For the Love of Books Podcast

Shining new U.P. Reader Volume 7 released

Just in time for the unofficial opening of summer, U.P. Reader hit the stands with its shining new volume 7 graced by the beautiful cover of a mining shaft at Painesdale on the Keweenaw constructed in 1902.

The hefty annual publication takes you on a road trip across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from the Mackinac Bridge to Menominee with nonfiction and fiction pieces by UP authors who embody the life of a Yooper.

“Yoopers are born, not made,” said publisher Victor Volkman. “That’s why I can never be a Yooper.”

The 60 short works in the issue span the entire Upper Peninsula and include imaginative fiction from young winners of the Dandelion Cottage contest.

The cover is by author Mikel Classen.

Listen in for a chance to win a copy of U.P. Reader, Vol. 7

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Author Hilton Everett Moore pens North of Nelson short stories collection

In his North of Nelson anthology of short stories, author Hilton Everett Moore skillfully captures the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with its unique characters.

"The very area is a character," he said. "The land expresses itself. It makes my stories work."

 

Moore lives in a cabin in a remote area of Baraga County and transforms the ruggedness of the U.P. in his magnificent six short stories which have a common thread.

"Each short story has a moment in time," he said.

The protagonists, the Martins, are featured in each story as they accompany each individual character.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of North of Nelson.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

Author Wendy Thomson pens The Man from Burnt Island

In her historical fiction novel The Man from Burnt Island, author Wendy Thomson weaves the family story into the tapestry of Detroit's rich history during the Great Depression, Prohibition, World War II, and the booming automotive industry starting in the 1950s and beyond.

 

It was a tough life for the Scottish Sharp family at the turn of the twentieth century. Coal miners, they were exempt from the World War I draft. Frank, the fourth of five sons, was the only one that went off to war. Luckily, he survived the trenches, only to return to poor job prospects and poorer wages. When most of the family sailed across the Atlantic in search of a better life, Frank stayed behind for a while... for a little too long, it so happened.

What Frank sacrifices to achieve material and career success takes its toll on his family and personal life. After all is said and done, this is the saga of a determined and ambitious man who was hell-bent on leaving his poverty-stricken past behind.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Man from Burnt Island.

All April episodes sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, author Jen Rinaldi

AuthorJen Rinaldi pens One Day Closer to Death

In her debut book, author Jen Rinaldi tells the story of a cancer survivor Alex, who almost dies on the operating table. While she lingers between heaven and earth, she hears a voice that beckons her to stay, only to lose that voice when she is brought back, feeling as though she is missing more than her breast.

 

 

After Alex recovers, she takes a vacation while delivering the artwork for her boss. It is then that she hears a mysterious voice connected to the SUV that she has rented. Alex and 'Bec' as the voice asks her to call him, set out on a cross-country adventure that involves a jewel heist and an evil stalker who will attempt to kill Alex for the artwork she carries. Will Bec save Alex from the evil that is pursuing her?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of One Day Closer to Death.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger and author Jen Rinaldi

Author Mandy Jo Rindhage pens A StormyTravel Thru Time

Drawing on her knowledge of family ancestry combined with historical fiction, author Mandy Jo Rindhage creates a time travel novel inspired by real-life characters, great grandfather Heinrich and great uncle Gustav.

"A Stormy Travel Thru Time has multiple time hops each is when a storm crops up," Mandy Jo said. "They're trying to get to Saginaw, Michigan."

Rindhage is a multi-genre author who has no trouble switching gears between a fitness book, fantasy, and historical fiction.

The real challenge in the book was aging all the characters appropriately, according to Rindhage when they crossed paths on different occasions.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Stormy Travel Thru Time.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

 

Pearls of My Mind journeys into self-discovery

In Pearls of My Mind, author Preethi Saravanakumar, a software developer and an award-winning poet, takes you on a journey into self-discovery using the symbolism of pearls.

 

Are you a Spiritual Newbie? Are you a Seeker? Or are you a Sage today? Let's find out as we go on a self-reflective journey of pearl harvesting. Pearls Of My Mind is a book that houses my rainbow thoughts. As each of the seven colored pearls brings simple wisdom, dazzling jewelry is cautiously strung. 

This book deals with the connection between colors and emotions and their relationship to the Chakras. Pearls are rightly synonymous with purity, clarity, and longevity. They are wisdom in the true sense! Oh, Rainbow Pearls! Thy vivid prismatic hues, Thy pure poised wisdom, Thy bold mighty endurance, I majestically manifest thy cues! I majestically manifest thy cues!

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Pearls of My Mind.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Author Lori Hudson pens Ghost on Beale Street

Ghost on Beale Street is Lori Hudson's fifth book in the Beale Street mystery series inspired by a small town in Illinois where Hudson's grandfather was the mayor.

A little boy has gone missing, and the town of Burtonville is on high alert. Then Marianne Reed and her friend, Ashley, notice strange lights and something moving around in the old Abbott house. Is it possible a ghost has taken up residence? 

Listen in for a chance to win a free copy of Ghost on Beale Street.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

ReQueered Tales preserves literary heritage of LGBTQ fiction

The interview with publisher author Matt Lubbers-Moore of ReQueered Tales and host author Emma Palova marks the 100th episode anniversary of For the Love of Books Podcast show. I am grateful to the entire literary community for making the show a success and to the sponsors Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

ReQueered Tales is striving to preserve the literary heritage of the LGBTQ community by publishing out-of-print titles or publishing new works of older series.

According to Lubbers-Moore, the project started out as a joke with his business partners.

"Books from the 1990s, 80s, and 70s were hard to find and expensive," said Lubbers-Moore. "Are we actually going to do this?"

And they started with a core of five gay mystery authors in 2018 as they grew to cover all the genres of LGBTQ fiction.

"Now we're competing with the big boys," Lubbers-Moore laughed as he referred to the big publishing houses. "Other publishers are doing this now."

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Murder and Mayhem bibliography. Be a part of the excitement and magic of the show. Be a guest and or a sponsor. Contact Emma Palova at emmapalova123@gmail.com

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

Award-winning author pens gangster novels set in her hometown

Her two gangster novels earned her Top Notable Indie Book awards. Author Betty Passick shared her passion for writing historical fiction in a very candid down-to-earth interview. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie.

"Research comes first," she said. "If you don't like doing research, historical fiction is not for you."

Unlike most authors of historical fiction, Passick does not change the names of people or places in her historical crime novels. She has always been fascinated by the story of the Italian American "mystery man" who first came to her Iowa hometown in the early 1920s, and the rest is history. No pun intended.

Now, it's up to us to find out what was in The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie her second historical crime novel that earned her the second Top Notable Indie Book Award in 2021 after Gangster in our Midst in 2019.

"This crime mystery novel captures its audience’s attention with the delicious historical detail from this time period in early America’s burgeoning settlements... Who knew there was such a criminal element lurking on our prairies?"

 

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

 

 

 

 

Michigan authors at West Michigan Women’s Expo on March 17 through March 19

Discover the full author line-up under the umbrella of Great Lakes Writers in this podcast, and at the Expo.

Find your next favorite read by Michigan authors at the West Michigan Women's Expo this weekend starting on Friday at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.

Seventeen Michigan authors will be grouped under the umbrella of Great Lakes Writers, and they will be located in booths 110-118.

I have one free ticket left to the show for the lucky winner. Listen in to the podcast for details of the giveaway, as well as the author line-up and instructions for participating authors.

Come, bring a friend and have fun with us. We're going to have a blast together.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger