Inside Scoop Live!

CK Sobey (known as Kas to her friends) continues to live a life of curiosity. She considers herself to be a seeker, an explorer. Her many ventures in life attest to this. In her earlier years, she studied singing and theater. Kas is a trained mediator and worked in the San Diego dispute resolution department. She also worked in the corporate world for almost thirty years. As a once active spiritual practitioner, she later became a certified hypnotherapist, bringing a deeper understanding of the inner, subconscious mind to others. She has facilitated groups in a variety of subjects and a practice called SoulCollage® for years.
When CK is not writing or in her studio creating something that has caught her attention, we can find her in her kitchen cooking and savoring a dish with a blend of aromas wafting about or somewhere on one of her trails, waving.
A Collection of Tiny Stories, Diminutive Tales from the Tip of My Imagination is her third published book.
To learn more about Kas and her other works, visit https://innerharvesting.com/
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About A Collection of Tiny Stories 
Inspiration for writing the collection and her writing style
Writing short stories
Creativity that knows no bounds - from writing to art
The importance of a writing community
A reading from A Collection of Tiny Stories
A COLLECTION OF TINY STORIES, DIMINUITIVE TALES FROM THE TIP OF MY IMAGINATION
This collection of Tiny Stories is an assortment of tiny, brief stories that were born out of moments of whimsy, mystery, and longing. I believe in the indefatigable powers of imagination. I do my best to widen my imaginative lens of what I can create in any genre, recipe, or seeking a solution to a problem. The list goes on and on. It is what gets me out of bed in the morning. What will the day bring? Not every day is an explosive revelation, with my muses rambling around, whispering to me of some plan. I do my best to find peace and calm, even in moments. When I find these moments, they are the sweetness between the flow of found ideas. The quiet space is what I need to receive. I honor this time to allow the ideas to take shape, to grow. I love pictures as well. They have their own story to tell. As prompts I become turned on to a story, musing or something new coming all together. I hope you enjoy my visual stories as well. They were created for these stories.
 
CONNECT WITH CK (Kas) SOBEY!
Website: https://innerharvesting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnerHarvestKSInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerharvesting/Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.K.-Sobey/e/B08174ZZKGGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13836875.CK_Sobey

Calvin James was promoted to DAD in 2017. After the birth of his son he tried to thing of ways to educate him about life and the ever-changing world. Out of this desire his company, CALVIN JAMES CREATES was born.
The mission statement of CALVIN JAMES CREATES is to share children’s stories, novels, and music that promote the values of truth, kindness, friendship, love, and hope. 
His first book, The Colored Water Fountain was released in December 2021. The second book in his children’s book series, Christmas Sunrise will be released in December 2022.
To learn more about Calvin James and his work visit calvinjamescreates.com.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Christmas Sunrise and writing a holiday book
Inspiration behind the stories in Christmas Sunrise
Working with illustrator Jordan Pizzuti to bring the story to life
A bit about Calvin's upcoming works
A reading from Christmas Sunrise
CHRISTMAS SUNRISE
As the holidays approach, a grandmother recalls her youth and all that she loves about the holidays. Hoping that it will snow for a White Christmas, the excitement she feels on Christmas Eve, and her favorite part, having her family and loved ones with her on Christmas Day.
 CONNECT WITH DR. CALVIN JAMES!
 Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CalvinJamesCreates
Twitter @CalJamesCreates
 YouTube Channel: Calvin James Creates
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvinjamescreates/

Vik Azeem grew up in the Northern Virginia area and currently resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He's been writing stories since the age of twelve and has a deep love for stories and movies in general. Ice Dance is his 4th novel. He's previously published the books Soul Half Empty, Algebra and Demons, and Quixotic.
When he's not writing, he's working on his movie review podcast, The Movie Fellas, which is also available on all podcast platforms.
For more information about Vik and his work visit his website at www.vikazeem.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
The author's journey
About Ice Dance and the inspiration behind the story
Writing Fantasy
Using humor and unique characters to drive his fantasy
Creative and other interests
What's next for Vik Azeem?
 
ICE DANCE
Hassan is a Pakistani-American conflicted between pursuing his creative passions and fitting in with his culture. He's also unemployed and days away from being evicted. Then he meets Yasmine, a mysterious bar-hopper with a keen interest in psychology. As enigmatic as she is, Hassan is enthralled with her.He soon learns Yasmine has a dark secret that will put both their lives at risk. As the night of New Year’s Eve unravels, he's introduced to a world of magic, portals, wise-cracking trolls, and dangerous enemies beyond his wildest fears. The only question is, will he survive to see the new year? Ice Dance is a comedic urban fantasy inspired by swashbuckling adventures of the past.
 
