Mark Combs Author: Recent Episodes
Mark Combs Author
I am a self-published author and a podcast host. My website is MarkCombsAuthor.com. You can find info on my podcasts and books there. You can also find me on FB and Twitter.
Today’s guest grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. She received her Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Butler University, and under intense pressure, she will confess to having a lifetime love of fairy tales. She also loves to travel… and can lay claim to having set foot on all 7 continents… which sounds like a secondary adventure that we’ll just have to explore. Currently, she works as the Senior Copywriter at John Wiley & Sons, Publishing Company. Prior to her current role, she also served in the company’s Editorial and Publicity positions. In 2019 she published a Young Adult adventure, featuring an arrogant warrior princess, who has to wrestle with some very difficult decisions and the fallout from choices made. In 2020, she published Book #1 in a series built from the legendary tales of King Midas and the previously untold tales of his young daughter. Today, we’re going to step into the pages of that series and listen to the heartbeat, with it the talented authored who gave it life. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure, Annie Sullivan…
He’s the only International bestselling author to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American Crime Fiction’s most prestigious prizes. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and have won critical acclaim across the globe, including stars from every major pre-publication review outlet. He’s a graduate of Dartmouth and former journalist with The Washington Post and The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children, but he’s actually Closer Than You Know… Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure… Brad Parks.
Haunted by his parents’ death and his own career failures, Dr. Brian Scott has begun to settle for the life he’s been given. Until he’s “recruited.” Kidnapped by military insiders known only as “The Group,” Brian joins a team of world-class scholars on a confidential initiative. Their mission? To prepare mankind for a new reality… Alien Disclosure. As the team is briefed on the government’s involvement with extraterrestrials, strange things begin to happen. Disappearances. Visitations. Murder. Something isn’t right. Peeling away layer after layer of deception and counter-deception, Brian moves toward a shocking revelation that will forever alter how mankind sees itself. The book is entitled The Façade and we’re joined today by its author, Dr. Michael S. Heiser…
She's a life-long book lover who left the world of corporate finance to pursue her passion for writing. After co-authoring the non-fiction book, Haunted Highway, The Spirits of Route 66, she realized her true love was fiction... historical mysteries in particular. She also decided that winters in Arizona were much more enjoyable than winters in Michigan. Taking a cue from the old Paul McCartney song... Dianne and her husband, just follow the sun. Her debut novel, which was the first book in the series we’ll be talking about today, was titled: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder. It won the Agatha Award for Best Debut and a Lefty Award for Best First Novel. It was also nominated for a Mary Higgins-Clark Award. Heat up a spot of tea boys and girls, because today’s adventure takes us to London, where we’ll explore the pages of The Countess of Harleigh, Cozy Mystery Series with author Dianne Freeman...
He’s the author of more than a dozen international bestsellers, who’s been hailed by Lee Child as “one of the best thriller writers working today.” He lives in Boston, teaches writing at Harvard, and fabricates novels that readers can’t put down. His debut novel, DEVIANT WAYS immediately propelled him into the upper echelon of noteworthy thriller authors. He also writes the acclaimed series, featuring Crime Scene Investigator, Darby McCormick, and has a number of standalone page-turners that we’ll most certainly highlight at some point along the way. Today’s adventure tour guide is a master storyteller, who’s going to walk us into the pages of his, highly-anticipated, newly-released thriller… BLOOD WORLD. Please welcome the wildly imaginative, Chris Mooney…
He’s a native of Ontario, Canada, who obtained his Masters of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School. He enjoyed a successful career in corporate technology before transitioning into investing and education. He’s traveled throughout Europe, North America, South America, and the South Pacific for both business and pleasure. He’s passionate about technology, the forces that drive it, and the impact it has on our society. He’s a big fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy, as well as a master of escape room misdirection and trickeration. He’s also been known to crash a Comic Con whenever the opportunity presents. Please welcome a debut author who will keep you up late turning pages… our tour guide for today’s adventure, Drew Murray…
Today’s guest is a New York Times bestselling author who, along with Guillermo del Toro, co-authored the haunting & heartbreaking love story, THE SHAPE OF WATER, which was not only an international bestseller, but also a feature length film that won the Oscar Award in 4 categories, including Best Director and Best Picture. In 2015, our tour guide for today’s adventure also co-authored TROLLHUNTERS with del Toro, which was adapted into an Emmy-winning Netflix series. Also in 2015, today’s guest launched an award-winning 2-book series titled, THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH which was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 10 Books of the Year. Earlier this year he released BENT HEAVENS, built from the story of one man’s alien abduction and eventual disappearance. Today, we’re going to dig into the pages of his latest release, which is a posthumous collaboration with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero… THE LIVING DEAD. Please welcome our guest, the multi-talented, Daniel Kraus…
Today’s guest is a peer-reviewed scholar in the fields of biblical studies and Ancient Near East mythology. He earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2004. His studies include the Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, including Israel and Egypt.
He taught biblical studies on the college and seminary level for over 20 years and was the Scholar-in-Residence for Logos Bible Software for 15 years. He is currently the Director of a school of Theology, located in Jacksonville, FL.
He is the author of several bestselling books, both in the fiction and non-fiction genres. Today, we’re going to get a quick walk through 2 of his most recent non-fiction works, one detailing what Ancient Near Eastern Literature has to say about Angels and another, detailing what the same volume of work has to say about Demons.
Join us as we peel back the curtains and shine a light on what ancient literature has to say about the captivating and mystifying realm of the supernatural with our tour guide for today’s adventure with Dr. Michael S. Heiser…
Today’s guest is a partner in a San Francisco based office of an international law firm and co-chair of its privacy and cyber security division. He’s authored six thrillers to date that draw upon his background as a privacy attorney. His first book, THE INSIDER, was a finalist for the 2011 International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. THE INSIDER was followed by a trilogy featuring former Department of Justice, cyber-crime prosecutor Chris Bruen. THE ADVERSARY, INTRUSION, and SURVEILLANCE are all highly rated reads that weave through the hacker-happy world of the dark web. In 2019, he launched a new series, featuring Lisa Tanchik, an FBI Special Agent who dons her own cyber-mask, as she goes undercover on the dark web. She made her debut with BLACK NOWHERE. Today, we’re going to peel open the pages of book #2 in the series. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure – Reece Hirsch…
He’s a bestselling author and journalist who has written for Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and Time Magazine. His 1995 novel, Atlantic, which takes place aboard an oceanliner during a transatlantic crossing, following WW2, was nominated for The Booker Prize, which is given each year to the best original novel, published in the U.K.
He also authored Blood Knots, a 2010 memoir about childhood innocence, paternal love, and fishing. It was short-listed for the 2010 BBC Samuel Johnson Prize, as well as the William Hill Prize.
Today’s guest trained as a dancer at the Rambert School, and co-authored a book with his daughter called Stars, about teenagers at a performing arts school.
In 2014, 15, & 16, he published a series of books that have become the basis for the wildly popular BBC television series – Killing Eve. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure: Luke Jennings…
She’s an Agatha Award winning, best-selling author of several Cozy Mystery Series. Prior to her career as a novelist, she wrote screenplays and created the format for the popular TV sitcom Out of this World. She’s also been featured as an actress and her portfolio includes roles from Matlock, Hart to Hart, and Murder, She Wrote. She’s a graduate of Stanford University who loves to cook, read, golf, swim, garden, and has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Through the creative imagination of author Daryl Wood Gerber, today’s adventure takes us to a place filled with magic and wonder, located in beautiful Carmel, CA. Join us as we dig into the pages of Book #1 of The Fairy Garden, Cozy Mystery Series: A SPRINKLING OF MURDER…
Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers.
We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing.
These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us.
In this segment, we talk with the author of the Detective John Byron series, Bruce Robert Coffin. During his 30+ year career in law enforcement, Bruce has accumulated a wealth of knowledge regarding crime scenes. In this conversation, he walks us through the process of identifying and questioning witnesses that no writer should overlook.
Today’s guest has logged nearly 5,000 hours as a flight engineer for the Air National Guard in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere, including Latin America, the Horn of Africa, and the Far East. Military honors include three Air Medals, three Aerial Achievement Medals, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He retired from the military as a Senior Master Sergeant. He holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied writing there and at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, among other places. He authored a six book series which follows the story of Air Force pilot Colonel Michael Parson and U.S. Army interpreter Sophia Gold. He is also the author of a non-fiction work titled, The Speed of Heat: An Airlift Wing at War in Iraq and Afghanistan, and contributed to the anthology Operation Homecoming, edited by Andrew Carroll. Please welcome the author of the hot new military thriller release, SILVER WINGS IRON CROSS, Tom Young…
Today’s guest completed her first novel when she was 15. Her work has been used in school textbooks in Denmark, made into a short film, optioned twice for TV and film, inspired an original song, and has won (or been nominated) for numerous awards both in the United States and in the UK. She created her highly popular, no-nonsense heroine after receiving death-threat letters as a photojournalist. That heroine has anchored 13 books thus far, with more on the way. Today, we’re going to dig into the pages of Book #2 in a new trilogy about a Crime Scene Investigator named, Grace McColl, and a Detective Constable named, Nick Weston. The series started with a book, designed to be a standalone novel called, Dancing On The Grave. It’s popularity has led to the book we’ll be exploring today – Bones In The River. Please welcome the author of the bestselling Charlie Fox thriller series, several standalone novels, and a host of short stories for anthologies and magazines, Zoe Sharp…
He’s the author (or co-author) of nearly 40 books and has written both riveting fictional suspense and gripping non-fiction exposé. More than 20 of his books have ascended the New York Times Bestseller list and several have topped the list as #1 Bestsellers. He has traveled around the world, lived in a number of countries, and won awards for his work both in America and abroad. He has explored the jungles of Central America where he worked with a team, beset by torrential rain, quickmud, disease-carrying insects, jaguars, and deadly snakes as they searched for a lost city. He has also spent time in Italy, researching the files of one of Italy’s most notorious serial killers. He recounts that experience during our conversation. We also discuss working with a writing partner, as he does for the Award-Winning series featuring FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast. Last week, I was asked in a writing group if an author could write both fiction and non-fiction. Today, we’re going to talk with someone who has won a long list of accolades for doing exactly that. His work is in print. His work is on the big screen. His work has, and is, being developed into Television Series. World renowned author, Douglas Preston takes us on today’s adventure…
She lives with her husband in Ft. Worth, TX, and she’s obsessed with water… specifically, open water. After completing an advanced scuba class in Dallas, she got the opportunity to dive a shipwreck off the coast of Key Largo, FL, and has been fixated on the mysteries that lurk the heart of the deep ever since. She loves a good mystery, especially if it’s shrouded in shadows and creepy “what-ifs” that keep you up all night. Today, we’re going to dig into the pages of her debut novel, which could very well be the baby that was produced when LOST and Stranger Things shared a drunken weekend in Tahiti… Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure, Leslie Lutz…
Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers. We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing. These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us. In this segment, we talk with Sendible Founder and CEO Gavin Hammar about Story Telling on Social Media. What works? What doesn’t? Gavin gives us insight to best practices, while providing the backstory of how Sendible started and developed its remarkably easy-to-use platform for those who need to increase their productivity and effectiveness in the realm of telling their story via Social Media.
