In this episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with mystery author Sandy Jacobsen to talk about her journey from a horse-riding Oregon girl to writing gripping mystery novels.

If you enjoy exploring new books, discovering authors, and finding your next great read, this conversation dives into Sandy’s inspiration, writing process, and the stories behind her growing collection of mysteries.

Sandy writes both series mysteries and standalone novels, giving readers plenty of ways to discover new characters and suspenseful stories.

00:00 Mystery Author Interview – Sandy Jacobsen

00:42 From Oregon Horse Rider to Mystery Writer

02:05 Why Authors Choose to Write Mystery Novels

03:28 The Choices Mystery Book Series

05:18 Writing a Mystery Book Series vs Stand-Alone Novels

07:04 Stand-Alone Mystery Book Recommendations

08:55 Writing Nonfiction – Dressage Basics

10:02 Advice for New Authors and Writers

11:18 What’s Next for Mystery Author Sandy Jacobsen

12:05 Discover Sandy Jacobsen's Mystery Books

We discuss:
• How Sandy’s life experiences shaped her path to becoming a mystery writer• The inspiration behind her Choices mystery series• Writing both series fiction and standalone novels• Insights into the world of books and authors• Advice for writers and readers interested in discovering new books

If you love author interviews, new books, and discovering great mystery stories, this episode is for you.

📚 The Choices, Mystery Series:

Smart Choices:
https://books2read.com/u/4XpVNg

Dangerous Choices:
https://books2read.com/u/4DMpje

Foreign Choices:
https://books2read.com/u/b5yVJ1

Deceptive Choices:
https://books2read.com/u/bz5MqG

Conflicted Choices:
https://books2read.com/u/mdB8wR

🔎 Other Mystery Novels

Slumlord, Not a Millionaire:
https://books2read.com/u/4Nz65G

This is Who I Am:
https://books2read.com/u/baeAL2

Who’s Guilty Now:
https://books2read.com/u/meYE8g

Never Alone Again:
https://books2read.com/u/mYwd9G

Turn Around & Don’t Blink:
https://books2read.com/u/mKnoPy

📖 Non-Fiction

Dressage Basics – For dressage riding know-how.

🌐 Learn more about Sandy Jacobsen:
https://mysteries4u2read.com/

📚 Visit the Duramen Publishing Bookstore:
https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

🎙 For more episodes of, Author in the Headlights:
https://www.duramenpublishing.com/author-in-the-headlights

If you enjoy exploring new books, discovering authors, choosing your next read, and learning about the world of books and authors, subscribe for weekly author interviews and new book discoveries.

#ExploreNewBooks #DiscoverBooks #ChooseBooks #BooksAndAuthors #AuthorInterviews #NewBooks #DiscoverAuthors #MysteryBooks #BookDiscovery #MarketingForAuthors

In this episode of Author in the Headlights, we welcome back science fiction author Andrew Sweet (Chuck Sweet). Known for writing future history, speculative fiction, and socially driven science fiction, Andrew explores how technology, culture, and human nature collide in tomorrow’s worlds.

We discuss his major series—including Virtual Wars and Reality Gradient—along with his stand-alone novels, his approach to world-building as the story unfolds, and what he’s been working on since his last appearance on the show a couple of years ago.

From virtual battlefields to evolving societies and philosophical questions about humanity’s future, Andrew’s work sits at the intersection of science fiction, social commentary, and immersive storytelling.

If you enjoy thought-provoking sci-fi, future history, virtual reality themes, and speculative world-building, this conversation is for you.

