Authors on Fire

Amy M. Le was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in 1980 at the age of five with her mother and cousin. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Sociology and worked in the technology and telecommunications sector for twenty years. After her mother’s death in February 2017, Amy left her corporate job to write her debut novel SNOW IN VIETNAM as a tribute to her mother’s heroic decision to flee Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. Amy calls the Pacific Northwest and Oklahoma her home. Her greatest joy is spending time with her husband, son, and their pets.
VISIT THE WEBSITE
You are listening to a short radio spot.
 
LISTEN TO AMY'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

I was raised in Unicoi County, surrounded by the traditions and dialect of the area. I embraced the regional stories, mountain views, culture-except sweet tea and unannounced visits-and sought to correct the misconceptions about the local people and the town stories that turned into rumors.
I reside in Erwin, Tennessee, with my children and husband. I have hiked the section of the Appalachian Trail near my home, visited many of the caves and other mountain trails in the area, and am fascinated by their enigmatic appeal.
I like reading, writing, and any reasonable music. Most of all, I enjoy sharing stories and adventures with my children and making memories through their experiences.
VISIT THE WEBSITE
You are listening to a short radio spot.
 
LISTEN TO COURTNEE'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

John Sheirer (pronounced “shy-er”) lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, with his wonderful wife, Betsy, and happy dog, Libby. He has taught writing and communications for 29 years at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Connecticut, where he also serves as editor and faculty advisor for Freshwater Literary Journal . He writes a monthly column on current events for his hometown newspaper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and his books include memoir, fiction, poetry, educational materials, essays, political satire, and photography.

VISIT THE WEBSITE

You are listening to a short radio spot.
 
LISTEN TO JOHN'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Eli left Austin and moved to Albuquerque with hopes to join the Art Therapy Program at the University of New Mexico (UNM) but much to her disappointment learned the program was to be discontinued. Instead, she pursued a MS in Health Education Health Promotion Program and blended her interest in the arts with health. Eli met her husband in this program and married at the end of her studies.
After graduating she worked for UNM’s Employee Health Promotion Program and successfully initiated the first Art for Health class for staff, an open art studio designed to reduce stress. At the same time she worked as an artist in the Arts in Medicine Program at UNM’s trauma hospital with nurses, therapists, and doctors to help support caretakers with the arts, music and massage. After 2 years Eli became a manager in this program and helped the program grow in popularity.
Throughout her studies and work, Eli was her mother and fathers primary in home caretaker for over 15 years and was blessed to be able to witness a peaceful passing for both and heal all past hurts. Eli is committed in sowing the seeds to inspire arts involvement of all styles as a therapeutic practice in our daily lives. It was a lifetime goal to write Frida and Me to encourage the use of art for healing  trauma. Working professionally as Eli Weintraub Maurx, she can be contacted through her website at www.eliweintraubmaurx.com
VISIT THE WEBSITE
You are listening to Eli's Winning Author Interview

Susan Rex Ryan is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Defend Your Life books about the awesome health benefits of vitamin D including immunity as well as the prevention of autism, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis. Ms. Ryan’s health articles have been published on Hormones Matter (TM), Lucine Health Sciences website, and in Choices Magazine. Sue has also been featured on recent radio shows where she discussed vitamin D’s benefits.
Sue Ryan possesses a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Master of Science degree from the U.S. military’s National War College. In addition, she has earned scores of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits from accredited U.S. medical programs approved by, inter alia, The American Academy of Family Physicians. Her professional memberships include the Vitamin D Council, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Born and raised in the Philadelphia, PA area, Sue enjoyed a career with the U.S. government where her service included leading non-proliferation efforts for nuclear and chemical weapons security. Formal recognition of her achievements includes the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Exceptional Civilian Service Award and the U.S. Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award.
For the majority of her life, Sue Ryan endured an undiagnosed vitamin D deficiency from lack of adequate sun exposure, a common situation for millions of people living outside the equatorial region. After retiring in her early 50’s, Sue parlayed her science background with a quest to attain a medical understanding of hormonal imbalance. She attended medical conferences, seminars, and workshops to learn about vitamin D and other hormones from renowned experts. Having extensively researched compelling medical findings about vitamin D’s benefits, Sue successfully became “vitamin D healthy.” She shares her impassioned self-help success and knowledge about vitamin D in the Defend Your Life books with the hope that the information in her books will empower the health and quality of life of many people. Finally, Sue shares her personal experience with cataract surgery in the new book The Eyes Have It.