Her first novel has over 11 hundred positive reviews on Amazon. Déjà Dead, was the first book in a long running series featuring forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan. Book #1 became an instant New York Times bestseller and won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel in 1997. The books launched a FOX TV series you may have heard of called, BONES. Today’s guest is the producer of that TV Series; it ran for 246 episodes over the course of 12 seasons. As a forensic anthropologist, today’s guest taught FBI agents how to detect and recover human remains, as well as, how to separate and identify commingled body parts. She served as consultant to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina and continues to consult for the Laboratory of Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine from her Montreal lab, in Quebec. She is one of only 100 forensic anthropologists ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. She served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, and is currently a member of the National Police Services Advisory Council in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She’s a native of Chicago and earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Please welcome, Dr. Kathy Reichs…
She grew up in New York and is an avid reader of everything from takeout menus to Greek Mythology. She also enjoys a suspenseful story, well-told and historical biographies. She started writing as a child, but didn’t pursue publication until completing her first novel, The Blind. She’s a lifelong Yankee fan. She’s also a fan of Guns-N-Roses and Metallica. She loves dogs, needs all labels in the pantry to face the same direction, adores the sea, and is willing to stay up late at night for a good chat. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Brown University and two master’s degrees in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College & Columbia University. She currently owns and operates her own private practice where she counsels both individuals and couples. Author, A.F. Brady is my guest… and today we’re going to dig into the pages of her latest thriller – Once A Liar…
She’s a bestselling author who began her legal career as a criminal defense attorney and went on to become a prosecutor in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in 1981. She spent 10 years in the Special Trials Unit, where she handled a number of high profile cases, some of which resulted in legislation that offered victims increased protection from stalkers and more severe sentencing for offenders. She also was lead prosecutor in an L.A. County murder case that captivated the attention of the entire nation in 1994 & 1995. She’s the co-creator and executive producer of the ABC drama series, The Fix. And… she’s also the host of A&E’s unscripted drama series, Marcia Clark Investigates: The First 48. She just released Book #4 in the Samantha Brinkman Legal Series, Final Judgment, please welcome our guest for today’s Public Display of Imagination Adventure, Marcia Clark.
The gracious and debonair, Tom Straw, takes us on today’s Adventure. He published his first mystery novel, The Trigger Episode, in 2007. Then, he got an opportunity to ghost write a series of books for a popular TV Series, featuring a best-selling crime novelist, who had been given permission by his friend, the mayor, to tag along with a police detective, so that he could research his next series of books. You may remember the series; it starred Stana Katic as detective Kate Beckett and Nathan Fillion as author, Richard Castle. Today’s guest authored seven Richard Castle / Nikki Heat novels, all of which became New York Times Bestsellers. He’s also an Emmy – and Writer’s Guild of America – nominated TV writer and producer, having written and produced Night Court, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s World, Grace Under Fire, Cosby, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. We’ll talk about some of that during today’s conversation. He’s a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter, he lives in Connecticut, where his home is his castle.
Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers. We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing. These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us. In this segment, we talk with a group of authors who write Crime Fiction and Military Thrillers. We asked about their initial impressions and thoughts regarding the worldwide pandemic experienced in the spring of 2020. In this conversation, well explore some of the challenges they have encountered, things they have observed, and thoughts as to what may or may not play well within the pages of a novel.
Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers. We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing. These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us. In this segment, we talk with a group of thriller authors about their initial impressions and thoughts regarding the worldwide pandemic experienced in the spring of 2020. In this conversation, well explore some of the challenges they have encountered, things they have observed, and thoughts as to what may or may not play well within the pages of a novel.
She grew up in rural Kansas, but moved to Chicago in the mid-60’s to do community service work in the same neighborhood where Martin Luther King was inspiring residents to take a stand for civil rights. In 1982, she introduced readers to a street-wise investigator who was willing to use force to get answers and wit to keep the challenges of life in perspective. Her strong-willed, sharp-tongued protagonist invaded the traditional detective boy’s club, openly challenging a genre in which women were customarily portrayed as either vamps or victims. Twenty volumes later and there are still stories to be told, including a collection of shorts that we’ll dig into along the way. Our tour guide for today’s adventure is the imagination behind the indomitable V.I. Warshawski, please welcome the iconic, Sara Paretsky…
He’s a international bestselling author with a new series debut that’s already got more than 400 top reviews on Amazon. His 2017 standalone political thriller, THE CASTLE, was called, “Gripping, wholly credible, and frankly terrifying.” by bestselling Scottish crime writer, Ian Rankin. His books in the popular Henry Parker thriller series, won him nominations for a host of prestigious awards. Three books in the series were named to “The Strand’s Best Books of the Year” list and one book, THE MARK has been optioned for feature film production. He has over 1.5 million copies in print worldwide. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure, Jason Pinter…
Before she began penning captivating crime fiction, she was a journalist. She got her start as an intern at Harper’s Magazine in New York and then joined the staff of Canadian Living magazine in Toronto. After deciding that she’d rather write than edit, she left her day job to freelance full-time. That decision led to the composition of 18 nonfiction books (17 of them for Frommer’s Travel Guides) and articles for a number of publications including Discover, Martha Stewart Weddings, American Archaeology, Fitness, and Reader’s Digest. Her debut novel, The Damage Done, won both the Anthony and the Crime-Spree Award for Best First Novel. Two more novels completed the trilogy, that I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point in our conversation today. Today’s guest has also written for several Anthology volumes. And… we’ll explore that as well. We’re going to begin our adventure, however, talking about her latest release in the Shadows of New York series: Don’t Look Down. It’s hot off the presses, thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and Amazon. Crime novelist, Hilary Davidson is our tour guide for today’s adventure…
He’s a critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. His Tracy Crosswhite series of books has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Book 1 in the series, MY SISTER’S GRAVE, has been optioned for development as a television series. Today’s guest is also the author of the best-selling, attorney, David Sloane series. His books are sold in more than 25 countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards for his writing, included being a finalist for the 2017 Mystery Writers of America, Edgar Award for best novel and a two time finalist for the International Thriller Writers award. Today, we’re going to crack open the pages of his latest release, Book #7 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, A COLD TRAIL. Please welcome our tour guide, Robert Dugoni…
She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and acquired her PhD in Linguistics from Edinburgh University. She moved to Northern California in 2010, but still journeys home every year for a couple of months. Her “proper” jobs have included banking (which she describes as hopeless) and a short stint in academia (which she labels, miserable). And, there was also that time when she immersed herself in library work and fine arts, a time that she remembers as “marvelous”. When not writing, she’s reading, gardening, baking, or running through walnut orchards. She’s visited 43 states and counting. Today, Award-Winning, Bestselling author, Catriona McPherson walks us through the pages of her latest thriller, Strangers at the Gate…
He’s a former detective sergeant with more than twenty-seven years in law enforcement. At the time of his retirement, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine’s largest city – Portland. Following the terror attacks of September 11th, he spent four years working counter-terrorism with the FBI and earned the “Director’s Award” – the highest honor a non-agent can receive. Since his retirement from law enforcement, he’s been writing… his first published work, Among The Shadows, was a debut success in 2016. He produced additional thrillers in the Detective John Byron series in 2017 and 2018. Today, author Bruce Robert Coffin is setting aside the time to walk us through his crime scenes…
He’s a New York Times bestselling author of 14 suspense thrillers, and counting. His novels HIGH CRIMES and PARANOIA were adapted as major motion pictures. GUILTY MINDS and COMPANY MAN won Barry Awards for Best Thriller Novels. KILLER INSTINCT won the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for Best Novel. BURIED SECRETS won the Strand Critics Award for Best Novel. In 2009, he introduced readers to “Private Spy,” Nick Heller in the runaway bestseller, VANISHED. Nick Heller’s story continued across the pages of the equally riveting thrillers, BURIED SECRETS and GUILTY MINDS. Today’s tour guide is a master storyteller, who’s going to walk us into the pages of the most recent Nick Heller assignment, HOUSE ON FIRE. Founding member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Joseph Finder takes us on an adventure into the world of a billionaire pharmaceutical kingpin with plenty to hide…
He’s a graduate of Notre Dame, an avid hockey player, and an amateur musician. As the former Chicago bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal, he shared in the Pulitzer Prize given to the Wall Street Journal in 2002 for coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Over the course of his writing career, he has written both compelling fiction and award-winning non-fiction. His Starvation Lake Trilogy was an Edgar Award Finalist. In November 2019, readers were introduced to a city living in the long shadows of the powerful, founding family, the Bleaks. Today’s adventure takes us back to Bleak Harbor, as our tour guide, Bryan Gruley introduces us to another long time resident, wrestling with the truth of her past. Straight out of the heart of Chicago, where the days are overcast and the winds are blowin’ cold… please welcome, Bryan Gruley…
She’s an on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV with 34 EMMY awards to her credit and more journalism honors than I could list and you could follow. She’s won five Agatha Christie Awards, two Anthony’s, two Macavity’s, a Daphne, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. If there’s an award for writing, she’s got at least one to her credit. Her latest release is called, TRUST ME, and Suspense Magazine called it, “By far one of the best thrillers they had read in years.” Crime Reads says that it’s, “one of the best thrillers of 2018 summer.” Who do you trust when you can’t trust yourself? We asked Hank Phillippi Ryan that very question in this week’s adventure…
He’s a writer, a teacher, and an actor, with 10 years of experience as a features journalist. He’s also written a number of plays, which have been performed throughout the U.S. and in the UK. He’s a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association, and teaches theatre & acting at the university-level. Like Livy Nash he loves the northwest of England and has a Yank’s appreciation for a good Lancashire Hot Pot. Today, we’ll forge into the foggy streets of London as we peel open the pages of his debut novel, SPITFIRE. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure, M.L. Huie…