📚 Andrew Sweet Books

Virtual Wars Series

Solitude and Retaliation:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/solitude-and-retaliation-paperback

Evasion & Defiance
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/d55grezqc1ra1smb8po08d8qme0p3t

Inertia and Momentum:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/d55grezqc1ra1smb8po08d8qme0p3t-6wpcj

Human Pride:
https://books2read.com/u/mqdPRO

Reality Gradient Series

Models and Citizens:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/models-and-citizens-reality-gradient-book-1-ebook

Bodhi Rising:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/bodhi-rising-reality-gradient-book-2-ebook

Libera, Goddess of Worlds:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/libera-goddess-of-worlds-reality-gradient-trilogy-book-3-ebook

Stand-Alone Novels

Ordell:
https://books2read.com/u/mvg8R8

Gemini:
https://books2read.com/u/mdBevy

Southern Highlands: Obi of Mars:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/southern-highlands-obi-of-mars-1

The Book of Joel:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/the-book-of-joel

The Witch of the Isles:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/the-witch-of-the-isle

Horror Novel (as Roman Hawthorne)
Drift:
https://www.andrewsweet.net/bookstore/p/drift

📖 Also Featured

Strider S.R. Klusman’s newest novel, Recalled:
https://books2read.com/u/3G0pqP

🌐 Learn More

Andrew Sweet
https://www.andrewsweet.net

Duramen Publishing Bookstore
https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

🎙 About Author in the Headlights

Author in the Headlights is a weekly podcast featuring conversations with novelists, memoirists, and storytellers about writing, publishing, and the craft of storytelling.

Subscribe for more interviews with bestselling and emerging authors across every genre.

#ScienceFiction #FutureHistory #SpeculativeFiction #VirtualReality #SciFiBooks #IndieAuthors #WorldBuilding #AndrewSweet #ChuckSweet #AuthorInterview #PodcastInterview #WritingCommunity #DuramenPublishing #AuthorInTheHeadlights #IndieSciFi

In this week's on Author in the Headlights, we sit down with Steve Berry, NY Times and #1 internationally bestselling master of historical thrillers. With over 26 million books sold in 52 countries, Berry returns with the explosive new Cotton Malone adventure, The Devil’s Bible.

We dive into the secrets behind his writing process, the 12-year journey and 85 rejections before success, and how a 30-year legal career shaped one of today’s most compelling thriller voices. If you're a reader or writer, this conversation is packed with practical insights and inspiration.

We also discuss Berry’s passion for history, the creation of History Matters, and what’s next for Cotton Malone and beyond.

🔥 Featured in This Episode

• The release of The Devil’s Bible (Cotton Malone #20)
  https://books2read.com/u/b5yJoG
• Berry’s writing methods and tools
• Lessons from 85 rejections over 12 years
• Building global bestselling thrillers
• International Thriller Writers founding story
• The mission of History Matters
• What’s next for Cotton Malone

📚 Start the Cotton Malone Series

• The Templar Legacy — (#1 bestseller; and NPR’s Top 100 Thriller)
  https://books2read.com/u/3RMWLv
• The Alexandria Link — https://books2read.com/u/4A6GRJ
• The Venetian Betrayal — https://books2read.com/u/47pPVN
• The Charlemagne Pursuit — https://books2read.com/u/3LMJNN
• The Paris Vendetta — https://books2read.com/u/4DYNJr
• The Emperor's Tomb — https://books2read.com/u/baMRdx
• The Jefferson Key — https://books2read.com/u/bQoWND
• The King's Deception — https://books2read.com/u/bWqW0D
• The Lincoln Myth — https://books2read.com/u/3kzQ2R
• The Patriot Threat — https://books2read.com/u/mq2Qe8
• The 14th Colony — https://books2read.com/u/bO0WPA
• The Lost Order — https://books2read.com/u/4jjZNo
• The Bishop's Pawn — https://books2read.com/u/bPMoL7
• The Malta Exchange — https://books2read.com/u/m25nq6
• The Warsaw Protocol — https://books2read.com/u/3GZ1pL
• The Kaiser's Web — https://books2read.com/u/4NJWgN
• The Last Kingdom — https://books2read.com/u/31AdV7
• The Atlas Maneuver — https://books2read.com/u/br8Qek
• The Medici Return — https://books2read.com/u/mVxWDM

📖 Other Books by Steve Berry

• The Omega Factor — https://books2read.com/u/bO0WeA
• The list — https://books2read.com/u/boANRA
• The Amber Room — https://books2read.com/u/bzNJBZ
• The Columbus Affair — https://books2read.com/u/m25nE6
• The Romanov Prophecy — https://books2read.com/u/bzNJB2
• The Third Secret — https://books2read.com/u/m25nEj

🏛️ Learn More

• Steve & Elizabeth Berry’s History Matters —
  https://history-matters.org/

And for more great reads:

• Duramen Publishing’s Bookstore —
  https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

👍 If you enjoy author interviews, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode of Author in the Headlights.