CONNECT WITH VIK AZEEM!
Website:  www.vikazeem.comTwitter: @vikazeemInstagram: thevikazeem
 

Shelah Johnson is the recipient of 9 awards from The Society for Technical Communication and is also a published photographer and has produced and directed more than 40 lifestyle broadcast segments focused on eco and small space living. She directed, produced, and is the co-creator of the documentary series, Where Small Business Grows (Amazon Prime). Shelah lives a life of voluntary simplicity, where she makes a mid-century modern Airstream her home on an island in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys kayaking and traveling across the country and around the world.
 
J R Santana is an award-winning Screenwriter and Producer. With over three decades of experience working in Hollywood and Europe, JR has been involved in productions ranging from $1m - $25m, all with an A-list cast. As a Screenwriter, he has won the Kodak Award for Outstanding Cinematic Achievement, the Turner Classic Movies Prize, Best Film at the Interfilm Berlin Film Festival as well as being nominated for two consecutive BAFTA Awards. He also holds a Master’s degree from Cambridge University. When not working, JR spends his free time riding his vintage British motorcycle, competing in International Long Range Match Rifle competitions and penning his debut novel.
For more information about Shelah Johnson, JR Santana and their work visit www.theboloneytrail.com 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About The Boloney Trail Trilogy and the historical era
Parallels to Today's Society
Progression from a novel to the screen through their partnership
Marketability, casting hopefuls and the next steps
Audio book production
What's next with the project?
PERPETUAL GLOOM
Based on true events, Perpetual Gloom is the first installation of The Boloney Trail trilogy. The story begins in the eye of the Great Depression, which left thousands dead or destitute, one family, the Hornbecks, finds a way to survive the storm by serving both the Devil and the Lord in a nomadic life along a perilous trail leading them out of their beloved South and into the dank logging camps of the Pacific Northwest.
CONNECT WITH SHELAH JOHNSON AND JR SANTANA
WEBSITE: https://theboloneytrail.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheBoloneyTrail/ 
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theboloneytrailofficial/ 

Jacqueline Greer Graham is a Canadian citizen who was born in Montserrat, British West Indies. She has a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from York University, and a Medical Office and Laboratory Assisting Diploma from Career Canada College. Jacqueline is a former manager at the Canadian Institute for Health Information. She is now a business owner, pursuing her passion for telling stories. Almost Full Circle is her debut book. Jacqueline also enjoys singing and dancing, and is a health and fitness enthusiast. She lives in Ontario, Canada, and has two children. 
To learn more about Jacqueline and her work visit her website at https://jacquelinegreergraham.com/ 
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About Almost Full Circle and the inspiration behind the book.
Writing Memoir and drawing on memories
Keeping your stories alive for future generations
Experiences in Montserrat
Learning a thing or two along the way
What's next for Jacqueline Greer Graham?
 
ALMOST FULL CIRCLE: FROM MONTSERRAT TO CANADA AND BACK-ISH
Where do you call home? It’s likely a number of places over time, but there’s probably something special about your first home. For Jacqueline Greer Graham, it was Harris, Montserrat, British West Indies, where her experiences were rich and defining; it is where she navigated both the pleasant and unpleasant situations that shaped her identity. Jacqueline immigrated to Canada and continued to be shaped by her experiences. She took for granted that she could go home anytime, but a sleeping giant had other plans. The Soufrière Hills volcano, which was dormant for almost 400 years, awoke on July 18, 1995, and changed Montserrat catastrophically. When the ashes cleared, Jacqueline’s journey home would prove to be challenging, albeit transformative.
 
CONNECT WITH JACQUELINE GREER GRAHAMWebsite: https://jacquelinegreergraham.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacquelinegreergraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinegreergraham   Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacquelinegrgr 