He’s an Award-Winning USA-Today and Amazon bestselling author, whose work will take you to some of the most mysterious and frightening places on the planet. Readers find themselves immersed in inexplicable landscapes that they sometimes “can’t wait to visit” and often wonder if they’ll ever, be able to escape. He’s published more than 20 novels and novellas, which have been translated into multiple languages and optioned for TV & film. When it comes to page-turning tension and chilling storylines, his work has been compared to that of “Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Joe Lansdale, and other masters of hair-raising suspense.” He has won both an Australian Shadows Award and a Canadian Arthur Ellis Award. He was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards, decided by readers. Today, he’s going to introduce us to some of “The World’s Scariest Places” a new book series that is several volumes deep and growing. Leave the lights on and keep your security blanket nearby, Jeremy Bates is our tour guide for today’s adventure…
Today’s guest was the Official Documenting Photographer for the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP), the team that conducted the first in-depth scientific examination of the Shroud in 1978. Today, he plays an influential role in Shroud research and education as the editor and founder of the internationally recognized Shroud of Turin Website, Shroud dot-com, the oldest, largest and most extensive Shroud resource on the Internet, with more than fifteen million visitors from over 160 countries. In 2009 he founded the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. (STERA, Inc.), a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, to which he donated the website and his extensive Shroud photographic collection, as well as many other important Shroud resources, in order to preserve and maintain these materials and make them available for future research and study. He currently serves as the President of STERA, Inc. Today, we’ll walk through the pages of history, both recent (1978) and ancient (possibly as far back as the 1st century AD). Barrie M. Schwortz is our tour guide…
He’s a versatile writer and a master teacher of the craft. He’s penned more than 30 novels in the thriller genre and is currently crafting a book series that falls into the newly recognized hybrid genre of Cozy-Thriller. He wrote the popular Blaine McCracken series, a Green Beret with a bit of a James Bondian outlook. He also produced a series of books featuring Caitlin Strong, a 5th generation Texas Ranger, who finds out that the west can still be a pretty wild place at times. Today’s adventure will explore his latest Cozy-Thriller, featuring Jessica Fletcher and we’ll also highlight a hot new AudioBook that will take us inside the undercover world of Donnie Brasco. Buckle up, boys and girls… Jon Land is our tour guide for this adventure and you’ll want to keep both hands and feet inside the ride at all times…
In her career, she has worked as a freelance writer, worked on composited texts for academia, produced work on behalf of others as a ghost writer; she’s also taught high-school language arts, done translation work, and relieves stress as a martial arts instructor. She’s written a number of popular Cozy Mysteries, which I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point, including the Georgia Peach Mystery Series & Murder on Consignment. Today, we’re going to dig into the files of the Bone Gap Travelers, a series of books set in the thriving metropolis of Bone Gap, TN. Our tour guide for this Adventure is talented and creative Susan Furlong…
He was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and captivated as a young man by a classic 1960’s television series about two young men in a Corvette convertible, traveling the United States in search of America and themselves. The TV series was called, Route 66. His creativity was so inspired by the series, that he dreamed of writing his on fictional sagas. In 1966, he moved to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, were he attended Penn State University, studied literature under Hemingway scholar Philip Young, and received his Master’s and Doctorate in American literature. In 1972, he released a novel about a returned Vietnam veteran suffering from post-trauma stress disorder who comes into conflict with a small-town police chief and fights his own version of the Vietnam War. The book was entitled FIRST BLOOD and it introduced the world to John Rambo. He has since produced a large volume of thrillers and international best-sellers, many of which we will talk about today. Welcome to the wide-open, full-throttle world of David Morrell…
He spent much of the 1990s as a homeless heroin addict in San Francisco, but managed to get off the streets and turn his life in a positive direction. He earned a Master of Fine Arts from Florida International University in 2008 and eventually returned to the Bay Area, where he currently lives with his wife and two sons. His autobiographical novel, JUNKIE LOVE, was published by “Battered Suitcase” in 2010 and chronicles his personal battle with drugs. Today, he’s an acquisitions editor for Gutter Books and producer of “Lip Service West,” a gritty… real… raw… reading series in Oakland, CA. He writes the bestselling Jay Porter Thriller Series, which opened with a book titled, LAMENTATION, that was an Anthony Award Nominee for Best Mystery Novel in 2015. The series is currently 5 books deep and has received rave reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among many others. He’s also editor of a couple of really enjoyable anthologies, which I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point during our conversation. He currently teaches online writing courses for LitReactor and speaks around the country at various writing conferences and retreats. Today, we’re going to dig into the storyline of his latest release, SKUNK TRAIN. Bestselling author Joe Clifford takes us on today’s adventure…
She’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes domestic noir and psychological thrillers. Her work has been published in twenty-six countries and fourteen languages. Her novel THE COLD ROOM won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Paperback Original. Her novels FIELD OF GRAVES and WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE were each RITA nominees for Best Romantic Suspense. She also co-authors the international thriller series, “A Brit in the FBI” with New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. Today we’re going to dig into the pages of her latest standalone thriller, TEAR ME APART. Please welcome, the “Thriller Chick” J. T. Ellison…
She’s a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of a whole host of novels that fall into the Cozy Mystery genre. She’s also written several Romance novels and she won the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for romantic comedy. She left the glitz and glamour of Toad’s Place, for the peace and quiet that comes with a fulltime position at the Cromwell, CT. Public Library. Needing a break from the non-stop excitement, she packed up all her worldly belongings and moved across country to Arizona, where she met her husband and began her writing career. Jenn McKinlay is my guest today and the latest installment in her Library Lovers Mystery Series, HITTING THE BOOKS, just released…
Today’s guest is the bestselling author of nearly 40 published books over his career, which has seen him produce work for TV, Movies, and Video Games… We’re sure to pull on all of those dangling threads at some point during today’s conversation. He’s written both standalone and series and serial novels… He was the 3rd author (and 1st American author) to be tasked with taking over for Ian Fleming and continuing the James Bond story, something he did for 7 years. His book THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, is an encyclopedic work on all things 007, and was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America for Best Biographical/Critical Work. His Black Stiletto 5-book series has been optioned for TV & Film. Today, we’ll explore his latest release – BLUES IN THE DARK… Raymond Benson is our guide for today’s adventure.
She’s a dual Irish/American citizen, who was born just outside of Washington DC where she grew up among senators and supreme court justices. She has a PH.D in Anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She’s conducted field work in various locations around the world, including Micronesia, West Africa, Central America, and Western Europe. She has also done research at the University of London, Institute of Historical Research and her academic work has been published in a variety of journals, including the prestigious Cambridge Archaeological Journal. She briefly attended Georgetown Law School and worked as a murder investigator for the Washington DC Public Defenders Service where she gained an insider’s view of the criminal justice system. Aside from writing the riveting thriller series that will launch today’s adventure, she’s also a Wilderness K9 Search and Rescue volunteer and certified as a Federal Disaster Worker for the Incident Command System. Ellison Cooper takes us on today’s adventure…
He’s a native of the Brooklyn, NY, who graduated from Brown University and ascended the ranks of a major New York City Ad Agency, before leaving the city behind in August of 2001 and moving to Portland, ME, to begin a new career as a fiction writer. Since that time, he’s published five books in the McCabe & Savage Thriller series and each one of them has ascended the rankings on the NY Times Best-Seller list. Book #6 in the series, A FATAL OBSESSION, released in August 2018, just a few short weeks after this conversation. NY Times Best-Selling Thriller author, James Hayman, takes us on this Way Back When’s Day Adventure as we crack open the pages of THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE.
He’s a Navy Seal and Shadow Warrior, whose personal missions have kept readers turning pages for the past 3 years. In days past and gone, he followed orders explicitly, without questioning what he was being instructed to do… or why… Now, he has a new identity and the playing field is clouded by shadow and misdirection. What was once clear, is now ambiguous at best. Today’s adventure will be guided by a pair of Navy Veterans, who are the writing team behind the Tier One series. They will introduce us to our Shadow Warrior, John Dempsey and give us a brief overview of how his world has changed from one of certainty, to one of perspective, point of view, and high-stakes judgment calls. Our guides for today’s adventure are Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson.
She began her writing career in 1981 and since then has authored more than sixty-five New York Times bestsellers. She majored in English at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, and received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the university. She was the featured, headline host of Thrillerfest 2008, where she was awarded the prestigious International Thriller Writers Award. She has more than 80 million copies of her books in print in 33 different languages, but she’s still got stories to tell. Today, we step into a world of twists, turns, romance, and suspense. Sandra Brown is our guide for today’s adventure as we step into the pages of her latest thriller…TAILSPIN.
He’s a USA-TODAY bestselling author of a number of thriller and horror novels for adults and Young Adults. His series, The Templar Chronicles, featuring Jack Templar, Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his son, an 11 year old reluctant reader, to give reading a try. The family experiment worked and a new book series was born. His experience with his son, has made him passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and he has become a proactive advocate in child literacy issues. His books for adults have become both USA-Today and Amazon bestsellers. His with novel, Night Chill, scoring nearly one-thousand positive reviews. He’s a father of five, who leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole and Labrador Retriever, Rocky. Today, Jeff Gunhus takes us on a chilling adventure as we crack open the pages of Gypsy Blood…
She’s played out her imagination on the page since childhood, compiling story after story well into her college years, when med-school intervened. Once her Family Medicine Residency was behind her and her medical career was established, she returned to her keyboard. She’s won a Lefty Award, was nominated for an Agatha, and chosen as one of Suspense Magazine‘s best debut authors of 2016. She enjoys classical music, fine whiskey, art, travel, embroidery, and a good ghost story. Her Gethsemane Brown Cozy Mystery series introduces readers to their own ghost they can get cozy with. It’s 4 books deep and today the author takes us on an adventurous tour. Alexia Gordon is my guest...
He’s a native of Seattle, who grew up aboard a sailboat, and often found adventure around the islands and marinas and commercial docks of the Pacific Northwest… sometimes trouble. He now lives in California with his family but frequently returns to his hometown to soak up the ever-present company of the rain. His debut novel, PAST CRIMES, won the Anthony, the Macavity, and Strand Magazine’s Critics Award for Best First Novel. It was also nominated for the Edgar, Barry, and Nero awards. Publishers Weekly and Library Journal gave PAST CRIMES starred reviews, and Kirkus called the book “an exciting heir to the classic detective novel”. The book introduced readers to an Army Ranger named Van Shaw, whose troublesome past called him home just in time to become the lead suspect in a murder… his grandfather’s murder. Subsequent volumes have kept readers turning pages for four years at this point. Today’s adventure finds Van Shaw in the midst of a three-day party that swallows up the isolated town of MERCY RIVER every year. Please welcome my guest, award-winning author Glen Erik Hamilton…
She’s an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels including the two that will seed the popcorn trail for today’s adventure. Her work has been translated into 17 languages and been optioned for TV and film. She’s a notorious night-owl, who loves movies, playing football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. When she’s not at her keyboard, working through the twists and turns of her next storyline, you might find her bouncing around social media or hanging around the snack table. She’s a former Mrs. Nebraska, who bestselling author Steven James calls, “One of the most gifted novelists, writing today.” Please welcome my guest, the multi-faceted, Tosca Lee…
Between the ages of 12 and 19, he was fired from approximately nine different jobs… including newspaper delivery boy (for dereliction of duty), apartment complex maintenance man (for general incompetence), and photo darkroom attendant (for dereliction of duty, general incompetence, and the inappropriate use of a darkroom). Putting his sketchy job history behind him, he has gone on to author a number of bestselling books, including THE LONG AND FARAWAY GONE, which won the Edgar, the Anthony, the Barry, and the Macavity Awards in 2016, as well as state sponsored awards from Alabama and Oklahoma. Today, we’re going to talk about his latest release, a thriller / love story, which is set against the backdrop of the JFK assassination. Bestselling author, Lou Berney is my guest, and today he takes us on an adventure down NOVEMBER ROAD…
She was born in Toronto, but “enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle during her early years.” She’s lived in Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Caribbean, all of which have given her an insider’s view into various cultures and lifestyle settings around the world.
She has a Specialist’s Degree in Business from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, in Pennsylvania. She’s been nominated for a host of writing awards and won several, including 3 Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense.
She’s extremely well-versed in the field of hostage negotiation, having spent many hours in conversation with former hostages, negotiators, hostage reintegration experts, special forces operatives, and K&R insurance executives, all of which was used to weave creative threads into the fabric of her Freedom Broker, Thea Paris thriller series.
She’s a member of The Rogue Women Writers and Executive Director of ThrillerFest, the annual International Thriller Writers Conference, held each July in New York City. Author K.J. Howe takes us on today’s Adventure as we peel open the pages of her most recent Thea Paris thriller, SKYJACK...
She a prolific writer and whose captivating psychological thrillers are perennial favorites on the NYT Bestsellers list. Her novels have been translated and published in 26 different languages and her fan base wraps around the world. The list of awards for her work is long and spans the gamut from Macavity’s, to Agatha’s, to Edgar’s, to the prestigious Hammett Prize. Her work has been listed as “top picks” and “Best of the Year” on such programs as Good Morning America, The Today show, and Entertainment Weekly. She has 16 keep-you-up-late, page-turning novels to her credit, and #17 has just released to wide-spread acclaim. Bestselling Author, Riley Sager, calls it “A dark, thrilling tale of survival and obsession.” Bestselling, Award-winning Author, Lisa Unger takes us on today’s adventure as we peel open the pages of her latest release – The Stranger Inside...
She's a graduate of New York University with a degree in journalism. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Bio-ethics from Columbia University. She splits her time between a pair of passions… writing great fiction and journalism.
As a freelance journalist specializing in health and science features, she’s contributed multiple articles to The New York Times’ Science section, Popular Mechanics, and other mainstream publications. She also writes a monthly, mystery diagnosis column for Cosmopolitan dot-com. Her fiction includes the popular reads: No Time To Die, Die Again Tomorrow, and Living Proof. Today, we’re going to dig into the storyline of her latest release, Mother Knows Best. Best-Selling Author, Kira Peikoff takes us on today’s Adventure into what a mother knows…
She lives in northeast Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a dog named Hobo. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a Professional Engineer rehabbing historic structures and conducting forensic investigations into building failures.
A structural survey of a vacant building in Cleveland, inspired her debut novel, THE DEAD KEY, which went on to win the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Since then, she has sold over a half a million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into eight different languages.
She writes historical mysteries, that shine a light into the darker side of life in the Midwest during the 20th century, when cities like Detroit and Cleveland were struggling to survive.
Today, she’s going to walk us into the pages of her new release, NO ONE’S HOME. Bestselling author, D.M. Pulley takes us on today’s mysterious adventure…
He’s a Canadian Olympian and the co-founder / co-CEO of Imagine Swimming, New York City’s largest learn-to-swim school. As a provocative voice in the swimming and Olympic community, he has won three Emmy awards and one Peabody award for his work on NBC’s broadcasts of the Olympic Games. He’s also written a column for Swimming World magazine and was the author of the popular swimming blog, Cap & Goggles. He’s currently 3 volumes deep into a series of books built around the exploits of a former rich kid, felon, and swimmer, who now works in the shadows, of the streets of New York City. Together with his partner, dominatrix Cassandra Kimball, Lawrence Darley, Jr., known to his friends as “Duck” has become a highly sought-after ‘finder’ for wealthy Manhattan families in need of assistance with their darkest secrets. Today, we’re going to peel open the pages of Book 3 in the Duck Darley series, The Tower of Songs, with our guest. Casey Barrett…
He’s a best-selling novelist, war and human rights journalist, and environmental activist. He has covered guerrilla wars, death squads, and military dictatorships in Latin America and Africa, Islamic terrorism in the Middle East, and ivory poaching and other environmental battles in East Africa and Asia.
The Washington Times called him, “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” His critically acclaimed novels take the reader into intense situations in the world’s most perilous places, into wars, revolutions, dangerous love affairs, and political and corporate conspiracies. Kirkus Reviews said that his novels “make readers sweat with [their] relentless pace.”
He speaks multiple languages, has climbed and trekked over 50,000 miles on every continent from the Antarctic to Siberia, and is at home in some of the most primitive and dangerous places on the planet. Author Mike Bond takes us on today’s adventure, as we peel open the pages of his latest release, GOODBYE PARIS…
She’s a New York Times Best-Selling author who thrives on suspense. Her suburban-based thrillers draw readers in, and keep them up late, turning the pages. She grew up in a Hollywood family of writers and in a household filled with books. Her parents wrote screenplays for classic movies like The Desk Set, There’s No Business Like Show Business, and Captain Newman, MD. She was the last of four daughters to start writing or, as she calls it, to succumb to her genes. She’s been an Edgar Award finalist and a four-time finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She’s the author of Night, Night, Sleep Tight and You’ll Never Know, Dear, as well as, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel. She’s also an active blogging member of The Jungle Red Writers. The uber-talented Hallie Ephron, takes us on today’s adventure as we crack open the pages of her new bestseller, Careful What You Wish For.
He's the son of a navy helicopter pilot, who chased great white sharks as a marine biologist before becoming a patent lawyer. As an attorney, he’s flown millions of miles on commercial aircraft and spent countless hours in airports around the world while litigating multi-million-dollar cases for high-tech companies. Degrees from Duke University and Notre Dame hang on his office wall in San Diego, where he lives with his wife and children. In 2018 his debut novel, TAKE OFF, found a devoted audience and has garnered nearly 1700 top-notch reviews on Amazon. Raymond Benson, the bestselling author of the 007 James Bond series, described TAKEOFF as a breakout Action-Thriller that leaves readers breathless Best-Selling Thriller-Suspense author, Joseph Reid, takes us on today’s adventure as we dig into the pages of Book 2 in the Seth Walker Series, FALSE HORIZON.
She was born in Toronto, but spent 8 years enjoying the rainy comfort of Seattle. She has since returned to Canada, where she continues to root for the Seahawks, while her husband cheers for the Green Bay Packers. When it’s raining, she loves to write. When the sun is shining, she loves her pillow. When it’s dark, she’s double checking the locks on all the doors and curling up with a good book, most likely something written by Stephen King. In her own words, she writes about dark, twisted people who do dark, twisted things. In 2011, she released Creep... which comes with the warning, “he’s watching you...” In 2012, she released Freak, the follow up that had to be written. Both books are 5-star reads and cult favorites. In 2014, she released another very popular book titled, The Butcher. And in 2016, she invited her readers to Wonderland. Both were bestsellers, with hundreds of top-notch reviews. Today, we’re going to talk about her latest release, which just won the Int’l Thriller Award for Best Novel. Jennifer Hillier takes us on today’s Adventure as we talk about her latest thriller, Jar of Hearts.
He’s spent more than 20 years in Oregon newspaper newsrooms, dividing his time and energy between weekly’s and daily’s. He’s won awards as a reporter, a columnist and as an editor. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he also served as spokesman for the mayor of Portland, Oregon. His first suspense/thriller, CRASHERS, was released in 2010 by Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin’s Press. It won the Spotted Owl Award from Friends of Mystery as 2010’s best mystery or thriller written by a Northwest writer. BREAKING POINT, the sequel to CRASHERS, was released in 2011 and hailed as a “white-knuckle thriller” by the Library Journal. In 2013 & 2014, our guest released ICE COLD KILL & GUN METAL HEART, which follow the high-energy exploits of Operative (wink/wink) Daria Gibron. Last week’s guest, Meg Gardiner, said, “These books are a blast!” Today, we’re going to talk about his latest release, ST. NICHOLAS SALVAGE & WRECKING. Please welcome to the show, thriller writer extraordinaire, Dana Haynes.
She was born in Oklahoma, raised in Santa Barbara, California, and graduated from Stanford Law School. She practiced law in Los Angeles, taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara, and is also a three-time Jeopardy! champion.