🏷️ Hashtags

#SteveBerry #TheDevilsBible #CottonMalone #ThrillerAuthor #HistoricalThriller #AuthorInterview #WritersLife #AmWriting #BookTube #AuthorInTheHeadlights

In this steamy and insightful episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with romance author Lynda Bailey, whose stories range from sizzling contemporary romance to paranormal, fantasy, and horror.

From the heat of her romance catalog to the intrigue of Alyce – Through the Lycan Glass, Lynda shares what drew her into writing hot romance, whether the genre has ever caused her challenges, and why writing passion-filled stories is so much fun.

We also dig into reader-favorite series like the Trustworthy Texas Trilogy, the Naughty Neighborhood books, and the heartfelt On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful series — plus what’s next on her writing horizon.

👉 If you love romance that turns up the heat (and occasionally the supernatural), this episode is for you.

📚 Featured Books & Series

Alyce – Through the Lycan Glass
🔗 https://books2read.com/u/mlVzY7

Trustworthy Texas Trilogy

• Shattered Trust — https://books2read.com/u/baey06
• Mended Trust — https://books2read.com/u/meY1yz

Naughty Neighborhood Series

• Naughty Neighborhood — https://books2read.com/u/mZG8Ll
• Glad to be Home — https://books2read.com/u/mvgpv8
• Group Therapy — https://books2read.com/u/3kMjGN

On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful Series

• Heartache and Hopeful — https://books2read.com/u/mBWBrA
• Allie — https://books2read.com/u/mdBaWy
• Mic — https://books2read.com/u/mgQ62X
• Kira — https://books2read.com/u/m2waPd
• Grace — https://books2read.com/u/4EVBQE

Standalone & Additional Titles

• Boy Next Door — https://books2read.com/u/bMjBZB
• Wildflower — https://books2read.com/u/mVELQP
• Fulfilled — https://books2read.com/u/mdBaLW
• Xmas Unwrapped — https://books2read.com/u/31p9Pa
• Erotic Escapades of a Married Couple — https://books2read.com/u/bPPn0x
• On a Knife’s Edge — https://books2read.com/u/3G0JxP
• Battle-born Love — https://books2read.com/u/4NzVaW
• Battle-Tested Love — https://books2read.com/u/bz5yWj

🌐 Connect with Lynda Bailey

Website: www.authorlyndabailey.com

📖 For more great reads:

• Recalled, the Adventures of Rhone & Stone, bk3: https://books2read.com/u/3G0pqP
  And other great books at Duramen Publishing Bookstore → https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

👍 Enjoyed the episode?
Like, subscribe, and hit the bell, so you never miss an author spotlight!

📢 Hashtags

#LyndaBailey #RomanceAuthor #HotRomance #SteamyRomance #AuthorInterview #ParanormalRomance #RomanceBooks #IndieAuthor #AuthorInTheHeadlights #BookTube #EroticRomance

What would you have done?

In this powerful episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with Christine Kuehn and her husband Mark Schiponi to discuss their gripping nonfiction book, Family of Spies — the true story of a German family sent to Hawaii prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

📘 Family of Spies: https://books2read.com/u/mlVlXB
📚 Duramen Publishing Bookstore: https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

This conversation explores the unimaginable pressure faced by ordinary people under authoritarian rule. Christine shares the story of her Aunt Ruth — a Jewish woman in Berlin forced to assist the Nazi regime in exchange for remaining free from prison camps and forced labor, where millions perished.

As Americans, it’s difficult to reconcile a family working against the United States. As human beings, we’re compelled to ask deeper questions about fear, coercion, survival, and hope.

We also examine how political movements can evolve over time — and why history demands that we pay attention.

This is a tight, honest discussion. We invite you to watch with understanding, reflection, and perhaps even forgiveness as we consider what government leverage and personal hope can do to a person placed in impossible circumstances.