Daniel Santos is a twenty-one-year young adult author, born in Manila, Philippines, and immigrated to the U.S. at a very young age. He’s spent most of his life living in the West while occasionally flying home to visit his family. When he’s not listening to music, playing video games or just doing things people of his age engage in, he’s writing. Daniel’s writing usually consists of fantasy fiction that delves into the paranormal. He likes to focus on characterization and letting the reader get to know his characters. He genuinely believes that we often learn more from fictional characters than we do from real ones. Life is Inevitable is his debut novel.
To learn more about Daniel Santos and his work visit www.dantheauthor.com.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
Daniel’s writing journey
About Life is Inevitable and the inspiration behind the story
Adding paranormal elements to heavy social issues
Writing about difficult topics with authenticity
Daniel’s writing routine
What’s next for Daniel Santos?
LIFE IS INEVITABLE  
A story about trauma, abuse and mental health, Life is Inevitable is about Eighteen-year-old boy Brennan, and seventeen-year-old girl Olivia, who have their entire lives and worldview changed when they commit suicide on the same day. In this world, the dead are brought to a train station where they receive tickets that send them to heaven or hell. However, Olivia and Brennan are given a second chance. An angel gives them train tickets that will send them back to their bodies, but a new problem emerges when they accidentally switch their tickets. In the world of the living, they wake up in each other's bodies and are now forced to undo the mistake they just made while living the other person's life.
 
CONNECT WITH DANIEL SANTOS
Website: https://www.dantheauthor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniel_the_author/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfkXBo7G6Um6y4HVz43y5zQ
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlosdanielsa96
Subscribe for Updates from Daniel Santos

Nancy Stohlman's book Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction, won a 2021 Reader Views Gold Award and was re-released as an audiobook in 2022. Her other books include After the Rapture, (forthcoming 2023), Madam Velvet's Cabaret of Oddities, and The Vixen Scream and Other Bible Stories, among others. Her work has appeared in the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction and The Best Small Fictions 2019, as well as adapted for both the stage and screen. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder and around the world.
To learn more about Nancy Stohlman and her work, visit https://nancystohlman.com/
 
Topics of Conversation:
About Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction
What is Flash Fiction?
Different forms of Flash
How writing Flash improves your writing overall
Flash Myths
Flash Workshops, Getting Started with Flash
What's next for Nancy Stohlman?
 
GOING SHORT: AN INVITATION TO FLASH FICTION
Flash fiction is changing the way we tell stories. Carving away the excess, eliminating all but the most essential, flash fiction is putting the story through a literary dehydrator, leaving the meat without the fat. And it only looks easy.
Enter Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction. In this, her treatise on the form, veteran writer Nancy Stohlman takes us on a flash fiction journey: from creating, sculpting, revisioning and collecting stories to best practices for writers in any genre. It is both instructive and conversational, witty and practical, and presented in flash fiction chapters that demonstrate the form as they discuss it. If you’re already a flash fiction lover, this book will be a dose of inspiration. If you teach flash fiction, you’ll want it as part of your repertoire. And if you’re new to the form, you might just find yourself ready to begin.
 
PRE-ORDER NANCY'S UPCOMING FLASH NOVEL: AFTER THE RAPTURE
 
CONNECT WITH NANCY STOHLMAN
Website: https://nancystohlman.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.stohlman/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancystohlman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancy_stohlman/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nancystohlman

Paul Sturm actually started writing poems as a teenager, attempting to impress young ladies, though to no avail except for a smile or two. Many years later, the author worked in a high pressure career prompting him to escape by reading and writing for the fun of it. The author's amusing sense of humor provided the perfect backdrop for his hilarious books.
Another important aspect of his writing could be gleaned from an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' titled "Walking the Distance." In that episode, a traveling executive has car trouble on a country road. The man walks to the small town nearby where he was born and discovers himself as a boy once more. The author, in a manner, revels in writing amusing tales of his youth growing up in a small town, allowing him to be a spirited boy once more.
Paul has a B.S. degree from the College of William and Mary, an M.B.A. degree from the University of South Florida, and is a Certified Public Accountant, a CPA. The author spent 2 years at the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, Inc., before accepting an offer from Computer Sciences Corporation, where he became a Vice President of Finance in 1986. The author enjoyed 37 exciting and adventurous years at Computer Sciences Corporation, including several overseas assignments in Malaysia, India, and Europe.
The author has written 3 amusing, entertaining, and fun-loving books, including 'My Favorite Girlfriend,' 'Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie,' and 'More Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie.'
Paul is married and has 3 children and 3 grandchildren, and lives just outside of Washington, D.C., in a Virginia suburb.
You can learn more about Paul Sturm and his work at https://www.paulsturmauthor.com/ 
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About his books
Writing memoir
The role of humor in his writing and in his life
Surprising things he learned along the way
What people are saying about Pauls Books
CONNECT WITH PAUL STURM!
Website is http://www.paulsturmauthor.com.
Facebook URL is: https://www.facebook.com/paulsturmauthor/
LinkedIn URL is; http://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sturm-a41487190
Instagram URL is: https://www.instagram.com/paulsturmauthor/
Amazon URL for "My Favorite Girlfriend" is:  https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08DBZPM1W
Amazon URL for "Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie" is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DG2XMH9/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i2
Amazon URL for "More Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie" is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08S3HLYJT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
 
