yogi, and devoted bibliophile. A proud graduate of the Ithaca College Theatre Department, she currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Angela Ruth Strong is a romance writer who gave up writing romance novels after her husband left her. Ten years later, she has returned to the realm of romance and is writing books to inspire readers to find deeper meaning and purpose in their lives. Her novels have been chosen for Top Picks in Romantic Times and have won numerous awards. She started IDAhope Writers to help teach and encourage aspiring authors, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK. A movie based on her book Finding Love in Big Sky just finished filming in Montana.
Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of over a dozen novels, which have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.
In addition to his work as the humor columnist for Seasons Magazine and a columnist for Slate Magazine, Matthew is a 7-time Moth Grand SLAM Winner and 53-time Moth Story SLAM champion as well as the co-founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces sold-out shows throughout New England.
When not hunched over a computer screen, Matthew fills his days as an elementary school teacher, a storyteller, a speaking coach, a blogger, a wedding DJ, a minister, and a life coach. He has been teaching for 21 years and is a former West Hartford Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year.
Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author who has over a half dozen speculative novels in print as well as a novella, several short stories, and a non-fiction book called FoxTales.
Kerry’s novel A Star Curiously Singing won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe. It is often mentioned on “Best of” lists. Among his writings, his most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space, which was mentioned on The Tonight Show and in the Washington Post, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Newsweek called it “a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare.”
Kerry is a refugee of the software industry who spent more than a decade of his life flipping bits, first as one of the principal developers for the now mythical Fox Software and then at Microsoft. He is a husband, a father, a technophile, and a movie buff.
Bella Mahaya Carter is a creative writing teacher, empowerment coach, speaker, and the author of an award-winning memoir, Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy as well as a collection of narrative poems. She has worked with hundreds of writers since 2008 and has degrees in literature, film, and spiritual psychology. Her poetry, essays, fiction, and interviews have appeared in Mind, Body, Green; The Sun; Lilith; Fearless Soul; Writer’s Bone; Women Writers, Women’s Books; Chic Vegan; Bad Yogi Magazine; and several anthologies, among other works.
John Galligan is the author of three books in the Heidi Kick mystery series: DEAD MAN DANCING, BAD AXE COUNTY, and the newest installment, BAD MOON RISING, as well as five other novels. In addition to his fiction writing, he has also worked as an award-winning journalist, a feature-film screenwriter, a house painter, an au pair, an ESL teacher, a cab driver, and a freezer boy in a salmon cannery. He teaches writing at Madison College, where his experience is enriched by students from every corner of the world.
A native of Madison, Wisconsin, John is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and a masters in English Literature.
Dean Koontz is an international bestselling author whose novels have risen to number one on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list, making him one of only a dozen writers ever to have achieved that milestone. His books are published in 38 languages and he has sold over 500 million copies.
The New York Times has called his writing “psychologically complex, masterly and satisfying” and Rolling Stone has hailed him as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” His latest collection of stories, entitled /Nameless Season Two/, is available now on Amazon and is sure to both delight his current fans and attract new ones.
Dean lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna.
Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson are the writing team behind the #1 bestselling Tier One series. Brian is a nuclear engineer who served as an officer on a fast-attack submarine and Jeff is a trauma vascular surgeon who conducted combat operations with an East Coast-based SEAL team. Along with their newest book, SONS OF VALOR, their other novels include the Shepherds series and installments in W.E.B. Griffin’s Presidential Agent series.
Don Bentley spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot during which time he was stationed in South Korea, Germany, and Texas. While deployed to Afghanistan as a Troop Commander in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Don was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with “V” device for valor. Following his time in the military, Don worked as an FBI Special Agent and was a member of the Dallas Office SWAT team.
Since leaving the FBI, Don has worked for a number of companies that develop technology for the U.S. Special Operations Community. He holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Ohio State University, and an M.F.A in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Don is the author of the Matt Drake thriller series including WITHOUT SANCTION, THE OUTSIDE MAN, and two forth coming titles, as well as TARGET ACQUIRED, a Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Jr. novel.
Lisa Cron is a story coach, speaker, and the author of Wired for Story, Story Genius, and Story or Die. She has previously worked as a literary agent, a television producer, and a story consultant for Warner Brothers and The William Morris Agency, among others, and has served on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts MFA program in visual narrative. Since 2006, she has also taught in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
Lisa lives in Santa Monica, California and currently advises writers, nonprofits, educators, and journalists on the art and craft of story.
From the Story Vault: McNair Wilson is an actor, author, and former Disney Imagineer who came up with the idea for the Tower of Terror. He has spoken countless times and performed in 33 countries. His insights will inspire you in whatever project you might be working on.
From the Story Vault: Paul Leyden is a multi-talented Australian actor, producer, and screenwriter with dozens of film and television credits. In this episode of The Story Blender, he discusses his twisty indie horror flick Come Back To Me and unpacks his writing process, offering advice for those hoping to break into the film industry.
Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Together, they are the bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, The Last Time I Saw You, The Wife Stalker, and The Stranger in the Mirror (coming July 2021). Their critically acclaimed books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Lynne and Valerie are national and international bestselling authors and their books have been translated into 28 languages, are available in 33 countries, and are in development for both television and film.
Zena Dell Lowe has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer, director, actress, and story consultant. She has won numerous awards for her work as a writer, and she also has several feature film projects in development through her independent production company, Mission Ranch Films. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Zena hosts “The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe,” a podcast designed to serve the whole artist, not just to focus on craft.
In 2021, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission Online Platform, where she offers advanced classes and other key services to writers. Zena loves story and supporting storytellers. Her passion is to equip artists of all levels to achieve excellence at their craft, so that they will truly have everything they need to change the world for the better through story.
From the Story Vault: Carolyn Wheat is a former criminal defense lawyer whose Cass Jameson mysteries take the reader into the gritty world of Brooklyn night court. Two of the books were nominated for Edgar awards. She is also the author of numerous short stories which have won her an Agatha, an Anthony, a Shamus, and a Macavity award. Her book How to Write Killer Fiction is a must-read for anyone writing a mystery or suspense novel. She teaches writing at UCSD Extension and conducts writing workshops.
Simon Gervais was born in Montréal, Québec, and joined the Canadian military as an infantry officer, later commissioning as a second lieutenant. During his time in the military, Simon received extensive training in advanced reconnaissance and small-unit tactics. In 2001, he became a federal agent, and over the next eleven years served as both a drug investigator and a close-protection specialist tasked with guarding foreign heads of state visiting Canada. Among many others, he served on the protection details of Queen Elizabeth II and United States President Barack Obama. In 2012, Simon was transferred to his organization’s counter-surveillance unit, but in May 2014 he returned to his former unit to serve as a bodyguard for the American and Israeli ambassadors to Canada until his retirement in September 2014.
Simon is now a full-time New York Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author and a member of International Thriller Writers. He, his wife, and their two children divide their time between Ottawa, Miami, and The Bahamas. He’s an avid skier and boating enthusiast.
From the Story Vault: Andrew Mayne was the star of A&E's magic reality show Don't Trust Andrew Mayne. As one of the most innovative illusionists in the country and a critically-acclaimed novelist, his passion is to always entertain audiences and readers. Andrew gives insights into his writing process including how to write a novella in 24 hours.
Mike Maden grew up working in the canneries, feed mills, and slaughterhouses of California’s San Joaquin Valley. A lifelong fascination with history and warfare ultimately lead to a Ph.D. in political science focused on conflict and technology in international relations. Years later he earned a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Like millions of others, he first became a Tom Clancy fan after reading THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. He began his published fiction career in the same techno-thriller genre, starting with DRONE and its sequels, and in 2017 joined “The Campus” as a writer in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Jr., series starting with POINT OF CONTACT. LINE OF SIGHT, ENEMY CONTACT and FIRING POINT followed, each hitting #3 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Mike is currently working on an exciting new franchise that has yet to be announced…
George R.R. Martin is the international best-selling author of A GAME OF THRONES. One of the world’s most popular and imaginative storytellers, George talks shop as he identifies two types of writers (gardeners and architects), shares his love for unpredictable stories, discusses measures of success and failure, and dives into his passion for writing fantasy. You won't want to miss it!
Natalie Jenner is the author of two books, the instant international bestseller THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY and a second novel slated for release in spring 2022. A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was named one of the best books of 2020 by Amazon, was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller, and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.
Award-winning author Tim Shoemaker is a master of writing exciting whodunits and mysteries for young adults. In addition to writing eleven books, Tim also speaks at schools, churches, and writing conferences. He has been a full time speaker and writer since 2004, lives in the greater Chicago area, and has been happily married to Cheryl, the love of his life, for more than 30 years. Actively involved with the leadership at his local church, Tim also writes books focused on sharing Biblical teachings with the next generation.
Kendall Haven is the only West Point graduate to ever become a professional storyteller. The author of two internationally-celebrated books on the science of story structure, Haven holds a graduate degree in Oceanography from Oregon State University and spent eight years as a Senior Research Scientist for the Department of Energy. He regularly serves as a consultant to government agencies such as the Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, NOAA, and the National Park Service, as well as to organizations and corporations such as The World Bank and Boeing. He was selected as the only storyteller to participate in the 2012-2014 Department of Defense (DARPA) Narrative Networks Research Program. Haven’s award-winning published works include five audio tapes, thirty-five books, two scripts, and a radio drama miniseries.