VISIT THE WEBSITE
You are listening to a short radio spot.
 
LISTEN TO SUSAN'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Susan K. Hamilton is the award-winning author of epic, dark, and urban fantasy books including Shadow King, Darkstar Rising, The Devil Inside, and Stone Heart (coming August 2022). Her short stories have been featured in the ESCAPE! DECEPTION!, and Passageways Anthologies from Writing Bloc. Her new short story, "Pearls and Swine," will release in April 2022 as part of the FAMILY Anthology.
Horse-crazy since she was a little girl, she pretty much adores every furry creature on the planet (except spiders). She also loves comfy jeans, pizza, and great stand-up comedy. Susan lives near Boston with her husband and misses her cat terribly.
VISIT THE WEBSITE
You are listening to a short radio spot.
 
LISTEN TO SUSAN'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

In 2021, the second year of the global pandemic, Tom Tracy, like so many of us, found a new passion – writing children’s stories.  Inspired by his now 5-year-old daughter’s curiosity for the world around her, Tom embarked on his story-telling journey.  His first book, Scoochie & Skiddles in Fun at Gramma’s, is a beautiful recounting of creating family memories through imaginative play and creativity.  In just a few short months after publication, the book propelled to number one reader/reviewer voted status on Reedsy Discovery during the week of January 10, 2022








Tom's second book, Scoochie’s Adoption Story, continues to deliver strong messages of family and family diversity; it is certain to delight a wide range of audiences.  The book is a tells of Tom and his husband’s experience adopting their oldest daughter, the muse for the main character, Scoochie.  Scoochie narrates the story to a group of friends who notice that her family is not the same as theirs.  Concepts are presented in ways that are easily understood by younger and older kids, alike.  Consistent with the first book, Scoochie’s Adoption Story, uses colorful and thoughtfully designed illustrations to help advance the story.  Throughout the book, readers will find families of all types, including multi-abled,  heterosexual, same-sex, single parent, and mixed race families. 
​












​​
Tom and his husband, Elliott, have been married for nearly a decade.  Their family consists of two daughters of different races who have been brought to them through adoption.  As such, it is important to Tom and Elliott to ensure that the girls can see themselves and families like theirs represented in their community, at school, in the media and in print.  In their family, Elliott is “Daddy” and Tom is “ODie” – a take on “Other Daddy”.
Tom is a NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked with at-risk youth and individuals living with mental illness for most of his career.  Through his work, he has truly come to appreciate the value of sharing one's lived experience with others through story-telling.  Everyone has a story to tell from which someone else can benefit.  It is his hope that telling his family's story will provide meaning and value to others. 


VISIT THE WEBSITE

You are listening to a short radio spot.

 
LISTEN TO TOM'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Angie K Elliston and her husband have been married over 20 years. Together they have adopted from the foster care system, adoption disruption, internationally and privately. Their oldest child at adoption placement was 16 and their youngest was a newborn. They are committed to one another and the challenges of adopting children from an array of backgrounds and trauma.
“I have always been willing to share our struggles, our trials, our triumphs and our dreams with anyone who asks. My husband has more discernment and shuts me down when needed, because unfortunately there are people who will use any information against you. I forget that. I trust people too much. I see the good in people when there isn’t necessarily any good intentions involved.
Regardless of all of this, I know that there is a need out there: A need to hear the truth, from a different perspective – an adoptive parent’s perspective. I’ve always prodded and begged foster and adoptive parents to speak up, but their placements (children in their care) were at risk, their biological children were at risk and their reputations were at risk. I have always prodded and begged foster and adoptive case workers to speak up as well, but their jobs, livelihood, family and reputation were at risk. I do not blame these people for protecting themselves and those they love, but I also saw that the ones ultimately hurt by our silence were the children: the foster and adoptive children in question. This has been my dream – to be there for the ones who cannot speak for themselves and to change things for the better.
The goal is to educate, support, raise awareness and challenge all those associated with adoption.” — Angie K. Elliston
VISIT THE WEBSITE