 

Mark Shaiken lives with his wife Loren and their dog Emily in Denver, CO. He schooled at Haverford College and Washburn University, and practiced commercial bankruptcy law for several decades before moving on in 2019 to write, volunteer and play music.
In addition to his latest legal thriller, "Automatic Stay," he is the author of "And . . Just Like That - essays on a life before, during, and after the law" and "Fresh Start," a legal mystery.  Mark is currently working on his book, "Unfair Discrimination." 
You can learn more about mark and his work at markshaikenauthor.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
Mark's author journey
Writing fiction and non-fiction
Developing and mapping out a legal thriller series
Writing authentic characters
What people are saying about Automatic Stay
What's next for Mark Shaiken?
 
AUTOMATIC STAY
In Automatic Stay, 3J and Pascale are back and file bankruptcy cases for six Kansas City jazz clubs that have somehow managed to survive the Covid pandemic. Now they must battle an unknown enemy who runs an anonymous disinformation campaign on social media to try to put the clubs out of business. Will they be able to stop the campaign in time to save the clubs and keep jazz alive in the city?
 
CONNECT WITH MARK SHAIKEN!
Website: htttp://markshaikenauthor.com 
Author's page: htttp://markshaikenauthor.com
YouTube book trailer: https://youtu.be/KyJSXZNCRaY
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mark-shaiken-author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Shaiken-Author/100070831924501/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkShaiken    

Books have been a part of Marilynn Wood’s world for as long as she can remember. She was influenced by her maternal grandmother, a teacher, who exposed her to reading and writing at an early age. She wrote her first story in first grade and caught the literary bug, though it would be many years later for her dream to become an author was realized. 
What started as a book about the socio-economic problems on our planet took a turn to SciFi when a UFO experience caused her to wonder about beings from another planet and how they would regard us and the way we treat one another. During the creation of her debut novel, Exit to Morvana, Wood realized her deepest wish was for our planet to achieve Utopia, claiming victory over all the upheavals we’ve been through. Marilynn believes we have all the potential to succeed, but it’s up to us to choose the right path.
Marilynn Wood resides in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, where she is currently working on her second novel.
To learn more about Marilynn Wood and her work visit www.morvana.ca.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
The author's writing journey and her decision to become an author.
About Exit to Morvana
Inspiration behind the story.
Writing a series.
The most surprising thing she learned while writing Exit to Morvana and the one thing she wishes she'd known before she started out!
What's next for Marilynn Wood?
 
EXIT TO MORVANA
Do the painful disappointments in life make you wonder "Where is the exit door on this planet? Consider the tale of over worked, lonely Samantha who one day meets a mysterious Alien while visiting a metaphysical book store. He offers to take her to Morvana, a planet in the Andromeda galaxy where the people have such long life spans they are virtually immortal. The Morvanian civilization has suffered through all the trials and tribulations that planet Earth has and overcome them. This has resulted in a near perfect Utopian planet. The only catch is, Samantha must agree to leave Earth and everything she knows -- forever. If you had such an opportunity, would you go?
 
 

In his role as President of Propheta Lucro Management Consultants, Paul Sacco develops and delivers leadership development programs that enable people to create, verify and decide ideas for strategy, innovation, and complex problem-solving. He is also the author of Strategy Quest – The Executive Guide for Finding Business Opportunities.
Paul is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he earned both a B.A.Sc. and an MBA. He is also a certified MBTI Practitioner. Paul's volunteer experience includes mentoring MBA students and participating as a director on non-profit boards.
Residing in Calgary, Alberta, Paul, and his wife Juli enjoy golf, music, tropical vacations, theatre and hiking with their dog, Kali.
To learn more about Paul Sacco and his work visit https://paul-sacco.com/ and https://prophetalucro.com/
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Strategy Quest and the inspiration for writing the book.
What is a strategic mindset?
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test and its significance to the strategic mindset
Sears and Amazon
Propheta Lucro Management Colsultants
What's next for Paul Sacco?
Strategy Quest: The Executive Guide to Finding Business Opportunities
Are you a business executive in need of strategic opportunities? Using an entirely new method, Strategy Quest will guide you every step of the way. With Strategy Quest you will learn to set strategic goals, create an original vision, and judge whether it represents a strategic opportunity.
Stop copying your competitors or following trends. The only way to beat the competition is to find unique strategic opportunities. Get started on your Strategy Quest today. Combining knowledge from leadership, business, strategy, psychology, philosophy, art, neuroscience and history, Strategy Quest will pave your way to competitive success. Whether your business is B2C or B2B and your customers are internal or external, Strategy Quest will help your business win!
 