Kevin Cordi was the first full-time high school storytelling teacher in the country and is committed to engendering a love of storytelling in the next generation. He is considered one of the nation’s “primary advocates for youth storytelling” and has also taught storytelling at both the university and secondary level. Over the last 25 years, he has told stories in over forty states as well as England, Scotland, Singapore, Canada, Japan and in Qatar.
Kevin’s award-winning story work has been commissioned by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, American Library Association, National Storytelling Network, Newsweek, and the Qatar Foundation International. He holds a doctorate from Ohio State University in Education, Storytelling, and Story Making and lives in Lancaster, Ohio.
Join us for an engrossing conversation with spy thriller author Adam Brookes. After reporting for the BBC in over 30 countries, Adam turned his attention to writing spy novels. Listen to him share the encounter in China that motivated him to write his espionage series. You’ll also hear some of his recommendations for other stellar spy novels.
Joel Burcat is a practicing environmental lawyer and author who writes legal and speculative thrillers, as well as imaginative stories about everything from beer to murder. His realistic environmental legal thrillers explore many facets of life, although he has a true fascination with unexpected twists. His characters’ reasons for doing things are as important as their actions. Joel has completed five novels, the latest of which, AMID RAGE, came out in February of 2021. He grew up in Philadelphia and still lives in Pennsylvania, which provides the setting for many of his stories.
From the Story Vault: Travel writer turned novelist Nicolás Obregón read hundreds of crime novels to research the genre before penning his stunning debut novel BLUE LIGHT YOKOHAMA. His insights are invaluable for storytellers of all types, and especially for anyone thinking of writing a novel.
According to Forbes, Rowan Gibson is “one of the most recognized thought leaders in business” and is “the maestro of business innovation.” He is the internationally bestselling author of three books that have been published in 25 languages, a top keynote speaker in 64 countries, and a trusted strategic adviser to both the private and public sector worldwide. In 2015, Rowan received the prestigious “Global Leader of Innovation” award for his significant contribution to the field of innovation strategy. Rowan is one of the world’s most in-demand public speakers.
From the Story Vault: Peter James is an international bestselling author and one of the world’s premiere crime writers. Listen in as we talk psychopaths, both fictional and real, what makes for a great crime story, and the three aspects of emotionally engaging fiction: character, research and plot. Also learn about Peter’s writing process and get inside info about upcoming releases.
Lisa Wingate is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the instant NYT bestsellers The Book of Lost Friends and Before We Were Yours, which remained on the NYT list for over two years and has sold over 2.5 million copies. She is a Goodreads Choice award winner for historical fiction, A Christy Award winner, and a Southern Book Prize winner. She lives with her husband in Texas.
Erik Bork is an author and screenwriter who has won two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his work as a writer-producer on the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and From the Earth to the Moon, working with executive producer Tom Hanks (and Steven Spielberg, on Band of Brothers). Erik has sold original series pitches to broadcast networks, worked on the writing staff of primetime drama series, and written feature screenplays for Universal, HBO, TNT, and Playtone. In addition to teaching for UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program and National University’s MFA Program in Professional Screenwriting, he has also been called one of the “Top Ten Most Influential Screenwriting Bloggers” and his 2018 book THE IDEA has become a multi-category Amazon best-seller.
A special episode of fun, family-friendly stories to get your new year off to a good start, told by world-renowned storytellers Steven James and Bob Stromberg.
Robert J. Morgan is a prolific author and gifted storyteller who has served as a pastor in Nashville for forty years. He’s written more than two dozen bestselling and award-winning books, including the seasonal favorite “12 Stories of Christmas,” and his books have more than 5 million copies in print. In this special Christmas episode of The Story Blender, Robert shares some of his secrets to storytelling and also tells one of his most beloved Christmas stories, “Gabriel’s Cry.”
Sheila Arnold is a gifted performer who has been using her talent since she was eight years old. She has been a full-time storyteller for seventeen years, traveling through the United States and sharing a variety of stories as well as doing Historic Character Presentations and Christian Monologues. At her core, “Ms. Sheila,” as she is commonly called, is a Professional Imaginator with a passion, vision, and ministry of healing hearts, unifying communities, and reminding people to share their stories.
Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books including Colors of Truth, With This Pledge, A Lasting Impression, A Note Yet Unsung, and To Whisper Her Name. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her multiple industry awards including awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Bookseller’s Best Award.
Tamera was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for excellence in Christian Fiction, an honor bestowed to an author following four Christy Award wins, and is listed among Publishers Weekly and Library Journal’s Top Inspirational Fiction authors.