If you care about WWII history, Pearl Harbor, espionage, moral dilemmas, and the human cost of war, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Subscribe for more author interviews and real stories behind powerful books.

#FamilyOfSpies #WWIIHistory #PearlHarbor #AuthorInterview #ChristineKuehn #NonFictionBooks #HolocaustHistory #WorldWar2 #TrueStory #HistoricalNonfiction #AuthorInTheHeadlights #BookPodcast #EspionageHistory #DuramenPublishing

From the poor neighborhoods of Boston to Harvard Medical School, from training at UCSF’s world-renowned neurosurgical program to a distinguished career and retirement in Topeka, Kansas—Dr. Craig Yorke’s story is more than a memoir. It’s a powerful exploration of ambition, resilience, race, and the true cost of success.

In this episode of Author in the Headlights, debut author Dr. Craig Yorke discusses his memoir, Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey, and what it really took to rise in a profession where there were few Black doctors—and even fewer Black neurosurgeons.

It sounds like the American Dream: rising from poverty to the heights of medicine. But what did it cost to chase that dream?
What did it mean to fight bigotry and overcome systemic barriers during a time when representation was scarce?
And when he chose the title Steep, was he thinking about the climb itself, the intensity of the journey, or how life extracts meaning over time?

This is an inspiring, honest conversation about perseverance, identity, medicine, and legacy.

📘 Get the book here:
👉 https://books2read.com/u/479g9E

🌐 Learn more about Dr. Craig Yorke:
👉 https://www.craigyorke.com

📚 Also available through Duramen Publishing:
👉 https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

If you enjoy author interviews, memoir discussions, and stories of resilience, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to Author in the Headlights.

#DrCraigYorke #SteepMemoir #BlackNeurosurgeon #AuthorInterview #Memoir #MedicalMemoir #AmericanDream #HarvardMedicalSchool #UCSF #Inspiration #OvercomingAdversity #BookPodcast #AuthorInTheHeadlights #DuramenPublishing

In this episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with Rusty Austin, a longtime reality TV producer turned author, to talk about storytelling across mediums—from unscripted television to children’s books and deeply personal nonfiction.

Rusty is the creator of the delightful Goofy Things by Rusty series, a collection of charming, educational books designed to spark curiosity, laughter, and early learning for young readers. With simple truths and playful confidence, these books celebrate the joy of knowing exactly what things are… and why that matters.

📚 Goofy Things by Rusty

• An Awesome Bird: The Pelican
  👉 https://books2read.com/u/3RAVYL

• Beware the Grizzly Bear
  👉 https://books2read.com/u/mvgvBX

• The Carrot Is Orange
  👉 https://books2read.com/u/mqdVB1

• The Unicorn Has One Horn
  👉 https://books2read.com/u/bOgZeN

We also dive into Rusty’s heartfelt nonfiction memoir, Dave and Me, a deeply personal story that explores friendship, loss, and the moments that shape who we become.

📖 Dave and Me (Memoir)👉 https://books2read.com/u/3Jdyee

Join us as Rusty Austin shares his journey from producing reality television to writing books that connect with readers of all ages—proving that great storytelling, no matter the format, always comes from the heart.

🔔 Subscribe for more author interviews
👍 Like, comment, and share to support indie authors

#AuthorInTheHeadlights #RustyAustin #ChildrensBooks #IndieAuthor #GoofyThingsByRusty #Memoir #DaveAndMe #AuthorInterview #Storytelling #KidsBooks

In this episode we delve into The Mechanic’s Diary series, a serial tale of strange sciences and stranger souls. At its core is a being not created by God—one that does not know what it is, yet dreams of what it might become. The conversation explores how Ian’s real-world experiences inform his fiction, the philosophy behind artificial life, and the unsettling beauty of transformation through knowledge.