CONNECT WITH PAUL SACCO
www.prophetalucro.com
www.paul-sacco.com
Paul-Sacco.com
https://www.facebook.com/paulsaccoauthor
https://www.facebook.com/PLIdeas
linkedin.com/in/paulsacco
https://www.linkedin.com/company/propheta-lucro-management-consulting
https://twitter.com/prophetalucro

Julie Broad, founder of the self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and Amazon Overall #1 Best-Selling Author, knows what it takes to successfully self-publish a book. Her popular YouTube channel, BookLaunchers.TV, embodies the hashtag of #noboringbooks helping nonfiction authors write and market books people want to read.
Julie’s titles include More than Cashflow, which topped Amazon, The New Brand You, and her latest book, Self-Publish & Succeed. A recognized real estate investor, successful entrepreneur, and notable speaker, Julie also received the Top 20 under 40 Award for her business and community contributions. She’s been speaking on stages across Canada and the US since 2009, sharing her strategies to write a book that builds your business and have more impact and influence with your brand. 
An expert on writing a book with marketing in mind, Julie teaches the best approaches to get results, make an impact, and ultimately, make more money. Julie always leaves people inspired, excited, and with clear steps to take action immediately. Her advice for authors and investors has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur.com, Yahoo! Business, CTV, the Toronto Sun, Medium.com and many local and national TV shows. 
Born and raised in Canada, Julie currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. When she’s not busy with Book Launchers or her family, you’ll find her at CrossFit or playing poker.
To learn more about Julie and her work, visit https://juliebroad.com/ and https://booklaunchers.com/
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Writing a book people will want to read using the Self-Publish and Succeed method.
The importance of your book title, subtitle and chapter titles!
Do the prep work
Should all non-fiction authors narrate their audiobooks?
About BookLaunchers.com
What's next for Julie Broad?
 
SELF-PUBLISH & SUCCEED
You can write a book—anyone can. But if you want to write a book that people will want or even need to read, it’s not as simple as sitting down to write. In fact, that’s one of the biggest mistakes unsuccessful authors make.Writing a book can be one of the smartest moves for your business success. But you need more than a message and writing skills to create an impressive book that readers will love. You also need a plan to market, sell, and leverage your book into a new level of leadership within your industry to reach your professional goals.In Self-Publish & Succeed, trusted best-selling author and entrepreneur Julie Broad shows you that writing a successful nonfiction book starts long before you craft your first chapter. To write a book that boosts your brand, generates a profit, and makes you an influencer in your industry, you need the #noboringbooks way.
 
CONNECT WITH JULIE BROAD AND BOOK LAUNCHERS!
https://www.facebook.com/booklaunchers/https://twitter.com/BookLaunchershttps://www.instagram.com/booklaunchers/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKx1lFOj7qGseYruGokKVjghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebroad/https://www.linkedin.com/company/book-launchers/
 

Jessica Wohlgemuth is a country prairie girl who grew up on a little hobby farm passionate about animals. Her two favorite bunnies were named Flip and Flop. Oh, how she loved her soft fluffy pets! Now with nieces and nephew spending hours chasing their own bunnies, she couldn’t help but imagine what life would be like if bunnies lived in a sort of people world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about Jessica Wohlgemuth and her work visit her Etsy shop: The Hidden Pine Tree
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Bop-It and No More Covid and the inspiration behind the story
Her debut in writing and illustrating
Growing up on a hobby farm
How her upbringing influenced her decision to use animals as her main characters
What's next for Jessica?
 
BOP-IT AND NO MORE COVID
Are you tired of living the COVID life? Find hope and cheer in this little book about a fuzzy little grey bunny named Bop-It. Read about how he and his friends learn to cope through the pandemic, finding fun in the new normal.