Chuck Neighbors is an actor and writer. For over 45 years he has toured throughout North America as well as to 18 countries on 6 continents. His most popular show, a one-man dramatic adaptation of Charles Sheldon’s classic In His Steps, has been featured both radio and television as well as performed before thousands of audiences. Chuck’s published works include 11 books of theater scripts. He has also authored Drama Workshop: Teaching Drama to Beginning Actors and Church Pews, Potlucks and a Tank of Gas: A Survival Guide for the Independent Christian Artist. And for something completely different, he published the best-selling children's book I Am Lucy, and a book of faith-based limericks: Get Me to the Church in Rhyme. Chuck is a husband, a father, and a grandfather who lives in Salem, Oregon.
From the Story Vault: C.C. Humphreys is a multi-talented actor and novelist who gives a unique perspective on developing characters for fiction and presenting stories orally, even for those who aren’t trained in acting. Listen in as he talks through what led him to write his novel Chasing the Wind.
Leonardo Wild is a professional author with 11 published books, over 200 published articles, and 49 produced scripts. Although he wears many hats, writing has been his livelihood and passion since the age of twelve. Currently the CEO and co-owner of a company dedicated to environmental solutions in Ecuador, Leonardo has travelled extensively. He has sailed across the Atlantic and the Pacific, was the skipper of a million-dollar yacht in New Zealand, and in 1989 survived Harry, a Category 4 cyclone. He has walked three times over the Andes into the Amazon jungle, taken part in gold survey expeditions in Ecuador’s rain forests, cycled across South America, built wooden houses, advised Ecuador’s Central Bank on currency design, and more. His adventures invariably find their way into his writing.
From The Story Vault: Bina Shah is a journalist and novelist who lives in Karachi, Pakistan and is one of the country's most talented authors. Her 2009 book Slum Child was a bestseller in Italy. Along with teaching writing at a university level, she is also a regular contributor to The International New York Times, offering her perspective on Pakistan's society, culture, and women's rights.
Alex Segura is an acclaimed writer of novels, comic books, and podcasts. He is the author of the Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Pete Fernandez Mystery series (including the the Anthony Award-nominated crime novels Dangerous Ends, Blackout. and Miami Midnight), and the upcoming book Secret Identity. He has also written a number of comic books, most notably the superhero noir The Black Ghost, the YA music series The Archies, and the “Archie Meets” collection of crossovers, featuring real-life cameos from the Ramones, B-52s, and more. He is also the co-creator-slash-co-writer of the Lethal Lit crime/YA podcast from iHeart Radio, which was named one of the best podcasts of 2015 by The New York Times. By day he is Co-President of Archie Comics. A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.
From the Story Vault: An expert in the kidnapping and ransom world, K.J. Howe is an international bestselling author and avid traveler who has raced camels in Jordan, surfed in Hawaii, and dived with great white sharks in South Africa. She offers great insights on writing believable female protagonists as we explore her critically-acclaimed book SKYJACK.
Kenny Tedford is one of only two deaf people in the world with a master’s degree in storytelling, which he earned at 55, almost half a century after being told by teachers and psychologists that he would never complete the third grade. Oxygen deprivation in utero resulted in him being born deaf, partially blind, partially paralyzed on his left side, and unable to speak clearly until the age of 10. Kenny has served as the Executive Director of both the Tennessee Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing and the Communications Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, and has also worked as a career counselor and employment specialist for the disabled. Together with author and speaker Paul Smith, Kenny is the author of the book “Four Days With Kenny Tedford.”
From the Story Vault: Acclaimed author Karin Slaughter is published in 120 countries, has sold more than 35 million books, and serves as the Director-at-Large for International Thriller Writers. Listen in to catch hold of her passion for sharing empowering and honest stories of women as she discusses PIECES OF HER, her eighteenth novel. Author A.E. Schwartz joins as a special guest host.
Minton Sparks has worked as a spoken word performance artist for many years. Fusing music, poetry, and an intoxicating gift for storytelling, Minton Sparks paints word pictures of the rural South that put you square in the middle of the people and the places she knows like the back of her hand. Minton is a wildly original poet, performance artist, novelist, teacher, and essayist whose appearances range from the prestigious Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival all the way to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and Lincoln Center in New York City. In addition to writing and performing, Minton teaches a workshop called Create Your Story at universities and professional organizations across the country.
Jon Land is the USA Today bestselling author of 50 books, including ten titles in the critically acclaimed Caitlin Strong series. His works have received awards and accolades including multiple International Book Awards, the USA Books Best Book Award, the Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery, and an American Book Fest Best Book Award for Mystery/Suspense. For three years Jon wrote in the MURDER, SHE WROTE book series based on the hit CBS television show starring Angela Lansbury. He also wrote the film Dirty Deeds, which has been downloaded over 50 million times via various streaming services since its release. Jon is a 1979 graduate of Brown University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Alan Jacobson is a USA Today Bestselling author of jaw-dropping FBI & black ops thrillers with 20-plus years of New York City publishing industry experience. Alan’s latest thriller, RED DEATH, is available now wherever books are sold.