To date, she’s authored fourteen thrillers, including a 5 book series featuring Evan Delaney and the 4-book, Jo Beckett series. Her latest novel, Into the Black Nowhere, has been called, “a terrifying, brilliant read” It’s book #2 in the UnSub series featuring rookie FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. The first book in the series, titled UNSUB, won the 2018 Barry Award for Best Thriller and is in development as a TV series by CBS.
She’s won a long list of awards, including The Edgar from Mystery Writers of America, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Procedural, and her book, Phantom Instinct, was listed in O Magazine as one of Oprah’s “Best Books of the Summer” in 2014.
If you’re looking for something to keep you up at night, today’s guest has got plenty of great reads to choose from. Please welcome Meg Gardiner…
She’s an award-winning journalist and former television producer. She’s written articles for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, The Record, and numerous web sites, including CBS, MSN Money, NorthJersey.com, BusinessWeek.com, and CNBC. She’s also a USA-Today bestselling author, with a number of very popular novels in print, the most recent of which we’re going to explore today. Cate Holahan is my guest and today’s adventure walks us into the pages of One Little Secret...
He’s a negotiator, an advisor, a mediator and a speaker whose expertise is sought worldwide. He has worked with clients ranging from Wall Street bankers to United Nations Officials & political leaders to battered sales teams, cheated spouses and convicted felons.
His groundbreaking results have been formally recognized by the United States government for their positive economic and social impact. He is a Harvard MBA, trained journalist, and former corporate and investment banker.
His first book, “Negotiating with Giants” — which relays David vs Goliath negotiation stories from across time — was touted by CNN News as “What you need to know to get a good deal on just about anything.”
His second book, a work of historic fiction titled “Weapons of Peace,” will provide the backdrop for today’s adventure. Please welcome Peter D. Johnston…
She was born in Manhattan and raised in Tenafly, NJ, the only child of immigrants. Her father was born in Russia. Her mother was born and raised in England.
A former journalist, she is the award-winning author of two mystery series. The first features Georgia Sheehan, a NYC firefighter-turned-fire investigator.
The second, which we’ll be digging into today, stars Jimmy Vega, an upstate New York, homicide detective navigating the world of the undocumented. Book #1 in the series, Land of Careful Shadows, was listed as a top five mystery books of 2016 by the American Library Association. Book #2, A Blossom of Bright Light, was an Amazon “Mystery Pick of the Month” when it released. Please welcome our guide for today’s adventure into mysteries of the undocumented… Suzanne Chazin...
She’s a former freelance writer and web producer for titles at Condé Nast and Hearst, among others. Currently, she lives in Baltimore with her husband and their dogs.
Her debut novel, I’ll Eat When I’m Dead, was listed as a Refinery 29’s Best Book of 2017 and described as “delectable.” It was featured in Fortune, Us Weekly, and The New York Post, among others high profile book review publications.
Today, we’re going to talk about her second novel, which has just released. It’s a story, The Booklist calls 1-part Dirty Dancing and 1-part Twin Peaks. Today, author Barbara Bourland joins us to talk about her latest exposition on human nature, Fake Like Me…
She moved to Montreal, Canada when she was 12 years old and studied Creative Writing at Concordia University, in Montreal, following her graduation from High School. She speaks Russian, French, and English, but pens her novels in English. The original draft of her first novel, Girl Last Seen, was written while she was attending Concordia. It was published to rave review in June of 2017. Her second novel, What My Sister Knew, made Good Morning America’s End-Of-Summer reading list in 2018. Her most recent book, is set for release on June 11th. Nina Laurin joins us for today’s adventure and you’re invited to come along as we peel back the pages of The Starter Wife…
Before she began penning captivating crime fiction, she was a journalist. She got her start as an intern at Harper’s Magazine in New York and then joined the staff of Canadian Living magazine in Toronto. After deciding that she’d rather write than edit, she left her day job to freelance full-time. That decision led to the composition of 18 nonfiction books (17 of them for Frommer’s Travel Guides) and articles for a number of publications including Discover, Martha Stewart Weddings, American Archaeology, Fitness, and Reader’s Digest. Her debut novel, The Damage Done, won both the Anthony and the Crime-Spree Award for Best First Novel. Two more novels completed a trilogy, that I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point along the way. And, she’s been a part of several Anthology volumes that we’ll want to explore. We’re going to begin our adventure, however, talking about her latest release: One Small Sacrifice. It’s hot off the presses, thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and it’s been tabbed as an Amazon “First Reads” selection. Crime novelist, Hilary Davidson takes us on today’s adventure...
She’s the USA Today Best-Selling author of The Oakwood Mystery Series, a trio of Cozy Mysteries that take place in the all too real city of Oakwood, Ohio, where murders are rare but great stories lie thick on the ground.
In addition to writing about murder, she also teaches writing at a local community college. After the written word, Her passions include her husband, her son and daughter, hiking, tennis and strong black coffee, not necessarily in that order. USA-Today Best-Selling weaver of Cozy Mysteries, Leslie Nagel, joins us on the show today to talk about her latest release – The Codebook Murders…
She began her career as a journalist. She then became an editor, an acquisitions specialist, a digital content manager, and finally, publishing executive. She teaches the craft of writing, has published a couple of books on the topic, that I’m sure we’ll talk about today, and she’s a popular public speaker.
She’s worked for such media giants as WGBH public radio in Boston, Disney, F&W Media, and Gannett. In 2012, she joined Talcott Notch Literary Services as Senior Literary Agent and Content Strategist. Her specialties include crime fiction, women’s fiction, high-concept Science Fiction & Fantasy, as well as nonfiction titles. Today, she’s joining us to talk about her own Police Procedural, A BORROWING OF BONES. Please welcome our navigator for today’s Adventure – Paula Munier.
The joy she experienced from reading in her childhood attracted her initially to the world of children’s fiction. She honed her writing skills first as a journalist and magazine editor, and later as an author of children’s books. There are 12 in all, penned under the name June Considine.
Fantasy, adventure, gritty realism, teen lives and loves… eventually, as all young people do, the characters she created grew up. So she turned her attention to the domestic life of adults and the intimacy of family. Today, we’re going to step inside the pages of her novel, GUILTY, which has been recently released from Grand Central Publishing in hardback. From the shoreline of Broadmeadow Estuary, near the town of Dublin, Ireland, today’s guest is Laura Elliot.
He’s a critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. His Tracy Crosswhite series of books has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Book 1 in the series, My Sister’s Grave, has been optioned for development as a television series.
Today’s guest is also the author of the best-selling, attorney, David Sloane series. His books are sold in more than 25 countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards for his writing, included being a finalist for the 2017 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for best novel and a two time finalist for the International Thriller Writers award. Today, we’re going to crack open the pages of his latest release, The Eighth Sister…
He’s the author of more than 45 novels, many of which climbed the best-seller rankings shortly after their release. He’s a master in the techno-thriller genre, and gifted with surprising versatility. His writing career launched in the mid-80’s, during the final years of the Cold War. He found a home writing chilling portrayals of threats to the United States, and of the men and women who operated undercover, and sometimes outside the law, to maintain U.S. security.
He penned the popular Blaine McCracken series, a Green Beret with a bit of a James Bondian outlook, and he’s 11 books deep into a series featuring Caitlin Strong, a 5th generation Texas Ranger, who finds out that the west can still be a pretty wild place at times. The multi-talented and ridiculously imaginative, Jon Land is my guest and today, we’re going to see just how versatile he can be...
She’s founder, and Editor-in-Chief of The Common. Her short stories, translations, and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Literary Review, Harper’s, and Publishers Weekly, among other places.
She has a Master of Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars, and she teaches literature, creative writing, and editing at Amherst College. Her name is Jennifer Acker and today she takes us on an adventure to explore her latest release, The Limits of the World…
She’s a graphic designer and illustrator, who has twice been awarded a Writers’ Bursary by Literature Wales, most recently for the book that we’re going to discuss today.
She won the Myriad Edition “First Crimes” competition in 2016 and her work has been short-listed for the UK’s Harry Bowling Prize, and the Caledonia Fiction Prize in Edinburg. She’s also on the current long-list for the Bath Novel Award. Author, Vanessa Savage is my guest… and today she introduces us to The Woman in the Dark…
Today’s content requires Level 1, CIA Clearance, as mandated by Executive Order #05148. If you do not have Level 1, CIA Clearance, you are hereby notified that a temporary clearance has been established for you that will expire at the close of today’s Public Display of Imagination Adventure.
Today’s discussion will examine ITEM 103-A, Dated: 16-November, 1961. CIA Special Agent Lana Wells has uncovered a Russian Film Canister, which was smuggled over the Berlin Wall during World War 2, at great cost. Today’s guests will take us behind the scenes, as we look at what can and can’t be revealed, regarding the contents of that canister. Please welcome the writing team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar…
She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but moved to Manhattan in 2005 to audition for theatre work. That bold move led to a day job, waiting tables at a restaurant that would be leveled by bulldozers shortly after she took the job. With a fresh opening in her daily schedule, she began transferring her vivid imagination to the printed page. With more than a dozen novels and short-stories in print, she continues to weave tightly spun storylines that keep readers turning pages.
Her latest work introduces an injured young woman, on the run from a New York City, prohibition era, liquor deal that went sideways. Destination… Portland, Oregon, and The Paragon Hotel. Today, we go back to the roaring 20’s with author, Lyndsay Faye.
He's a NY Times Best-Selling author who has seen his work translated into 40 different languages that have produced more than 23 million copies of his thrillers, sold in 51 countries around the world. He invested 30 years of his life as a trial lawyer; was a founding member of the International Thriller Writers and served as a publicly elected official for 14 years.
History, mystery, and suspense drip from every page of his novels. Today, we follow Cotton Malone to the Island of Malta, through the creative vision of Best-Selling Thriller author, Steve Berry.
Growing up, she confesses that she was (in her own words) "bad at science and math" and not much of an artist either. Her dad, a CPA, was great with calculations and her mom was a gifted artist. Although skilled at neither math, nor art, she was quite appreciative of both and even developed a fascination for science. She studied communications and developmental psychology in grad school and sharpened both skills as a writer. As a mother of 3, she became immersed in the STEM / STEAM programs and began writing books for teens. Robin Stevens Payes is my guest... and today, she's going to take us on an Adventure to the Edge of Yesterday and beyond...