Daniel Lassell is the author of Spit (Wheelbarrow Books / Michigan State University Press, 2021), winner of the 2020 Wheelbarrow Books Emerging Poetry Prize selected by Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and winner of the 2021-22 Reader Views Gold Award for Poetry and the Inside Scoop Live Award for the Most Innovative Poetry Book. He is also the author of a chapbook, Ad Spot (Ethel Zine and Micro Press, 2021), and his poems have appeared in the Colorado Review, Cherry Tree, and Prairie Schooner, among others. He grew up in Kentucky, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
To learn more about Daniel Lassell and his work, visit his website at http://www.daniel-lassell.com/
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
What sparked his initial interest in poetry
About "Spit" and his inspiration behind the collection
Using different poetic forms
Thoughts about how his idea of poetry has evolved
Poetry readings from "Spit"
What's next for Daniel Lassell?
 
SPIT
he first-ever poetry book set on a llama farm, Daniel Lassell’s debut collection, Spit, examines the roles we play in the act of belonging. It is a portrait of a boy living on a farm populated with chickens sung to sleep by lullaby,  captive wolves next door that attack a child, and a herd of llamas learning to survive despite coyotes and a chaotic family. The collection in part explores the role of the body in health and illness and one’s treatment of the earth and others. A theme of spirituality also weaves throughout the collection as the speaker treks into adulthood, yearning for peace amid the decline of his parents’ marriage. Driven by a “wish to visit / some landless landscape,” the  speaker eventually leaves his family’s farm, only to find that return is impossible. After losing the farm and the llama herd to his parents’ divorce, the speaker wrestles with the role of presence as it relates to healing, remarking, “I wish enough, / to have only // these memories I have.” Unflinching at every turn, the collection pushes the boundaries of “home” to arrive upon new meaning, definition, and purpose.

Julian Tryst is a fiction author from Canada who likes to observe the messed-up aspects of human nature and make stories out of them.
For more information about Julian and his work, visit his website at https://juliantryst.com/
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About Garvey Feinstein: Hollywood Predator
Inspiration behind the story
Satire, erotica and writing about human nature
A reading from the book
Reader reaction to the story
Cover creation
What's next for Julian Tryst?
 
GARVEY FEINSTEIN: HOLLYWOOD PREDATOR
The story of the rise and fall of a lecherous and uncouth Hollywood mogul named Garvey. A man who sought clout and influence to remedy his past frustrations, and who ended up using and abusing those things mainly on members of the opposite sex.But alas for Garvey, such unfettered thirst for power and women was bound to leave a number of skeletons along his road, one of which could come back and haunt him in the least expected ways.
 

As an attorney and civil justice advocate, author Mark M. Bello draws upon over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series.
A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.
Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients, but captivating novels to his readers.
When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Mark and his wife, Tobye, have four children and 8 grandchildren.
To learn more about Mark and his work visit www.markmbello.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About Happy Jack Sad Jack and His Social Justice/Safety Series for Kids
Bullying
Talking about sensitive issues with kids
Working with an illustrator
Writing for Kids
Up next for Mark Bello - other books in the series
 
HAPPY JACK SAD JACK
Jack has always been a very happy little boy.
But when he starts kindergarten, he discovers he is different than the others. For the very first time, he is bullied—Happy Jack suddenly becomes Sad Jack.
What should Jack do? Should he tell an adult? His parents? Would his teacher or principal understand? What can they do to help?
As parents, we want certain things for our kids. Mainly, we want them to be happy. Can today’s kids celebrate their differences, or are they doomed to fight over them like generations before?
Jack’s school community learns an important lesson as attorney/author Mark M. Bello presents Jack’s compelling story in rhyme, beautifully and dramatically illustrated by Melinda Falgoust:
“People are different in color, shape, size.Ears, noses, mouths, and different shaped eyes.Different races, and genders—more, too.Christian or Buddhist, or Muslim or Jew.But there’s one thing in common we all have in this place.We are all valued members of this human race.”
Happy Jack Sad Jack: A Bullying Story is a must read for all children and one your child will never forget.
 

Kristin Bloch first began rhyming words together at a very young age. Soon these words expanded into poems and stories that enchanted family and friends. A compilation of those writings was recently released in her first book, Walk Through a Field of Flowers. Kristin works full time and has earned an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix. Kristin is also a certified personal trainer and certified Pilates instructor, teaching several classes each week. Scatter Seeds of Kindness is her second book.
 
You can Learn more about Kristin Bloch and her work on her website at KABlochauthor.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About Scatter Seeds of Kindness and the inspiration behind the story.
Learning about the power behind words at an early age
Writing poetry vs. prose
The stages of life that most influence her work
Poetry reading
What's next for Kristin Bloch?
 