Carol Van Den Hende is an author, speaker, and strategist who is a Climate Reality leader and board member as well as a mom of twins. Her latest novel, Goodbye, Orchid, recently won the American Fiction Award for urban fiction, the Pinnacle Award for multicultural fiction, and was named a “Most Anticipated Fall Read” by Parade, Buzzfeed and Travel+Leisure.
Chris Fabry is an award- winning author and radio personality who was recently inducted into the Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame. A native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children. Chris has won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Awards of Merit from Christianity Today. His books include movie novelizations such as War Room and Overcomer, and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. He encourages writers of all skill levels through his website, heyyoucanwrite.com.
Bobby Norfolk has been a story-performer, actor, and author for 43 years. He is a recipient of The NSN Circle of Excellence Award and has traveled internationally promoting his craft to all who will listen. He was a National Park Service Ranger at The Gateway Arch and Historic Old Courthouse in St. Louis for 10 years honing his Living History programs for the stage. In 2018, Bobby was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by The University of MO - St. Louis and gave the commencement address to the College of Arts & Sciences.
Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, The House of Bathory duology, Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with NYT bestselling author Ted Dekker. A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. You can find her hanging around the snack table or wherever bacon is served. Her latest book, A Single Light, releases September 17, 2020 from Simon & Schuster and is available for pre-order now!
From the Story Vault: Acclaimed for his originality, James unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets in his breakneck-speed novels. Called “One of the world’s best storytellers” by the Huffington Post, James shares insights into his writing process and an insider’s look at his thriller The Demon Crown.
Ethan Cross is the international bestselling and award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. His childhood dream of telling stories on a grand scale came to fruition with the release of his first book, The Shepherd, which went on to become an international bestseller published in numerous countries and languages. In addition to writing and working in the publishing industry, Ethan has also served as the Chief Technology Officer for a national franchise, recorded albums as a lead singer and guitar player, and been an active and involved member of the International Thriller Writers organization.
Paul Smith is one of the world’s leading experts on organizational storytelling. He’s the author of three Amazon #1 bestsellers: Lead with a Story, Sell with a Story, and The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell. As part of his research on the effectiveness of storytelling, Paul has interviewed over three hundred CEOs and executives in twenty-five countries and documented over 3,000 individual business stories. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Time, Forbes, and Success Magazine, among others, and has trained executives at international giants like Google, Hewlett Packard, Ford Motor Company, Bayer Medical, Progressive Insurance, and Walmart. Paul’s most recent book is Four Days with Kenny Tedford, which released in November 2019.
Christopher Vogler is a former Hollywood studio executive and story analyst whose book THE WRITER’S JOURNEY has been called “the screenwriter’s Bible.” Christopher attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts before entering the film industry as a script reader. At the Walt Disney Company he wrote an influential memo on story structure that went viral and deeply influenced Hollywood thinking. His work is based on the Hero’s Journey concept of mythologist Joseph Campbell and has become the cornerstone of many college writing programs and has had a wide influence in Hollywood and around the world. THE WRITER’S JOURNEY is coming out in a special 25th anniversary edition on August 4th, 2020.
DP Lyle is the bestselling and critically-acclaimed author of twenty-two books, both fiction and nonfiction. His stories have been nominated for the Edgar and Agatha mystery and suspense awards, as well as many others. Along with Jan Burke, he was the co-host of Crime and Science Radio and currently hosts the podcast series Criminal Mischief. He has served as story consultant to many novelists and the screenwriters of shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Monk, Judging Amy, Cold Case, House, Medium, Women’s Murder Club, The Glades, and Pretty Little Liars.
Matt Mikalatos is a creative tour de force from the Pacific Northwest who has written ten books spanning the genres from spiritual non-fiction to young adult fantasy to superhero tales for kids. When he’s not penning a new story, Matt shares inspirational messages nationwide at conferences and special events. On his website he has three suggestions for us all: Learn to love. Learn to be loved, and live a good life.
Orson Scott Card is the world-renowned author of a number of popular book series including the Ender saga, The Tales of Alvin Maker, The Homecoming Saga, and the young adult Pathfinder series. He has written in a wide variety of genres including contemporary fantasy, science fiction, biblical novels, frontier fantasy, poetry, and scripts. Born in Washington, he grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah and served a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil in the early 1970s. Besides his writing, he teaches classes at Southern Virginia University and directs plays. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kristine Allen Card, where his primary activities are writing a review column for the local Rhinoceros Times and feeding birds, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, and raccoons on the patio.
As a native of Seattle, Glen Erik Hamilton was raised aboard a sailboat and grew up around the marinas and commercial docks and islands of the Pacific Northwest. His debut novel, Past Crimes, won the Anthony, Macavity, and Strand Critics awards and was nominated for the Edgar, Barry, and Nero awards. Glen lives in Southern California with his family, and frequently returns to his hometown to soak up the rain. His latest release, A Dangerous Breed, is set to release on July 14.
