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Episodes
Indie and small press authors talk about the writing craft and their support for each other’s work.
Episodes
Friday Feb 03, 2023
Friday Feb 03, 2023
In her Porcupine series book 2, kindergarten teacher Donna Neumann transforms her daughter Annie into a snarky porcupine who feels bad that she doesn't have a birthday party.
"Books should be mirrors and windows for children to see into other people's lives and to see their own life reflected in the stories," Neumann said.
Neumann who has been teaching virtual kindergarten for 20 years based the series on her own real-life experience.
"I don't have memories from holidays or from birthday parties," she said. "Our family didn't celebrate these, but we went on vacations and made memories."
Even though birthday parties are not just about birthday cakes, they should be celebrations of belonging and not being left out.
"I want to be a part of everything," Neumann said.
Neumann, not only found healing in the book, but she now celebrates birthdays with her family and her new grandson.
"I wish I had done it sooner," she said about writing the book.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of 'All I Want is a Birthday Party.'
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Copyright (c)2023 Emma Palova
Friday Jan 27, 2023
Friday Jan 27, 2023
In her Detroit Revealed: A Different View of the Motor City, author-photographer Leslie Cieplechowicz highlights the obscure and amazing hidden gems of the city which is sometimes portrayed as unapproachable. The imagery highlights places only seen by local people who have created a rich culture and scenery that is veiled from the public eye.
"I wanted to share my view of the city," she said.
Cieplechowicz worked as an EMS paramedic for the Detroit Fire Department. She returned to the sites of former EMS encounters to capture the images, all 4,000 of them. 150 best pictures made it into the book.
"I captured the heart of the city and the people," she said. "I put a positive spin on a city that gets a negative reputation."
The book serves as a city guide for both locals and visitors with its stunning imagery, history of the sites, and addresses.
"You can visit all the places," she said.
Walk along the radiant blue riverfront of the Detroit River and view the beautiful structures glittering in the sunlight. Hang out at the hole-in-the-wall local bar and absorb the glow from the antique fixture that bathes the vintage decor in a warm light.
Head to the streets in a snowstorm, and peer through a broken window down Jefferson Avenue at a city shrouded in swirling white flakes. Or check out an old, dimly lit industrial center that has been turned into an enclave for local singers and artists to hone their talent, whose studios are a splash of faded records, flashing neon lights, and vibrant flags.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of this book.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
Michigan Reads is a functional gateway for Michigan independent authors which started out with authors Ingar Rudholm and Andrew Allen Smith. The site was tested and more authors were added.
"The purpose is to centralize Michigan authors in a single place," said Smith. "I will be offering it to all authors in February or March."
Eventually, more features were added such as electronic billboards. In the works are streaming and TV. The proposed cost per author per book is $10, and a requirement to write a review of somebody else's book.
"You can have as many books as you want," Smith said. "It's a place that is easy to remember."
The main innovation is name recognition, according to Smith.
Listen in for more details.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
The author of the Traveling Circus series, Ingar Rudholm, talks about selling and marketing your books in an increasingly complex market flooded with social media algorithms. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Traveling Circus and the Secret Talent Scroll. The episode was sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.
Use the following hashtags when distributing.
#fantasybook #mermaid
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Friday Jan 06, 2023
Author Diana Kathryn Plopa, founder of Pages Promotions talks about the upcoming Virtual Book Festival in February with author Emma Palova, host and producer of For the Love of Books Podcast. Listen in for a chance to win free registration and Plopa's book A Duck Quacks.
In support of Indie and small press author all over the world, Plopa is hosting the Virtual Book Festival on Zoom, from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28. The deadline for authors to apply is January 15.
It's wintertime in Michigan (and other parts of the world), and authors aren't easily able to meet with crowds of readers at book festivals and fairs like we do in the warmer months... so we're hosting a Virtual Book Festival to give you the opportunity to discover new authors and their books... all while staying warm!
Each day, we'll share live interviews with authors, listen to them read some of their work, play games, give away prizes with the Spinny Wheel of Happiness, and generally have a good time with the written word.
Writers can sometimes be a wacky group of unpredictable people... after all, we make stuff up for a living. You never know what kind of literary shenanigans might happen...
So visit our Facebook page every day to see what's coming next!
Share on social media #virtualbookfestival #mysteryofthemissingmanuscript
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
In her memoir and historical mystery Unto the Daughters, author & former journalist Karen Tintori unveils a family secret set in turn-of-the-century Detroit. The inciting incident to break the silence was an obliterated passport, and then a wedding photo.
"I am Italian, " she said. "My mother's side of the family was from southern Sicily. You don't tell family secrets."
The story of her great-grandaunt Francesca haunted Tintori's inquisitive mind for decades. After 12 years, three novels, and advice from the editor, Tintori re-imagined the haunting truth of an honor killing.
In crafting this family story, Tintori combined her novelist's heart with a journalist's head.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Unto the Daughters.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger, the hometown newspaper in Lowell, MI
This episode is in memoriam to American journalist Barbara Walters since both guest author Karen Tintori and host Emma Palova are journalists.
Saturday Dec 24, 2022
Saturday Dec 24, 2022
Merry Christmas from host Emma Palova and all of my awesome author guests
The Wizard's Stone
A young wizard's assistant on a secret journey, guarded by a band of mercenaries, paid a fortune in gold. All to deliver a mysterious artifact halfway across the known world. And from the very outset, they are being hunted.
A software developer for over 30 years, Herman P. Hunter started his first venture into publishing by writing articles on software development, cumulating into a book deal. After a long hiatus, he has returned, writing fantasy fiction, integrating high fantasy, pulp elements, and Judeo-Christian beliefs. His first book, The Revenant and the Tomb was published in March 2022 and has since been adapted to an audiobook.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Revenant and the Tomb.
The first person who emails host Emma Palova will win a signed copy of The Wizard's Stone.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Janet Vormittag of West Michigan calls herself 'A Crazy Cat Lady,' and thus the name of her book series with the newest book out just in time for the holidays. Cat Women of West Michigan tells 30 compelling stories of passionate women who do cat rescue in many different forms from the actual rescue to Happy Cat Cafe in Grand Rapids.
Vormittag became the self-proclaimed 'A Crazy Cat Lady' in the mid-80s with the rescue of an injured kitten Lucy in Saugatuck that lived 10 years.
"They're not crazy cat ladies," she said. "Just compassionate women."
She connected with these women through her quarterly magazine Cats and Dogs.
"I was struck by women rescuing cats," she said.
And the number of euthanized cats went down from 8,000 to 189 over the last 15 years since the publication started.
"It's a community problem," she said.
Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Vormittag's Cat Women of West Michigan.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
In his debut book, author Steve Boughton uses Detroit as the main setting for his Francisco Takes Flight.
"I fell in love with the city," he said. "I wanted to showcase the beauty of the city."
His Chilean flamenco gets to fly all over the city. At first, Boughton only intended the book for his friends and family. But the project grew with the help of collaborators, editor and wife Beth Boughton, and a childhood friend illustrator Jesse Faye.
His website is franciscoandfriends.com which is where the book can be purchased (it is also available at Schuler books, a novel concept in Lansing, and the Detroit zoo gift shop!) also a portion of all copies sold is donated to the Detroit zoo!
Listen for a chance to win an autographed copy of Francisco Takes Flight.
Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and Modern History Press.