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Indie and small press authors talk about the writing craft and their support for each other’s work.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
In the third book of the Shifting Sands series- "The Lost Town"- author Emma Palova of Lowell creates the protagonist, Miss Ida. The historical fiction novel is set in Singapore on the shores of Lake Michigan at the foot of the sand dunes adorned with white pines. Beautiful Ida is torn between her hometown of Chicago and her new home on the other side of the lake, and between two men.
Developed by New York investors, the once-thriving settlement of Singapore nurtured the dreams of adventurers like Oshea Wilder and pioneer settlers alike. Singapore would rival Chicago and Milwaukee. It almost did with its sawmills, hotels, boarding houses, stores, and a "wildcat" bank.
Entrepreneurial Ida struggles to adjust to the rough environment but finds more than support in her boss who invited her to Singapore to be the "Mistress" of the Big House. A "wildcat" bank was established in Singapore in 1837.
Who will win Ida's heart?
Check out the review by Nancy Price Stroosnyder.
Emma's ease at mixing actual history into her stories is remarkable, and so entails Miss Ida's response to an invitation to a soon-to-be bustling "Singapore" on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is transported away from Chicago, family, and friends. She quickly learns the duties expected of her in maintaining a boarding house and warehouse in the rapidly growing community. Soon she falls in love with one of the corrupt founders. The many colorful characters weave a fantastic story of love, mystery, hope, and faith. This is a quick, very worthwhile read!
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger, bringing you homegrown stories for more than 100 years.
Palova will be signing her new book The Lost Town at Once Upon A Book in Frankenmuth on July 23 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Fallasburg on July 30, in Holland on Aug. 6 and in Paradise from Aug.19 through Aug. 21.
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
In The Rite of Wands, author Mackenzie Flohr has created a fantasy world of witches and warlocks set in 13th century Ireland. The main character Mierta, 12, has to earn his magic powers.
"It took me 20 years to write this," said Flohr. "I realized that I have a dead book."
But then the new character, originally Gerard, spoke to Flohr and said, "That's not how it happened."
Protagonist Mierta too is a neurodivergent like the author. Flohr used an entire disease layer in the story that reminded people of Covid, although the story was completed in 2017. Much like the black plague, she gave the disease a physical appearance.
The book was inspired by The Lord of The Rings trilogy, as Flohr visited a museum dedicated to the movie series.
"And there was my story," she said. "Mierta goes, we're going to tell that story."
Every character in the book has three layers to them.
"They all fit together at the end," she said. "There is a little bit of myself in both protagonists. I got the wizard language right."
Flohr is working toward TV series adaption of The Rite of Wands. Listen in for a chance to with an autographed copy.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent & The Lowell Ledger
Happy Fourth of July.
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Victor Volkman is the publisher of the U.P. Reader, senior editor at Modern History Press based in Ann Arbor, and president of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association.
The U.P. Reader is the brainchild of author Mikel Classen. Volkman said he can't be a Yooper because Yoopers are born, not made. The hefty publication features thirty to 50 contributing writers, most are members of the UPPAA.
"People who live in the U.P are great writers, the U.P. Reader exposes their writings for other people to explore," said Volkman.
Volkman said he's especially proud of the inclusion of Cottage Dandelion winners, young writers who receive a traveling trophy for their school, kind of like the Stanley Cup.
"We're making the next generation of writers," he said. "We provide training wheels for young writers. We're able to accept 90 percent of writing."
The all-inclusive publication, which is distributed to all the libraries in the U.P., features contemporary fiction, short stories, humor, history, memoir, poetry, and much more.
"I am a publisher, and this helped me build a relationship with writers," he said. "We work hard to keep the price reasonable."
Some of the highlights of the UPPAA are the spring conference in Marquette in June and the picnic on the first Saturday after Labor Day in Marquette.
Submissions for the U.P. Reader Volume 7 will be accepted until November.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "I love the sense of community in the U.P."
To become a member of the association go to https://www.uppaa.org/
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and Modern History Press
Listen in for a chance to win an autographed copy of the U.P. Reader.
Have an awesome Fourth of July.
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday Jun 22, 2022
Authors' Alley at the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in downtown Muskegon, set for this weekend, will feature 21 authors representing different genres from mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, and children's books to horror and true stories.
"We get to interact with people," said author Ingar Rudholm. "You can ask as many questions as you want. We will be able to direct you to whatever genre you're looking for."
"If you can smell the food, you found us," said author Jean Davis. "We're a giant bookstore with authors."
Some of the benefits of visiting Authors' Alley include getting a signed book unlike from Amazon plus learning the full back story behind the book directly from the author.
Participating authors will be located in booths along Clay Street across from Hackley Park next to food vendors. Following is a full list of authors.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
In Superior Tapestry, author Deborah Frontiera combines fiction with non-fiction to create a fun fact read for adults and children. Frontiera picked 27 artifacts from UP history and gave them personality.
"The stories are told from the point of view of objects," she said. "I had a lot of fun with it."
In the first story Birch Bark (B. B.) Canoe, Frontiera portrays the canoe as a female traveling from St. Ignace across Soo to Duluth. The objective was to show how native Americans used a canoe for travel.
Frontiera aimed to strike a balance between the genders of the objects in her personification of artifacts such as the cliffs and the stone in Portrait of Pictured Rocks.