From the Story Vault: What makes us afraid? What’s the dividing line between suspense and horror? Listen in as J. D. Barker, the coauthor of DRACUL (the just-released prequel to Dracula) shares insights on these questions and more from decades of experience as an author.
David Rawlings is a writer with thirty years of experience in communication, ranging from journalism to the corporate sector. His latest book, Where the Road Bends, is placed in outback Australia and tackles the theme of destiny and where the road of life takes us all. Published by Thomas Nelson, the book follows The Baggage Handler, which won the Christy Award for Best First Novel in 2019 and has been nominated for a Carol Award. David writes stories that take readers deeper into life, posing questions of them to explore their own values, faith and how they approach life.
From the Story Vault: Jacob Krueger is a leading screenwriting consultant. His insights into the world of screenwriting and creativity will shatter your preconceptions as he discusses the weaknesses of three-act structure, how to tap into your subconscious and find your authentic voice. Don’t miss it!
Bil Lepp’s humorous, family-friendly stories have earned the appreciation of listeners of all ages. A five time champion of the West Virginia Liar’s Contest, Bil’s stories often contain morsels of truth which present universal themes in clever and witty ways, and audiences all across the country have been delighted by his delightful insights into everyday life. Bil’s books and audio collections have won dozens of awards and accolades. In 2011, Bil was given the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Award and has continued to hone his craft ever since.
Bob Lenz is one of the country’s premier motivational speakers. He shares inspiring, humorous messages with hundreds of thousands of teens and adults each year, speaking at high schools nationwide. He has been telling stories since 1982, inspiring millions of teens. Bob has a heart for helping the next generation find hope and meaning and connects with them through his down-to-earth style and personal stories.
From The Story Vault: Edgar Award-winning novelist Meg Gardiner writes fast-paced thrillers full of twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Her bestselling books have been called “Hitchcockian” by USA Today and been translated into more than 20 languages. Listen in as she shares secrets to twist creation and story craft.
Donna Washington is an internationally known, multiple-award winning storyteller, spoken word recording artist, and author. A highly animated performer, she has been entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences with her vocal pyrotechnics, elastic face, and deep characterizations for over 30 years. She has been called a “Walking Disney Movie” as she brings folklore, literary tales, and personal narratives to life.
Bruce Montgomery has a doctorate in interpersonal and public communication from Bowling Green State University and a master of divinity from Christian Theological Seminary. In addition to teaching classes on storytelling, as an ordained minister he has spent twenty-seven years as a preacher in Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, and Texas. He has also taught speech classes at numerous colleges and universities throughout the midwest and the south. Bruce performs regularly at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee and is currently the president of the Jonesborough Storytellers’ Guild.
Daniel Palmer is the USA Today bestselling author of ten critically acclaimed suspense novels. With tech-centric themes, Daniel’s novels focus on ordinary men pitted against extraordinary circumstances. He published his first novel, DELIRIOUS, after a decade-long career in e-commerce, where he helped launch first generation websites for major online retailers including Barnes & Noble and Dick Sporting Goods. Following the success of Daniel’s publishing career, he founded Day in the Life Media, a video production and communication company committed to helping brands identify their brand heroes so they can tell stories in a way that directly impacts the bottom line. A recording artist, accomplished blues harmonica player, and lifelong Red Sox fan, Daniel lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children.
Richard Ferrone is a former lawyer who became an actor in the 1970s. He has appeared on Broadway and in theaters across the country. His television appearances include ”Law & Order,” “Against the Law,” “Guiding Light,” and “One Life to Live.“ He became an immediate favorite of audiobook fans more than 20 years ago with his first audiobook, “The Stranglers” by Loren D. Estleman, and since then he has recorded the works of many bestselling authors including Dean Koontz, Dashiell Hammett, and myself! Although he has recorded books in nearly every genre, from romances to children’s stories to self-help books, he is best known for his mystery and thriller recordings, especially those of John Sandford’s “Prey” novels and the Tim LaHaye/Jerry Jenkins “Left Behind” series. He is an Audie Award winner and is married to actor Cynthia Darlow.
Our guest this week, Danusia Trevino, is a storyteller who has won two GrandSlams with the MOTH. She emigrated to the United States from Poland and her artwork has appeared in galleries throughout the world. She also toured extensively with the punk band FUR. But her passion was always to be an actor, which she has been pursuing for the last 23 years ever since leaving the band. She has performed her award-winning one woman show, Wonder Bread, to audiences throughout North America.
From the Story Vault: A self-described “full-time daydreamer who moonlights as a storyteller,” Ed Stivender has been dubbed “the Robin Williams of storytelling” by the Miami Herald and “the Catholic Garrison Keillor” by Kirkus Reviews. Join us as he shares a delightful mixture of whimsy, wit, and wisdom on the art of storytelling.