📚 The Mechanic’s Diary Series

• Wake the Whirlwind (Book 1)
  https://books2read.com/u/mgWAx6

• Neurojuggler (Book 2)
  https://books2read.com/u/3nlwx9

• Initial Condition (Book 3)
  https://books2read.com/u/381jNO

• By Artificial Means (Book 4 - out shortly)
  https://books2read.com/u/3Lzo2N

  
  

Find his books at: 🛒 Duramen Publishing Bookstore
https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

🌐 Connect with Ian Domowitz
https://www.iandomowitz.com

If you love philosophical science fiction, alchemy-infused storytelling, and authors who blur the line between technology, mysticism, and humanity, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more conversations with authors who live at the edge of imagination.

#AuthorInTheHeadlights #IanDomowitz #TheMechanicsDiary #PhilosophicalSciFi #SpeculativeFiction #Alchemy #ArtificialLife #ScienceAndPhilosophy #IndieAuthor #DuramenPublishing #SciFiBooks #FantasyBooks #WeirdFiction #AuthorInterview #BookTube

In this episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with award-winning author Kevin G. Chapman, the voice behind the gripping Mike Stoneman Mystery/Thriller series—hard-hitting police procedurals packed with suspense, moral complexity, and relentless pacing.Kevin talks about crafting authentic crime fiction, building long-running series characters, and the real-world influences behind his stories. Whether you’re a fan of police procedurals, crime thrillers, or investigative mysteries, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

📘 Featured Series: Mike Stoneman Mysteries & Thrillers:

Kevin's newest; #7, Treacherous Hack,

👉https://books2read.com/u/m0ppB7

#1, Righteous Assassin 👉 https://books2read.com/u/meGedV

#2, Deadly Enterprise 👉 https://books2read.com/u/bWodEM

#3, Lethal Voyage 👉 https://books2read.com/u/3RXKLR

#4, Fatal Infraction 👉 https://books2read.com/u/38JMPV

#5, Perilous Gambit 👉 https://books2read.com/u/bwVdrG

#6, Double Takedown 👉 https://books2read.com/u/49q8DM

📕 and Stand-Alone Novels by Kevin G. Chapman

Dead Winner 👉 https://books2read.com/u/mK2zNZ

The Other Murder 👉 https://books2read.com/u/mdwlXX

The Car, The Dog and the Girl 👉 https://books2read.com/u/4AWWpK

A Legacy of One 👉 https://books2read.com/u/49JMV8

🌐 Find Kevin G. Chapman Online at:Official website: KevinGChapman.com

or at Duramen Publishing Bookstore: https://www.duramenpublishing.com/book-store

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy in-depth conversations with today’s top crime and thriller authors.

📌 Hashtags#KevinGChapman #MikeStoneman #CrimeThriller #PoliceProcedural
#MysteryAuthor #ThrillerBooks #CrimeFiction #AuthorInterview
#AuthorInTheHeadlights #BookPodcast #DuramenPublishing

How do book awards really work—and are they worth it for your book marketing? In this episode of Author in the Headlights, we sit down with Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro to demystify the world of literary awards and reviews for authors at every stage.

Hannah explains how Book Award Pro works with indie-published, traditionally published, and even unpublished authors to identify the right award programs for each book—saving authors time, money, and frustration. We dive into award strategies, realistic expectations, and how to avoid wasting resources on programs that won’t move the needle.

We also break down:

• 📚 How Book Award Pro matches your book to the best-fit award programs

• 💡 The different program options and costs, including free opportunities

• ⭐ The critical differences between professional reviews vs. reader reviews

• 📈 How each type of review impacts visibility, credibility, and long-term marketing

Whether you’re launching your first book or refining your author platform, this episode is packed with practical insight to help you use awards and reviews strategically—not blindly.

🔗 Learn more about Book Award Pro:
https://bookawardpro.com/

🔗 Explore Duramen Publishing’s Author Resources:
https://www.duramenpublishing.com/author-resources

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you want smarter tools and real-world advice for authors navigating today’s publishing landscape.

#AuthorInTheHeadlights #BookAwardPro #HannahJacobson #BookAwards #IndieAuthors #SelfPublishing #TraditionalPublishing #AuthorMarketing #BookReviews #ProfessionalReviews #ReaderReviews #WritingCommunity #PublishingTips #AuthorResources #DuramenPublishing