She’s a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps, School of Journalism. She served as Editor-at-Large for Writer’s Digest magazine for nearly a decade. In 2017, her debut novel, Almost Missed You, was a Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction Selection and a PopSugar Best Spring Read. She followed that up with another Book of the Month Club selection in the spring of 2018 entitled, Not That I Could Tell.
The spring of 2019 is busy greeting the world with fresh new blooms of every color, which means it’s time for another hot new release from today’s guest. Jessica Strawser takes us on our adventure today as we dig into the pages of her latest suspense thriller, Forget You Know Me…
He’s a graduate of Notre Dame, an avid hockey player, and an amateur musician. As the former Chicago bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal, he shared in the Pulitzer Prize given to the Wall Street Journal in 2002 for coverage of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Over the course of his writing career, he has written both compelling fiction and award-winning non-fiction. His Starvation Lake Trilogy was an Edgar Award Finalist. Today he joins us to talk about his latest release, Bleak Harbor. Straight out of the heart of Chicago... Bryan Gruley is my guest…
She’s a NY Times Best-Selling author with four novels in print and many more stories to tell. Publisher’s Weekly calls her work, “Chillingly Satisfying” Hank Phillippi Ryan said her work is “frightening and insightful.”
In real life, she lives in an eastern Pennsylvania town house, with her husband and two kids. And, as far as she knows, there are no ghosts. She longs to find a hidden, secret passageway, but has yet to reveal where it might lead… today, we visit the not-so-hidden passageway of her vivid imagination and talk about her recently released suspense-thriller, In Her Bones. Author, Kate Moretti is my guest today…
Christmas is the perfect excuse to touch base with friends and find out what they’ve been up to. So, we reached out to several authors who were guests on the show in 2018 and invited them to join us for the First Annual PDI Office Christmas Party. Thirteen responded and I had a blast finding out what’s they’ve got in store for the year ahead. Of course, we also took the time to open a present, check out the stockings, and get a little creative with our Christmas theme. This segment features short conversations with five of the thirteen authors. You’ll find links to the PDI Adventure they took us on earlier in the year. On the host page for this Adventure at: http://markcombsauthor.com/weekly-podcasts/public-display-of-imagination-podcast/pdi-christmas-party-part-3/
Christmas is the perfect excuse to touch base with friends and find out what they’ve been up to. So, we reached out to several authors who were guests on the show in 2018 and invited them to join us for the First Annual PDI Office Christmas Party. Thirteen responded and I had a blast finding out what’s they’ve got in store for the year ahead. Of course, we also took the time to open a present, check out the stockings, and get a little creative with our Christmas theme. This segment features short conversations with five of the thirteen authors. You’ll find links to the PDI Adventure they took us on earlier in the year. On the host page for this Adventure at: http://markcombsauthor.com/weekly-podcasts/public-display-of-imagination-podcast/pdi-christmas-party-part-2/
Christmas is the perfect excuse to touch base with friends and find out what they’ve been up to. So, we reached out to several authors who were guests on the show in 2018 and invited them to join us for the First Annual PDI Office Christmas Party. Twelve responded and I had a blast finding out what’s they’ve got in store for the year ahead. Of course, we also took the time to open a present, check out the stockings, and get a little creative with our Christmas theme. This segment features short conversations with four of the twelve authors. You’ll find links to the PDI Adventure they took us on earlier in the year. On the host page for this Adventure at: http://markcombsauthor.com/weekly-podcasts/public-display-of-imagination-podcast/pdi-christmas-party-part-1/
She’s an Agatha Award winning, best-selling author of several Cozy Mystery Series. Prior to her career as a novelist, she wrote screenplays and created the format for the popular TV sitcom Out of this World. She’s also been featured as an actress and her portfolio includes roles from Matlock, Hart to Hart, and Murder, She Wrote.
She’s a graduate of Stanford University who loves to cook, read, golf, swim, garden, and has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Today’s adventure takes us to Crystal Cove, CA, where we’ll explore the Cookbook Nook Mystery series, with our guest, Daryl Wood Gerber...
Upon acquiring his degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law he launched his legal career with a Philadelphia based defense firm. His clients… corporate America. Over time, he began to want something different. Following his heart, he began representing individuals on a case by case basis, sometimes against the large corporations.
His books are set in a backdrop that features the legal system and courtrooms of Philadelphia. His debut novel, A Criminal Defense, quickly became a best-seller which launched The Philadelphia Legal Series. Author, William L Myers, Jr. joins us on the show today.
He grew up in the woodland hills of Missouri and, after high school, migrated north to pursue his education. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law. He honed his creative writing skills through the Master of Fine Arts program at Minnesota State University. In 2014, his debut novel, The Life We Bury, was named the Best Debut Novel of 2014 at the Left Coast Crime Conference. It went on to win the Rosebud Award; it was also a finalist for the Edgar Award, the Thriller Award, and the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. In 2015, it was optioned for film. Since that time, today's guest has published 3 additional books in the Detective Max Rupert Series and the 4th, The Shadows We Hide, is set to release in just a matter of days. Allen Eskens is my guest... Let's see if we can discover what he's been hiding in the shadows.
He hails from the state of Massachusetts, and spent most of his childhood obsessing over a children’s book mystery series called The Famous Five. He also read Agatha Christie and imagined visiting Narnia by way of C.S. Lewis’ magical wardrobe. His parents often took the family on adventurous camping trips across the U.S. and Canada and one of his fondest memories is reading The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie on a trip to visit Mount Rushmore. He also developed a love for suspense driven movies, a trait that seems to have been passed along to his protagonist, Hester Thursby. Today, Hester and the one who gives her voice, Edwin Hill, will take us on an adventure into a case of missing persons and a trail of murder.
She’s a native of New York, who grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. She cherishes her memories of open water, storms, and the smell of the sea.
Now living in North Carolina with her husband, 2 trolls, and 3 cats, she embraces her love of coffee, good food, rescue animals, Pinterest and Black Jelly Beans. She’s also a prolific writer, who has over 30 novels in print and can’t imagine spending a day away from her keyboard. Ellery Adams is my guest today and her latest release is The Secret, Book, & Scone Society.
He's the author of over thirty novels and numerous short stories, which have won him a coveted Edgar Award, A SPUR AWARD, TEN Bram Stoker Awards and a lifetime achievement award, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, and the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy.
His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, including numerous foreign publications. Not only does he have a large volume of novels in print, he's also written for comics, television, and film. Hap Collins and Leonard Pine appear to be an unlikely couple, but they've kept today's guest busy for nearly 30 years. Welcome to the wide-open, full-throttle world of Joe R. Lansdale.
He’s the author of more than 30 novels, many of which climbed the best-seller rankings shortly after their release. He’s a master in the techno-thriller genre, and gifted with surprising versatility. His writing career launched in the mid-80’s, during the final years of the Cold War. He found a home writing chilling portrayals of threats to the United States, and of the men and women who operated undercover, and sometimes outside the law, to maintain U.S. security.
He’s currently 10 books deep into a series featuring Caitlin Strong, a 5th generation Texas Ranger, who finds out that the west can still be a pretty wild place at times. The multi-talented and ridiculously imaginative, Jon Land is my guest for this PDI Adventure.
She’s a Michigan girl who worked at General Motors and toured with a band before life took her to the heart of New York City, where she immersed herself into the arts and launched her writing career. A motivational speaker in high demand, she fell head over heels for a city that met The Great Depression head on in the 1930’s and thrived. It was indeed “the best of times” during “the worst of times” and it fuels the storyline of the Art Deco Mystery series.
L.A. Chandlar joins me to talk about her love of the arts, her appreciation of New York’s history, and the bigger than life personalities that you’ll find in her books, The Silver Gun and The Gold Pawn…
He's a national best-selling novelist whose award-winning, pulse-pounding thrillers have attracted a rapidly growing fan base that continues to swell. His work has drawn high praise from every corner of the publishing industry.
Suspense Magazine named his book, THE BISHOP, their Book of the Year and claimed that today's guest was "setting the new standard in suspense writing." Publishers Weekly called him a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."
Equipped with a unique Master's Degree in Storytelling, he has taught writing and storytelling on four continents over the past two decades, speaking at headline events around the world. He's one of my wife's favorite authors and I think he's going to become one of yours. Steven James joins us on the show today...
He studied journalism at The University of Texas and played football for the Longhorns. Coming to the conclusion that hitting the books was to be preferred over going nose to nose with a 6’5″ All-American Safety, he chased his degree and went on to work for some of the most powerful law firms in the country. In his spare time, he invented baby products that are now sold all over the world.
He wanted to write full time since he took his first hit on the college football practice field, but the journey from college freshman to published author turned out to be a long uphill climb that tested his perseverance as much as any challenge he ever faced. We’ll be talking about those experiences and more with the extremely popular author of the Sam Callahan series. Chad Zunker is my guest today; join us as we Hunt The Lion.
She has a Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She conducted her field work primarily in Central America where she lived in a tent in the jungles of Belize for nine years while searching for lost Maya ruins, but she’s also conducted field work in various locations around the world, including Africa and Western Europe
She was born just outside of Washington DC where she grew up among senators and supreme court justices. Before graduate school, she briefly attended Georgetown Law School and worked as a murder investigator for the Washington DC Public Defenders Service where she gained an insiders view of the criminal justice system. Her latest release is setting Amazon on fire. Ellison Cooper is my guest today.
He found success early-on as a screen writer; his first feature film, the award-winning, To End All Wars, was based on a true story about allied soldiers who were prisoners of the Japanese during WW2 and starred the charismatic Kiefer Sutherland in 2001. He has also authored over 20 books and frequently speaks on the art of making movies, as well as understanding their intended messages. His book, Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom & Discernment has been picked up and used as a textbook in schools around the country.
He’s also authored a tightly-woven fictional series based on threads pulled from biblical texts. You won’t hear these stories in Sunday School, boys & girls, but you’ll find familiar backdrops soaked in rich imagery that breathe fresh life into the ancient text. Today, we probe the creative mind of Brian Godawa and explore the Biblical Apocalypse recorded in the book of Revelation.