SCATTER SEEDS OF KINDNESS
Scatter Seeds of Kindness presents a new collection of poetry from K. A. Bloch, the author of Walk through a Field of Flowers. Her poetry explores a wide variety of themes, such as memories and how they impact our life, the passage of time, stereotypes within society, and bullying. She also includes fun and lighthearted poems designed to bring a smile to your face and shares her struggles with trying to practice kindness and not always succeeding. Sometimes raw and vulnerable, sometimes light and humorous, these verses encourage you to be kind not only to others but also to yourself. This poetry collection presents personal life experiences and thoughts set in verses and provides the inspiration or motivation behind each poem. Scatter seeds of kindness Wherever you may go. Reach deep inside your heart And scatter them to and fro. Scatter seeds of kindness And bring a few to share. You never know when you'll find the chance To show someone you care.
 
CONNECT WITH KRISTIN BLOCH:
WEBSITE: https://www.kablochauthor.com/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KABlochauthorINSTAGRAM: @kablochauthor TWITTER: @KABlochauthor 

As an attorney and civil justice advocate, author Mark M. Bello draws upon over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series.
A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.
Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients, but captivating novels to his readers.
When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Mark and his wife, Tobye, have four children and 8 grandchildren.
To learn more about Mark and his work visit www.markmbello.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About You Have the Right to Remain Silent and the inspiration behind the story.
A departure from his signature work
Introducing a vibrant new character 
Incorporating his family cookbook into his latest thriller
About The Blake Lewin Family Cookbook of Traditional Jewish Recipes and his motivation for publishing.
Great food, great family stories.
 
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Expect the unexpected in this whodunit legal crime thriller, the 8th installment of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series, featuring all your favorite series characters and one brash, exciting newcomer who gives Blake all he can handle."Zachary Blake has become one of the greatest leading men in a series in my own personal library. Considering I read too many books to name, that's saying something. With this latest and greatest suspense, I once again got to sit on the edge of my chair and enjoy Zack, his adventure, his need and passion to see justice served, and the charismatic cast that appears every time I pick one of these up. If You Have The Right to Remain Silent is representative of the quality of books coming in our future, 2022 is going to be one heck of a year for readers.” —Reader Views
 
THE BLAKE-LEWIN FAMILY COOKBOOK OF TRADITIONAL JEWISH RECIPES
Hi folks, Mark M. Bello, author of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series here. Family, ethnic identity, holidays, and food are vital components of the Jewish experience. The delightful family recipes contained in this book have been handed down, l'dor v'dor—from generation to generation by precious family members from both sides of my family, some still with us, others of blessed memory. Somehow, despite tremendous adversity and tragedy, the Jews and Jewish family traditions have survived. Mitch pacha is important to me—I am who I am because of the influence and contributions of my family. My Jewish identity is also why I am so passionate about social justice—as you may have noticed, most Jewish holidays celebrate events in history when those in power tried to kill or harm the Jews. They failed, hence, holiday celebrations. Hopefully, these recipes will now endure, a lasting tribute to cherished family members and memories. I hope you enjoy this book, the delightful family stories woven between the delightful recipes, and the recipes themselves. If you happen to be Jewish, you will, no doubt, recognize many of these dishes. Perhaps your own family has created a special version of one or many. If you are not Jewish, hopefully the stories and recipes will, in some small way, help provide an better understanding of or connection to the Jewish experience. Either way, thanks for indulging my family memories as transmitted through my fictional character, Zachary Blake, Detroit's King of Justice. L'Chaim—To Life! Let's Eat!
 
CONNECT WITH MARK BELLO!
Website: https://www.markmbello.comFacebook: @markmbellobooksTwitter: @markmbelloInstagram: @markmbellobooks

Recently awarded a Gold Medal by Reader Views 2021-22 Literary Awards in the Mystery/Thriller category, writing started for Gary D. McGugan after a 40-year career in the world of business. He’s worked in supermarkets, sold appliances, distributed motorcycles, launched an automobile dealer network, and provided financing to help businesses grow. Every industry was very different from the other. Each company had a distinctive culture and character, but all were units of large corporations with operations around the globe. Travel has always been a large component of his business roles and he’s now visited more than 650 towns and cities in more than fifty countries for either business or leisure. Experts say we should write about things we know best. In Gary’s case, those subjects are business, travel, and people. As an author, his goal is to entertain readers around the world — one at a time.
For more information about Gary D. McGugan and his work visit https://www.garydmcguganbooks.com.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About A Slippery Shadow and the inspiration behind the story
Character creation/development and readers' favorites
Surprising twists and turns
Travel and the influence of such in his work
Marketing and book sales via bookstore signings and meeting readers
Upcoming projects
 