Andrew Erwin and his brother Jon comprise the filmmaking duo the Erwin Brothers. They became interested in film and sports while they were children and went on to produce an award-winning documentary about the 9/11 terror attack, then began developing feature films including October Baby and I Can Only Imagine, which topped $100 million in sales (more than 12x the production budget). Their latest movie, an inspiring story of faith amid devastating tragedy, hit theaters right at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and only days before theaters nationwide closed down. I Still Believe is opening for video on demand this weekend, so keep an eye out for it!
Simon Brooks was born in England and raised on traditional tales. His work as a storyteller began nearly two decades ago and since then he has taken his powerful performances all over New England and the U.S. With his bodhrán and stories full of memorable characters, Simon combines the intensity of a solo performance with the intimacy of a face-to-face conversation. His CDs have garnered awards from Parent’s Choice and Storytelling World, and he has a recently-released book of folk and fairy tales, Under the Oaken Bough.
From the Story Vault: Adam is a unique and multi-talented comic, author and actor. He has been named one of Esquire’s "25 Comics to Watch," and Variety’s "10 Comics to Watch." With three comedy albums released and available on iTunes, he has appeared on Conan, Flophouse and many other shows. His writing has appeared in major publications such as Spin, Village Voice, and The Atlantic.
Iain Thomas is the international number-one bestselling author of dozens of books and creative projects and is one of the world’s most popular writers and poets. His works have won multiple awards for creativity. His prose and poetry appears on monuments, in university collections, has been quoted by everyone from Steven Spielberg to Arianna Huffington, is regularly tattooed on people, and has been read in front of the British Royal Family.
From the Story Vault: Lynne Constantine is an internationally bestselling author who writes under the pen name Liv Constantine with her sister Valerie. Their debut thriller, The Last Mrs. Parrish, was a Reese Witherspoon book club selection, a People Magazine book of the week, and is in development for television. Their most recent book, The Last Time I Saw You, was published by HarperCollins in May 2019. Be sure to check it out!
Candice Fox is an international and #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She began collaborating with James Patterson in 2015 and their first novel, Never Never, was a huge bestseller in Australia and went straight to the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list as well as to the top of the charts in the UK. Since then they have written Black & Blue, Fifty Fifty, Liar Liar, and Hush Hush. Candice considers herself a crafter, animal-lover and wine drinker and lives in Sydney with her family.
From the Story Vault: Frank Peretti is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction that have sold over 15 million copies and been adapted for film. A “natural storyteller,” Frank takes readers on imaginative journeys that weave together suspense and unseen worlds. Listen in as Frank shares his insights on the art of story!
John Raab is a publishing industry professional and podcast producer who is also the founder of Suspense Magazine and the CEO of Suspense Publishing. If you like thrillers, suspense, mystery, or horror, be sure to check out these resources. John was also the impetus to me starting The Story Blender, so it's exciting for me to have him on the show today.
From the Story Vault: Steve Berry is the New York Times and international bestselling author of more than a dozen novels and our first returning guest on The Story Blender. He weaves history, mystery, an intrigue together to create compelling stories. Listen in to hear his take on storytelling and to hear him discuss his latest novel, The Malta Exchange!
Bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 50 books ranging from fiction to nonfiction and love stories to supernatural thrillers. Travis worked for thirteen years at Tyndale House Publishers after graduating college, an experience that was helpful in allowing him to understand the writing life as well as training him to work with a variety of personalities. His inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, celebrities, and comedians.
From the Story Vault: Megan Collins is an author whose debut novel THE WINTER SISTER is being called gripping, luminous, and mysterious. She holds a MFA in creative writing and has taught her subject at a university level. Her work has been published by Blinders Literary Journal, Truthdig, The American Journal of Poetry, Quail Bell Magazine, and numerous others.
Raymond Khoury is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than forty languages. His book The Last Templar was adapted into a comic book and an NBC television miniseries. An acclaimed screenwriter and producer for both television and film, he has also penned several scripts for BBC series such as Spooks (known in the US as MI:5) and Waking the Dead.
From the Story Vault: Tony Marr is an award-winning speaker and storyteller who has spent years captivating audiences with his larger-than-life tales. From unbelievable adventures that will leave you wondering how he’s still alive to the untold stories of American past and scripture, Tony immerses his audiences in an imaginative world you will never want to leave.
Adam Hamdy is a British author and screenwriter who works with studios and production companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Prior to beginning his writing career, he worked as a strategy consultant advising global businesses, and is now the author of the Pendulum Trilogy, an epic series of conspiracy thriller novels. Publishers Weekly calls the first book, Pendulum, a “fast-paced, cinematic thriller.” Adam holds degrees in law and philosophy from the University of Oxford and University of London, respectively.