He’s a NY Times Best-Selling author who has seen his work translated into 40 different languages that have produced more than 23 million copies of his thrillers, sold in 51 countries around the world. He invested 30 years of his life as a trial lawyer; was a founding member of the International Thriller Writers and served as a publicly elected official for 14 years. History, mystery, and suspense drip from every page of his novels. Today, we follow the life and times of Cotton Malone with the creative mind that gave him voice. Best-Selling Thriller author Steve Berry joins me to talk about The Bishop’s Pawn and the origins of Cotton Malone.
She's a journalist and contemporary novelist from Karachi, Pakistan. She's authored four English novels and two collections of short stories. As regular contributor to the International New York Times, she is a provocative and bold commentator for the international press on Pakistan’s society, culture, and women’s rights. Her critically acclaimed 2014 novel, A Season for Martyrs, was built around the return of Benazir Bhutto to Karachi to run for the highest political office in Pakistan, after 8 yrs of exile. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and an alumna of the International Writers Program at the University of Iowa. Bina Shah joins us today to talk about her soon-to-be released (Aug. 7th) Dystopian Novel, Before She Sleeps.
In this episode, with the July 31st Non-Waiver Trading Deadline approaching, the Ozark Rambler and the Geezer take a look at some MLB teams that are on the cusp of something and try to determine exactly what they may be on the cusp of. What moves will help the teams? And, more importantly, what moves will help your fantasy lineup?
He's a professor of Chemical & Bio-molecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He's also the founder and director of his own company, Control Station, Incorporated. Somewhere between those two realms of daily reality, you can find the flickering light from a Science-Fiction realm that is home to a sentient artificial intelligence, known as Criss. Today, Best-Selling Sci-Fi author, Doug J Cooper, invites us to a world of high-tech companionship & high-stakes mystery. Buckle up, Sparky, we're going on a fast-paced journey through the Crystal Series.
In this episode the Ozark Rambler and Grumpy Cat join the Geezer in a roundtable discussion of what trends may be worth tracking in the second half of the MLB season. There's some sneaky good insight packed into this discussion that may help you grab that one under the radar waiver wire difference maker for your team.
She's a New York Times Best-Selling author who thrives on suspense. Her suburban-based thrillers draw readers in, and keep them up late, turning the pages. She's been an Edgar Award finalist and a four-time finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She's the author of Night, Night, Sleep Tight & You'll Never Know, Dear. as well as Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: The Complete Guide to Mystery, Suspense, and Crime. The uber-talented Hallie Ephron, joins us on the show today to talk about her latest release and her expansive career.
This is a special Friday the 13th Adventure that's dedicated to the genre, Horror. Ken Stark is my guest. It was a very interesting conversation, recorded in October of 2017, just before Halloween. I hope you'll give it a listen.
He’s the son of a navy helicopter pilot, who chased great white sharks as a marine biologist before becoming a patent lawyer who has flown millions of miles on commercial aircraft and spent countless hours in airports around the world while litigating multi-million-dollar cases for high-tech companies. Degrees from Duke University and Notre Dame hang on his office wall in San Diego, where he lives with his wife and children and his latest release has more than 350 top-notch reviews on Amazon. Best-Selling Thriller-Suspense author, Joseph Reid, joins us on the show today. to talk about his hot new book, Take Off.
In this episode we're rolling through the All-Star Rosters for both leagues. Who should be there? Who may get left out? There's some surprises that we didn't even see coming. We've got some "Splits You Should Know" on Nolan Arenado that are mind-boggling. Plus you'll get our selections for Sunday Heroes. Who's going to help you win the week for your Fantasy Team?
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, she has well over twenty million copies of her novels in print in a multitude of languages. Her mystery solving, detective team of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus have lived out their adventures through the pages of 19 Best-Sellers and been described by People Magazine as, “Hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around.”
Her work has won her numerous awards, including a Life-Time Achievement Award from Strand Magazine in July of 2013. Choosing not to sit on her laurels, she's continued to weave Suspense Thrillers, much to the delight of her fans, and she's even worked in time to co-write books with her husband, Jonathan, and daughter Aliza.
Best-Selling Thriller author, Faye Kellerman, joins us on the show today to talk about Killing Season and her mystery solving duo, Decker and Lazarus.
In this episode, The Geezer & The Ozark Rambler turn to the pages of history to prompt a discussion on the trends of MLB today. One of the most incredible baseball games ever played took place on July 2nd, 1963 in San Francisco between the Giants and the Milwaukee Braves and it's a story that certainly worth revisiting.
The idiom, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” has been accredited by some to newspaper editor, Tess Flanders, circa 1911. Centuries earlier, William Shakespeare wrote in a passage of Hamlet, “For the apparel oft proclaims the man.”
In this episode, we talk with an acclaimed graphic designer who has the Super Bowl XXXVIII logo and 2009 NBA All-Star Game logo to his credit, as well as designing the current graphic identity for both the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball franchises.
The supremely talented graphic designer, Todd Radom joins us on the show today to talk about his new book, Winning Ugly: A Visual History of the Most Bizarre Baseball Uniforms Ever Worn.
In this episode we discuss the iconic players of the league and how to trade for them. Who's available and what would it take to get them? Our "Fixin' Baseball" segment features our thoughts on the Designated Hitter, the lack of hitting from the catcher position, and a flashback to some players from yesteryear who carved out a career as Pinch Hitter.
She’s the USA Today Best-Selling author of The Oakwood Mystery Series, a trio of Cozy Mysteries that take place in the all too real city of Oakwood, Ohio, where murders are rare but great stories lie thick on the ground.
In addition to writing about murder, she also teaches writing at a local community college. After the written word, Leslie’s passions include her husband, her son and daughter, hiking, tennis and strong black coffee, not necessarily in that order. USA-Today Best-Selling weaver of Cozy Mysteries, Leslie Nagel, joins us on the show today to talk about The Oakwood Mystery Series.
In this episode we discuss streaming hitters, finding a hot bat on the waiver wire to help prop up your lineup for a few days. Our "Fixin' Baseball" segment features our thoughts on "Where LeBron will land" and how Miggy's Detroit Tigers' contract might affect Bryce Harper's appeal in free agency.
This episode is a special June the 14th edition designed to call attention to Flag Day. The text is taken from a chapter of Don't Forget Your Cape.
In this episode we discuss noted Baseball Superstitions and what purpose they may actually serve. Do superstitions extend into the day-to-day real-world life of people in general? Our "Fixin' Baseball" segment features Expansion, Inter-League Play, and the All-Star Game. We've also got another handful of very strange splits for you to consider.
The MLB Non-Waiver Trade Deadline is quickly approaching. Teams will be trying to assess whether they are contenders in 2018 or retooling for 2019 and beyond. It's time for players in fantasy leagues to begin doing that same thing. Are you contending? What do you need to make a push toward a spot in the fantasy playoffs?
She's been described as the girl-next-door with a dark side. She’s a sweet, happy-go-lucky, Arizona wife with a captivating smile and winsome personality, who's deeply involved in a number of community programs. But, when the lights go down and the curtains are drawn, she weaves compelling suspense novels that feature multifaceted characters and twisted plot lines that keep readers turning pages.
Today we're going to talk about the Last Cold Case series, her approach to character development and storytelling, as well as some of her personal involvements in the local community. Author, M.J. LaBeff joins us today...
One-Third of the 2018 Baseball Season is in the books. Can we make reasonable decisions based on the overall data that we have at this point? In this episode, the Grumpy Cat and the Geezer discuss the options on some notable players in the midst of not-so-notable seasons. Buckle up... there's tough calls ahead.
Today’s guest is a USA Today bestselling author who explores the depths of psychological tension and paranoia in his dark, domestic thrillers. He is a two-time winner of both the Colorado Book Award and the International Book Award, and his novels have received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. He lives in Erie, Colorado in a spooky Victorian house that we’re going to talk about later in the show. Today’s guest is Carter Wilson…
The events of human history have transpired for one of two reasons. We must conclude that historical events occur by accident, for no apparent reason, or because someone in authority conspired with others to orchestrate and perpetuate the ever unfolding chain of events. Perhaps it's a mixture of both, but is it a 50/50 blend? Our guest today has devoted countless hours to detailing the events that have given way to the unfolding of history. Today, I'm pleased to talk with A. Ralph Epperson...
The Ozark Rambler and the Grumpy Cat are touring the Holy Land this week, so I reached out to Mike Oz of Yahoo Sports and asked him to join me for a conversation about memories that Baseball Card bring to life whenever we crack the seal on a pack from yesteryear.
He’s the only International bestselling author to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American Crime Fiction’s most prestigious prizes. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and have won critical acclaim across the globe, including stars from every major pre-publication review outlet.
He’s a graduate of Dartmouth and former journalist with The Washington Post and The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children, but he’s Closer Than You Know… Brad Parks joins us today…
In this episode, the Grumpy Cat and the Geezer discuss some of the surprises that emerged during the first month of the 2018 MLB Season. The Braves, The Dodgers, The Twins, The Yankees & The Astros all come up in discussion. How will it play out? What surprise players can you trust?
This episode is a special May the 4th edition designed to revisit the inspirational vision of George Lucas and the birth of Star Wars.
This episode takes a look at the Giants and Thorns that often rise up on our emotional battlefield to offer opposition.
She’s fierce yet sparkly… she helps seekers find brave new worlds. Her goal is magic, the medium is ink, and the fuel is coffee… and sometimes pizza.
She teaches English on the university level when she’s not dancing around the living room with her family, or lifting heavy at the gym, traveling the planet, or binging superhero shows.
Kadee Carder, puts life on hold and joins us for a conversation about her 5-Star book series…
In this episode, we're looking at players over the course of the first month of the season. Who has stood out as being a huge value to the roster? Who's underachieving to this point? Who may have started slow, but could be expected to turn it around, making them a good buy low option?
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Saturday, January 20, 2018. This one is about how certain words are overused and undervalued in our day and time. I stand up for those words every now and again; in this case, I’m standing up for the F-word.
The front cover of The Facade warns the reader that every official document referenced in the book actually exists. We explore the truth of some of these documents, quotes, and partial public disclosures. We talk verified information leaks and misdirection, including the official government position on Roswell. The Facade is a riveting read and this was a thought-provoking interview.
In this episode, we're managing your roster from day to day and building it for a successful playoff run. How do pitching match ups, hot hitters, rain outs, days off, and recently appearing waiver wire gems impact your decision making process in the short term and over the long haul?