Bishop Baraga appears in several different stories thus weaving a tapestry throughout the book. The idea for personification of objects occurred to Frontiera while writing the article Estabad Pines from the POV of a pine tree.
For details of the book giveaway visit Frontiera's website www.SuperiorTapestry.com www.SuperiorTapestry.com
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Friday Jun 03, 2022
The Beautiful Moment is a paranormal romance inspired by Covid-19 set in the UP.
"I wanted to make it current so people can relate to it," author Kristoffer Gair said.
Gair switched gears from comedy to serious writing during a difficult time in his life. Protagonist Wesley is a bright bubbly guy, but his uncle is making his life miserable.
And then there is Dr. Clark Matsuda.
"I've never met anyone whose name was Clark, so I put it in the story," Gair said.
The decade from hell.
First, Wesley Traylor lost his father and grandmother, then COVID took his mother. His sole remaining family member will stop at nothing to steal his inheritance. In desperation, Wesley escapes to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where no one knows him and he can exist without fear of his uncle’s brutality.
Circumstances force Wesley to the emergency room and face to face with the beguiling Dr. Clark Matsuda. The last thing Wesley needs—between dealing with strange occurrences at his new house and emergency surgery—is a doctor who’s made it his personal mission to get to know Wesley.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Beautiful Moment.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Friday Jun 03, 2022
The Authors' Tent no. 140 at the Palmer Park Art Fair in Detroit will feature 18 authors representing different genres plus poetry this weekend, June 4 & 5.
"Most of the authors will have readings," said Mark Loeb, Integrity Shows director said. "We'll have poets in between."
The Palmer Park Art Fair is a recreation of an event popular in the 70s & 80s.
"We will have a limited edition poster," he said. "It's stunning."
Signs from Woodward Street direct visitors into the huge park, one mile by 0.5 miles, surrounded by upscale historic district neighborhoods and low-income apartments.
"We are a great melting pot," Loeb said. "It's a joy to be there."
The unique event will have 135 to 140 vendors including food vendors such as Southern Heritage of Detroit.
"I expect a lot of people," Loeb said.
Author and podcast host and producer Emma Palova will be inside the Authors' Tent at 140e. Stop by. Emma will be signing her books including Greenwich Meridian Memoir about the Konecny family immigration saga from Czechoslovakia.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Friday Jun 03, 2022
Summers at the Lake is a delightful collection of essays centered around the author's beloved "Little cabin in the Big Woods" beside Crooked Lake in the Upper Peninsula.
The humorous and meditative essays, that read like prose poetry, track the progression of the seasons. Stott aims to evoke for readers memories of similar incidents and feelings at other lakes and at other times.
Stott, a part-time Yooper, spends extended summers in the solitude of the northern woods where the closest community of Munising is 27 miles away from his cabin.
"I am the old hermit of the woods," he said in the podcast interview speaking directly from the Munising School Public library, 500 feet from Lake Superior.
In chapter 6 "Day Tripper", Stott takes us on a trip to Grand Marais which looks like a New England seaside village with a year-round population of 300.
Stott acts as a knowledgeable and funny tour guide as he writes about "Life in a Pickle Barrel" about the history of the Pickle Barrel House.
Email Stott for a chance to win a signed copy of his new book at jstottuaalberta.ca
Special thanks to the Munising School Public Library.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, the Lowell Ledger, Modern History Press
Friday May 27, 2022
Friday May 27, 2022
Illustrated by Maggie Chambers, this delightful "tail" of the Mouse family honors the magic of Mackinac Island with all its little nooks and crannies. From the famous fudge to the handsome blonde dock porter Robert, the brand new book brings alive the scenes from the island.
Speaking directly from the main location of the story- the Windermere Hotel- Porter and Chambers share their creative synergy in this interview wrapped in love for the island.
"It's a cold and foggy day," said Chambers, "but tomorrow will be sunny."
"I wanted to give a gift to the island," said Porter.
During their two-year-long creative journey, Porter and Chambers perfectly complemented each other's vision for the book.
"Wouldn't it be cute.." said Porter.
"If they slept in fudge boxes," Chambers finished the sentence.
"It just rolled that way," Porter laughed.
If you happen to be on the island this Memorial Day weekend don't miss out on the unique opportunity to meet the creators of "A Mouse on Mackinac Island" on Saturday at the Island Book Store, Sunday at Watercolor Cafe, and on Monday at the main location-the Windermere Hotel with all the characters present.
Listen to this story of love for the island for a chance to win a signed copy of this charming children's book.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, Modern History Press
Thursday May 26, 2022
Thursday May 26, 2022
In his second book in the Slice of Fear franchise, Andrew Smith explores fear in all its dimensions and takes it down deep into this rabbit hole he had found along the way.
"I believe that fear is at the core of who we are and it makes us alive," he said. "Fear is a lot of fun. I use fear to entertain people."
Another Slice of Fear is an anthology of 16 stories that will stir your imagination.
A man finds the secret to immortality, or does he?
A monster awakens and has to decide who is the monster?
A selfish woman gets eternal servitude, for a price.
A family fortune is saved by unlikely allies.
A scene unfolds from three different perspectives and creates a problem for Kate with exciting results.
A man wins a special vacation for the newly almost divorced.
Early reviews long for the continuation of The Edge carried from the first book into the second one as "The Edges."