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Indie and small press authors talk about the writing craft and their support for each other’s work.
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
Deborah Frontiera’s Living on Sisu: The 1913 Union Copper Strike Tragedy is a compelling novel for young adult readers which follows the adventures and experiences of twelve-year-old Emma Neimi and her family and community who are caught up in the 1913-14 strike in thecopper district of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.
Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery @moraviansons and Doc Chavent.
Frontiera has done an excellent job of exploring the history of the strike through Emma’s diary which follows all the key event and
issues in the strike, including the false call of fire which caused the death of seventy-three (sic.), primarily children of those attending a Christmas Eve party for strikers’ families.
An audio book is also available.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Living on Sisu.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Wednesday Jun 10, 2026
Elijah Bennet was perfectly content with his life and running the family’s pizzeria until Darcy Fitzgerald walked into Pizza Palace. She may have only ordered a slice of pie, but she pulls Elijah into a whirlwind of unexpected attraction.
Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent
As their relationship heats up, Elijah finds himself daring to want more than he ever has before. Worlds collide and pepperonis fly as he is forced to decide if love is truly all a person needs to be happy. Pizza Guise is West’s second novel in verse and is a modern reimagining of her favorite Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Pizza Guise.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2026
Tuesday Jun 02, 2026
Frank Demith will be the featured speaker at the Patriotic evening in Moravian Sons Distillery tasting room located inside The Old Theater in downtown Lowell, MI on June 6 starting at 4 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge. You can buy your tickets ahead of time at www.theoldtheater.com
Frank Demith entered the army after graduating high school. He was awarded an appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated with the class of 1983. He spent 26 years on active duty and retired in 2007 later serving additional 2.5 years on active duty.
Episode sponsored by award-winning author Frank Demith, Moravian Sons Distillery, Modern History Press and Doc Chavent.
He was the program manager for Army Interpreter/Translator program which recruited more than 1500 green card holders who were native speakers of Arabic, Dari, Pashto or Farsi.
He is the recipient of the United Nations Icon of Change Award in recognition of work in support of immigrants while in the military and as part of the civilian workforce.
He has received International Impact awards for both of his books Of Vital Interest and Defending the Eagle.
Take a listen for a chance to win signed copy of Defending the Eagle.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Friday May 22, 2026
Friday May 22, 2026
Happy Memorial Day weekend.
Chad Faries sifts through abandoned mines, family history, and the quiet damage of loving Iron County, Michigan--a place that keeps trying to break him. His poetry mines the U.P.'s economic decline, stubborn resilience, and awkward small-town rituals, balancing bleak humor with bruised affection.
Sponsored by Modern History Press, author Frank Demith, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.
Both a personal autopsy and a regional love letter, Faries proves that identity, like iron, is forged under pressure and usually leaves a mess behind.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Amasa Speaker Factory.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
M. Kelly Peach, the author of The Adventures of ArgyLe Sock, The Whore: or Of Bureaucracy, Please, Do Not Tap on the Glass, and The Death of Tintagiles Death, was born in Detroit and raised in the west-side suburb of Garden City.
Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent
Days One-Ten
The main character starts as a cockroach. It begins its transformation by tripling in size. After an evening mating session, it devours its lover. The cockroach continues its rapid growth fueled by constant feeding. Its intelligence increases with its size and it is able to teach itself to read using materials available at the agency. The creature finishes its metamorphosis from an arthropod into something like a female human. She finds a sanctuary over the ceiling and establishes a nest in the rafters.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Whore: or Of Bureacracy.
Copyright (c)2026. Emma Blogs. All rights reserved.
Friday May 01, 2026
Friday May 01, 2026
Happy Mayday.
Today's episode is especially close to my heart because I’m sharing the story behind my newest novel, The Quest for the Lost Town.
Sponsored by authors Emma Palova, Frank Demith, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.
The Quest for the Lost Town is the long-awaited sequel to The Lost Town and it dives deep into the story behind the lumbering town of Singapore, MI poised to rival Chicago and Milwaukee in 1837. But instead-- Singapore disappeared in the aftermath of the Great Fire of Chicago.
Much like the residents of Saugatuck, I still to this day believe that the town exists beneath the shifting sands on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was that belief that propelled me to pursue the sequel to a seemingly dead-end story with only protruding roofs as a clue.
“A whole town cannot disappear,” said a fan at the Grand Rapids Women’s Expo in 2023. “Sometimes we see protruding roofs from the sands.”
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Quest for the Lost Town.
The stunning book cover art is by graphic artist Jeanne Boss.
Copyright (c) 2026 Emma Palova. All rights reserved.
Wednesday Apr 22, 2026
Wednesday Apr 22, 2026
In celebration of Earth Day, this encore episode is supported by Diana Magnuson and her book Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing—a gentle reminder of nature’s cycles and the beauty of renewal all around us.
Explore the visible and hidden world of Noriko’s garden from her garden’s point of view, in and around all year long. After the deep snow of winter, her soil is prepared for planting.
Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, authors Terri Martin, Diana Magnuson and Doc Chavent.
Green leaves sprout as plants ripen to fruits and vegetables. Hungry forest animals prowl and pad-pad in to eat them. Insects and birds also aggravate garden, but others are important assistants to her growth. Exuberant and lyrical
Garden’s story explores nature’s wonders that support our lives.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Friday Apr 10, 2026
Friday Apr 10, 2026
Ross J. Smith is a licensed forensic engineer and investigates structural damages from fires, floods, tornados, and collapses. Ross and his wife Kylene live in Grand Haven where they raised their three children near the sandy shores of Lake Michigan.
Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com and Doc Chavent
Ross J. Smith, writes his debut memoir about fatherhood from the calculated perspective of an engineer. In his self-depre-cating, yet surprisingly poignant story about being a new dad, he battles his technical predispositions as he navigates the uncontrolled va-riables of life while his premature twins fight to survive in the NICU.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Engineering a Father.
Copyright (c) Emma Palova. All rights reserved.
Friday Apr 03, 2026
Friday Apr 03, 2026
Happy Easter
This folk tale started out as a birthday card for a dear friend, then it grew into a 4,000-word short story. Today, it's a 10,000-word book about an evil kingdom, a good girl, a good man and two dogs.
Sponsored by award-winning author Frank Demith, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.
Her Heartstone is a folktale for all ages that shares with readers the importance empathy plays in all our lives, and that we should always treat those we meet with dignity, regardless of whether or not we walk the same path.
If you visit the book's page on dkpwriter.com website, you can watch the book trailer, to learn more about the book and see Michael's amazing artwork. You can find that link here: https://www.dkpwriter.com/her-heartstone
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Her Heartstone.
Copyright (c) Emma Palova. All rights reserved.
Thursday Mar 19, 2026
Thursday Mar 19, 2026
Today, we’re diving right into the magic of the Third Coast Authors & Books Festival—one of the most exciting bookish events on the lakeshore in beautiful Grand Haven set for March 21.
Sponsored by authors Kiril Kristoff, Jennifer Montiel, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.
Think great books, passionate readers, lively conversations, and a whole lot of inspiration packed into one unforgettable day.
Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or someone who just loves the magic of storytelling, this festival—and this episode—is for you.
I’m joined by some incredible guests who help make the festival happen, along with talented authors who bring the stories to life.
So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s celebrate books, community, and the stories that connect us all.
Our magic guests today are: Mike O'Brien, festival founder and owner of The Book Cellar and author magicians Jean Davis and Verra West.
Copyright (c) 2026. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.