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Saturday, February 3, 2018 - In this episode, I offer my perception of present day communication skills and their shortcomings.
In this episode, we're taking a closer look at the actual game on the field. The suits and executives seem to be concerned about "Pace of Play" issues. What's the real source of the problem and how can it be fixed. We also talk about how playing Fantasy Baseball helps us to enjoy the game on the field more on a day to day basis.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, March 12, 2018 - In this episode, we’re looking at how the things we know can be used to help us work through the things we don't know.
In this episode, we discuss waiver wire strategies. We look at the art of "streaming" starting pitchers and how relievers can enhance your over pitching production in key categories. We also talk about position players. When do you cut someone and what factors into the decision?
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, March 5, 2018 - In this episode, we’re talkin’ about how an unforgettable childhood experience helped me learn a later-in-life lesson of a lifetime.
In this first episode of the season, the group looks back at the league draft from the previous week. What were the strategies? What were the values? When did the scrambling start? What players went too early?
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Saturday, March 3, 2018 - When it comes time to go your separate ways, you choose your words carefully. This is the how's, the why's, and the what could have been's of one such story.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, February 5, 2018 - In this episode, we’re talkin’ about how the best of planning still leaves all things open to adventurous outcomes that we never planned for. Does the uncertainty of reality lead to stress of what could go wrong or the magical anticipation of what could be in the offing that we never expected?
In her novel, Stealing Time, KJ Waters takes readers on a wild, adventurous ride of storm survival and time travel. Set in the midst of the relentless 2004 Hurricane Season in the state of Florida, Stealing Time tells the riveting story of Ronnie Andrews and her best friend, Stephanie McKay, as they scramble to prepare for Hurricane Charley, which is bearing down on Orlando. During the peak of the storm Ronnie is hurtled back in time to eighteenth-century London where she is caught in a web of superstition, deception, and lies in a life and death struggle to return to her own time.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Friday, March 2, 2018 - In this episode, we’re talkin’ about the work of Dr. Seuss and its impact. Did his work influence you in some way? I'll bet that it did and we're going to turn it up just a notch in this tribute. The blog was posted on March 2nd, his birthday.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 - This blog entry tracks on the celebration of my grandson's 2nd birthday and my plan to thwart time by including at least one gift each year that is intended to be opened 10 years in the future.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 - This blog entry looks at various aspects of goals and goal setting. Are we looking at things in the right way? Why do we make it so difficult?
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, Feb. 24, 2018 - This blog entry explores why watching a baseball game has become such a bore. I grew up playing the game and still play fantasy baseball each year, which should keep me attached at the hip. But, I find myself tuning out more often than tuning in. This episode talks about why...
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 - This blog entry is built from the backstory of the mysterious Fingerprint Island, which provides a unique living illustration of how unchecked passion can be destructive, even unto the death of the very things we hold so dear.
This audio is related to a Blog Post from Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 - The topic of this post is passion. What sparks it and how is can breath life into our world. More specifically, this podcast speaks to something that sparked a passion early in my life and how we can encourage our kids to find and chase theirs.
K.J. Waters has a Master’s in Business and over 15 years of experience in the marketing field. Before quitting her job to raise a family and work on writing she was the Director of Marketing and communications for a national behavioral healthcare company. The second book in the Stealing Time series, Shattering Time, was just published on June 27, 2017 and the next day reached #6 on the UK Amazon site, and was #2 as a hot new release for one category, seating neatly after Michael Crichton’s Dragon Teeth. In addition to her writing, she is the CEO of Blondie’s Custom Book Covers and the co-host of the popular podcast Blondie and the Brit.
A former U.S. Navy Intelligence Specialist, Gary is an artist, photographer, and general all around handyman. He also writes supernatural Sci-Fi about a fallen angel trying to earn brownie points and a fire fighter who becomes the angel’s favorite connection to humanity. In this episode, we look at both books that he has in publication: The Fallen Files and Dream Weaver.
M.J. LaBeff is an American author best described as the girl-next-door with a dark side. In this episode she joins us to talk about her psychological thriller, Mind Games. We'll talk storyline, characters, and then pull back the curtain and blindside M.J. with some off the wall questions that give her an opportunity to create on the fly. Join us as we talk about Mind Games and more. Find links that apply to this episode at http://markcombsauthor.com/weekly-podcasts/public-display-of-imagination-podcast/mj-labeff-mind-games/
A thousand years of effort to keep the Unknown World hidden is unraveling and the Patriarch is tired. He needs to find someone to take over. His search leads him to Bethany Anne. Unknown, untested and untried she sets out to accomplish the impossible while forging a new future. One that no one knew was in danger. And she does it with an attitude that will make you stand up and cheer! They say a dress can make a women, but in this case, the dress is Death, and Death Becomes Her very well indeed.
The climactic ending of The Façade left Brian Scott and Melissa Kelley with only each other--and the terrible secrets they carry. The Portent finds them living under new identities, their future clouded by constant fear of being exposed. By the time Brian and Melissa learn they're being watched, their carefully constructed lives will be over. Follow Brian and Melissa into the center of an unthinkably vast, centuries-old conspiracy, conceived to turn the faith of millions against itself. Revelations from ancient tombs, long-forgotten Nazi experiments, UFOs, occult mythologies, biblical theology, and godlike technologies converge in answer to a terrifying question: Now that "they" are here, what do they want?
Sparrow Von Langley had a childhood that was anything but typical. Born into the privilege of wealth in Crystal Cove, California, her father is Dr. Theodore Von Langley, a well respected, nationally known behavioral therapist. Tormented by frightening visions brought on by a series of mysterious deaths, Sparrow is determined to search for the truth behind the tragedies and reconnects with Dr. Derrick Sloan.Derrick has been searching for his missing sister, Kathlyn "Kat" Sloan since her disappearance ten years ago. A hypnotherapist helps Sparrow pull together the pieces of her traumatic past, and her repressed memories reveal the twisted truth behind the mysterious deaths and Kat's disappearance.
An audio flashback to a presentation to the Florida Board of County Commissioners during their Florida Association of Counties Legislative Conference, November 19, 2010. This presentation included a recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Gary S. Pritchett takes a cross-section of familiar biblical backdrop and mixes it with the paranormal exploits of a fallen angel. What happens when the veil between the supernatural and reality is blurred? Is Joshua Waters really experiencing what he believes he is seeing and hearing or has the stress of his career finally forced him into a place where what is real becomes nearly impossible to distinguish from that which is imaginary?
Nine verses into the 2nd chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul inserts a perplexing, personal message to his readers, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." In the previous verses, Paul had dropped a bombshell as to what he was going to attempt to convey in this letter, "we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" A Mystery? Hidden wisdom? Wisdom which God had ordained before the world? Wisdom that was irrevocably tied to our ultimate destiny? This episode features the teaching pastor of the Arthur City Baptist Church, David Burnett, and our conversation revolves around the things that Paul wants us to understand about a future event known as The Resurrection. I hope you enjoy this interview. Comments and Questions are welcome.
In its opening verses, The Book of Enoch proclaims itself as a text written for a remote and distant generation... a generation that would be living in the last days. Are we that generation? Was this book written and preserved through centuries of time for us? On today's program will look at that very question. We'll also ask if the book is a forgery or if it can be trusted. Then, we'll explore the content in detail. We'll cover all the parts that are familiar to most and uncover incredible prophecies that most do not know are hidden within its pages. My guest is Dr. Ken Johnson and our mission is to unravel a few mysteries that seem to be woven into this very ancient book.
We're all captivated by the unknown. We can't help but be drawn to it. What's in the box? What's around the next corner? What's behind that locked door? What if the unknown, the unseen, is not only staring you right in the face, but it's screaming for your attention? In his book, The Unseen Realm, Dr. Michael S. Heiser walks the reader right up to some of the most well-known stories from the Old Testament and introduces them to the blatantly obvious facets of the text that get overlooked time and time again. What secrets await in The Unseen Realm? Just press play, and find out.
In our day and time, a debate rages over the credibility of the Bible. Does the Bible accurately record historical events as they happened? Does it embellish for the sake of emphasis? Or, are the events recorded in the Old Testament scriptures simply fabricated parables about the lives of people who never actually existed and passed down through the ages for the purpose of teaching moral lessons? Most archaeologists today have concluded that there is absolutely no evidence to support the biblical story of the Exodus. Today's guest tells the story of his 12 year journey in an effort to uncover the story that the Patterns of Evidence really tell. My guest today is Tim Mahoney and I'm excited about this opportunity to talk with him. So let's get him online, shall we?
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given..." Was the birth of the Messiah really foretold in ancient scriptures 800 years before it happened? Or, have scholars looked back at ancient texts and forced meaning upon them in an effort to make them seem mysterious and relevant? This episode digs into the details of ancient prophecies about the birth of the Messiah with Dr. Ken Johnson. There's more, perhaps a lot more, than you may remember from Sunday School.
When I was a teenager, we used to sing a song that said, "Jesus got a hold of my life and He won't let me go..." Today's guest probably embodies that as much as anyone I've ever met. His gospel music ministry has spanned 4 decades and touched countless lives, including mine. You'll hear his testimony and a little bit of mine as I get the opportunity to talk with Dallas Holm. Please join us as we review A Lifetime of Praise.
Can an ambitious young student pursue a career in the field of science if they are a Christian? In this interview, we asked Dr. Georgia Purdom that very question. Her response is not only thoughtful, but eye-opening. Dr. Purdom has a doctorate in Molecular Genetics, is a relentless researcher, a gifted speaker and a published author. In this episode, she opens blinded eyes with science.
In this episode we talk with archaeologist Bruce Hall, who climbed Mt. Ararat in the summer of 2013 as a part of the Finding Noah expedition to search for the ark. Bruce shares stories of his journey and gives a little preview as to what to expect from the documentary. Finding Noah will be in theaters for special release showings on October 8, 2015, through Fathom Events.
In this episode we're joined by Dr. Ken Johnson to discuss his book, "Ancient Messianic Festivals and the Prophecies They Reveal." Faithfully observed since the days of Moses, these rituals paint a vivid picture of the 1st and 2nd coming of the Messiah. With the fall feast days upon us, Dr. Johnson's research and insight help us to understand the amazing prophetic content embedded in these annual "Dress Rehearsals."