Award-winning author Lukman Clark lives with his wife, Dr. Linda Strahan, and two cats in Riverside, California. He works as a fulltime writer and gardener in his own backyard. Long ago, Lukman earned his BA in Communications/English Lit and an MBA in International Marketing. From there he went on to executive positions in banking, finance & investment, petroleum equipment manufacture, art museum management, farmers markets management, and nonprofit strategy & fundraising consulting.
Following completion of Egyptian Elegies, Lukman began writing his debut novel, THE ALEXANDRIA SCROLLS. Once started, however, the project turned into a trilogy that just would not let go of him. Written in a Magical Realism/Visionary Fiction mode the novels deal with reincarnation, the bardo and development of the soul transcending time and geography.
Based on Book One of the trilogy, Lukman presented the results of his research into the legend of Hypatia of Alexandria at the 2018 Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities.
 
YOU ARE LISTENING TO LUKMAN'S WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a best-selling, award-winning author, publisher, arts advocate, and internationally recognized leader in research design and arts-based research.
She is widely considered the world’s most visible proponent of arts-based research as a means of making research publicly accessible. Moreover, she coined the terms “social fiction” and “fiction-based research” and has been pioneering the world-wide effort to legitimate fiction as a research practice. A prolific author, Dr. Leavy has published over 40 books.
She has earned critical and commercial success in both nonfiction and fiction, and her work has been translated into numerous languages. Dr. Leavy’s works have garnered a slew of book awards including USA Best Book Awards, Independent Press Awards, International Impact Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards, International Book Awards, New York City Big Book Awards, and American Fiction Awards.
Recently, Celestial Bodies: The Tess Lee and Jack Miller Novels was the 2022 Firebird Awards first-place winner for Romance.
On the academic side, Dr. Leavy earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at Boston College in 2002. She was a tenured Associate Professor of Sociology at Stonehill College from 2002-2012 where she also served as Founding Director of the Gender Studies Program and the Chairperson of the Sociology & Criminology Department. Dr. Leavy previously taught at Boston College, Northeastern University, and Curry College. In 2012 Dr. Leavy left academia to focus her full-time efforts on her work as an author and public intellectual.
Dr. Leavy serves on the advisory board for the Arts and Humanities in Medicine Program at The University of Maine.
In addition to her own writing, Dr. Leavy is widely recognized for her pioneering work creating innovative publishing opportunities for other scholars and artists, through the ten book series for which she has served as creator and series editor over the course of her career for Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense. The Social Fictions series she created, for which she served as editor for 10 years, is the first and only academic book series to solely publish full-length literary works. The ground-breaking series received global attention, earned a national creativity award, and produced many award-winning and best-selling titles under Dr. Leavy’s tenure as editor and creative visionary. In 2021 she launched Paper Stars Press, her own publishing imprint.
A vocal advocate of public scholarship, Dr. Leavy has appeared on national news, radio, and is regularly quoted by the print and online news media (for example, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today). She is also routinely interviewed about her work by popular and scholarly media. She has blogged for The Huffington Post, The Creativity Post, We Are the Real Deal, and other outlets.
Dr. Leavy has received numerous career awards. In recognition of her significant contributions to the discipline of sociology The New England Sociological Association named Dr. Leavy the 2010 New England Sociologist of the Year. Dr. Leavy received a 2014 Special Achievement Award from the American Creativity Association which honors creativity and innovation in every field. The Special Achievement award recognizes her extraordinary work advancing arts-based research and the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. Arts-based scholars from all over the world, including many of the Social Fictions authors, sent in letters of support calling Dr. Leavy “a visionary” and the Social Fictions series “a watershed moment in the academy.”
In 2015 Dr. Leavy was announced as the youngest recipient of the Special Career Award given by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. The award recognizes her entire body of work, and particularly honors her advancement of qualitative and arts-based research. In that same year Dr.