A SLIPPERY SHADOW
Snatched from her private jet, crime-boss Fidelia Morales barely escapes with her life. Now she wants revenge. But her gang of criminals is thrown into chaos as dozens of key operatives suddenly disappear.Howard Knight—Fidelia’s former lover and accomplice in her latest heist—walks free from the same plane only to flee in a desperate quest to escape TheOrganization. He too is hounded by menacing encounters.Both become entangled with massive Multima Corporation led by SuzanneSimpson. Amid a global pandemic, this powerful CEO scrambles to fill crucialexecutive roles while dealing with bizarre threats and mysterious interference on three continents. All seem connected and threaten her empire.With breath-taking reach and bewildering influence, is it possible an unseenand elusive Shadow can pull strings to manipulate people, companies, criminalorganizations and governments?
 
CONNECT WITH GARY MCGUGAN!
Website:                     https://www.garydmcguganbooks.comMonthly Blog:           https://www.garydmcguganbooks.com/rendezvous-blogFacebook:                  https://www.facebook.com/gary.d.mcgugan.booksTwitter:                      https://twitter.com/GaryDMcGuganInstagram:                 https://www.instagram.com/authorgarydmcgugan

I grew up in Barnegat NJ, and had a Huck Finn childhood, surrounded by woods, streams, and meadows. In the 1950s, 1200 people lived there. I have two younger sisters, Laura and Liza, both now professionally accomplished, with kids and husbands. Our Dad, a merchant seaman for most of his life, had a small business raising lab mice for companies like Squibbs and Merck. He was an amazing story teller, a great little league coach, and a town character. Mom was from the mountain region of North Carolina. She graduated from college, was a teacher and taught us kids to read early.
Dad lost the business and returned to sea and we moved from Barnegat to a North Jersey suburb when I was 13.  I ran track and cross country at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. In 1969, I attended the University of Kansas on a small track scholarship, where I studied and graduated with a double major BA in Economics and History (and also met Liz, my ex-wife and now friend.)
We moved from Kansas to Salt Lake City, then to Eugene Oregon, where Liz and separated and divorced. During that time, I worked as a laborer, a forklift driver, landscaper, and other jobs while I wrote quite a few short stories, a couple of plays, and began my first novel about college life, (from which I incorporated large chunks into my SwiftPad Trilogy).  I taught myself land surveying and associated Civil Engineering, then worked in the field and in the office for Eugene Public Works.
I met Mary, and began to study Chinese at the University of Oregon, and then was invited by my language instructor and friend Qi Xinghua to teach English in Xian China.  After six months, Mary joined me. In 1986, we moved to Beijing where Mary studied Chinese and worked at the US Embassy's school and I taught at the Foreign Language Institute. Two years later, we returned to the US, broke, with son Zach on the way. I got a job in a Florida strip mall computer store.  On the job, and with self-study, I learned computer hardware, software, networking, IT security, ‘hacking’, and other associated technologies.
I changed jobs every few years, and wrote intermittently, mostly on my China novel “Farewell the Dragon”. Thirty years later I retired from IBM, and wrote “The SwiftPad Trilogy.”
 
For more information on Lee Barckmann and his work, visit www.barckwords.com. 
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Farewell the Dragon and the inspiration behind the story
Spending time and teaching in China
Incorporating a mystery and fiction inspired by real events
Book Awards
Reading and Reviewing Books
What's Next for Lee?
 
FAREWELL THE DRAGON
In Farewell the Dragon, Nate Scheutt, American, 35, is pulled into a politically charged murder investigation when he stumbles onto the bodies of two young Europeans on a prestigious Beijing university campus. Gradually Nate discovers the case is entwined with an international quest for a small stone tablet, (a stele) that might contain the key to ancient China's long-lost link with the West.
In the 1980's, old Beijing's walls and hutong alleyways were disappearing, victims of Deng Xiaoping's proclamation 致富光 荣!(To get rich is glorious!). While juggling teaching English, his business, (and women), Nate seeks refuge at the bar on the roof of the Friendship Hotel with a legation of self-imposed exiles from the both sides of the Cold War. There he enters a netherworld of sex, spies, strange religion and the hidden history of China's Cultural Revolution.