Jeff Buick writes fast moving fiction across numerous genres, including mystery, suspense, thrillers and crime. Over the last twenty years, he’s written twenty-one books. For Jeff, it’s all about the story. A tight plot with well-crafted characters means a psychological thriller geared for readers who love an adventure, and creating the characters who populate his books is second only to the plot line. Jeff lives in Calgary, Canada, which he says is wonderful in the summer. Not so much in the winter.
From the Story Vault: Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author who specializes in children’s books. Her latest book, I Love You the Mostest, recently won the prestigious Maxwell medal. When not working on her own assignments, she ghostwrites books for celebrities, politicians, and ministers, and teaches at writers’ conferences and universities across the nation.
Jamie Freveletti is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author of seven novels and four short stories. In addition to her own novels, she also wrote The Janus Reprisal and The Geneva Strategy for Robert Ludlum’s Covert One series. Her works have won an International Thriller Writers Best First Novel award and a Barry award and have been published into four languages. Apart from writing, Jamie has also practiced law in Chicago and is an avid distance runner and a black belt in aikido.
From the Story Vault: AJ Hartley is the New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult and adult fantasy, mystery/thriller, and historical fiction novels. He was born and raised in England, is a professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and has had a number of death-defying encounters with local wildlife while traveling around the globe. AJ is also a great practitioner of the arts including the performing arts, painting, and metalworking.
Francine Rivers graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. From 1976 to 1985, she had a successful writing career in the general market and her books were awarded or nominated for numerous awards and prizes. Shortly after becoming a Christian in 1986, Francine wrote Redeeming Love, which has held a spot on the Christian bestseller list for nearly a decade. Her novels appear in more than 30 languages.
From the Story Vault: Steve Laube is a literary agent with nearly 40 years of experience in a variety of fields. He has worked as a bookstore manger, an award-winning editor with Bethany House Publishers, and is the president and founder of The Steve Laube Agency, which has represented nearly 2,000 new books in genres ranging from romance to fantasy to theology. Steve is also the owner and President of Enclave Publishing, one of the premier publishers of Christian fantasy and science fiction.
Randy Ingermanson is a novelist and conference speaker who holds a PhD from UC Berkley in theoretical physics. He has written six novels and won three Christy Awards for Excellence in Christian Fiction. Library Journal calls him “one of the best authors of biblical fiction today.” Randy has developed an approach to writing novels called “The Snowflake Method,” making him “The Snowflake Guy,” otherwise known as “America’s Mad Professor of Fiction Writing.”
From the Story Vault: Jean Kwok is an international bestselling author whose debut novel, Girl in Translation, won numerous awards and was featured in USA Today, the New York Times, and Vogue. Her latest novel, Searching for Sylvie Lee, has been called “poignant and propulsive” and was released on June 4th.
James R. Hannibal is the award-winning author of Shadow Catcher and Wraith. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and has flown the A-10 Warthog, the MQ-1 Predator drone, and the B-2 Stealth Bomber, totaling over 1000 combat and combat support hours. He regularly reviews terrorism-related nonfiction for the New York Journal of Books. His latest thriller is The Gryphon Heist, which released in early September.
From the Story Vault:
John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author the popular Jonathan Grave thriller series. Some of his bestselling titles include Scorpion Strike, Final Target, and Friendly Fire. In addition, John has written six screenplays for Hollywood and is contracted to write and co-produce the film adaptation of his book, Six Minutes to Freedom. His latest novel, Total Mayhem, released in June.
This episode originally aired on June 24, 2019.
Stephen Hunter is a versatile and talented author of both fiction and nonfiction. He has written over twenty novels and also served as chief film critic for the Washington Post, where he received the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism. Along with his novels, he has published two collections of film criticism and a nonfiction work, American Gunfight. His latest thriller, Game of Snipers, released in July 2019.
James Swallow is a BAFTA-nominated scriptwriter and award-winning New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty books. His novels span a variety of genres including espionage thrillers, fast-paced science fiction, and steampunk westerns. His script credits include Star Trek: Voyager, Disney Infinity: Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica. He’s the only British author to have worked on a Star Trek show.
Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning novelist and speaker as well as an internationally-known forensic artist who travels around the country teaching forensic art courses to law enforcement professionals. In her 35-year career, she has worked with both local and federal law enforcement, including the FBI and the Secret Service, on forensic techniques in criminal investigations. These days, she also uses her expertise to create true-to-life fictional suspense novels. Her latest novel, Fragments of Fear, is available now wherever books are sold.
Fred Waitzkin was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is the author of the internationally acclaimed story Searching for Bobby Fischer, which was later adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film by the same name. He is also the author of articles that have appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Forbes, and Sports Illustrated, among others. When he’s not writing, he enjoys fishing off his boat Ebb Tide.