Back Porch Writer

Connie Spittler's writing life unfolds in multi-layers. Her latest book The Erotica Book Club for Nice Ladies  crosses the genres of  mystery with women's fiction. She's just back from signing this book at the American Librarian Association Annual Conference in San Francisco, will read and sign at The Tattered Cover in Denver and be a featured author at Dies Laborum, The Day of the Book, in Salida, CO, then appear on a literary panel in Texas. Her work is found in over 20 anthologies with such notables as The Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Deepak Chopra, Desmond Tutu, Barbara Kingsolver.  She's produced two award-winning nature essay books featuring her husband's photography; also a book of western poetry entitled Cowboys & Wild, Wild Things. A former writer/producer at the Spittler Production Company, Connie and her husband received CLIO recognition. Later, Connie's videos, The Wise Women Series, were archived in Harvard University's Library on the History of Women in America.

Kathy Bennett is no stranger to murder and mayhem. After twenty-nine with the Los Angeles Police Department – eight as a civilian employee and twenty-one years as a sworn police officer, this retired cop’s authentic crime experience results in arresting stories.

As a police officer, most of Kathy’s career was spent working patrol in a black and white police car. Prior to retirement, Kathy was assigned as a senior lead officer, with approximately five square miles in the City of Los Angeles as her responsibility. Kathy also served as a firearms instructor at the LAPD Police Academy, a crime analyst in the ‘War Room’, a field-training officer, and worked undercover in various assignments. She was named Officer of the Quarter twice, and Officer of the Year once.

Kathy's debut novel, A Dozen Deadly Roses is a bestselling e-book. Barnes & Noble chose her second novel, A Deadly Blessing, as a Best Book of 2012. Kathy's third book, A Deadly Justice, became a bestselling police procedural novel. Readers have praised her fourth book, A Deadly Denial, as her best book yet. Kathy is currently working on her next book.

Susan Taylor Chehak is a graduate of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop and the author of several novels, including The Great Disappointment, Smithereens, The Story of Annie D., and Harmony. Her most recent publications include a collection of short stories, It's not About the Dog; a new novel, The Minor Apocalypse of Meena Krejci; and a work of nonfiction, What Happened to Paula: The Anatomy of a True Crime.

Susan's other ongoing projects include All The Lost Girls, a website devoted to exploring the lost girl archetype and the grip her story continues to have on our cultural imagination, and The Foreverland Chronicles, where she is creating detailed narrative record of Foreverland and its denizens.

Susan is also the driving force behind Foreverland Press, an e-book publisher devoted to bringing back the backlists of fine writers who might have otherwise been overlooked. Other of her online projects include, What Happened To Paula, a collaborative web-based investigation into the as yet unsolved murder of a former schoolmate, and The Truth About Paula O., a blogged memoir of Susan's ongoing 15-year investigation into the Paula Oberbroeckling murder case.

If you're saving for your kids' college, then this is the show for you! Expert Dan Evertsz is in the studio to answer all of your questions. 

Dan is the Founder of College Money Pros (http://collegemoneypros.com)  and former CEO of Bay College Planning, in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He is the author of “Insider Secrets to Pay For College”.  He has taught this course for many organizations across the country.  Dan is considered one of the premier experts in the admissions, financial aid and college funding arena.  Dan, with the assistance of his wife Deborah, leads college funding Workshops and Seminars. These are carefully designed to create a true understanding of the college funding process.  Check out their YouTube channel: College Money Pros.   

Here's a bit about College Money Pros:

"We offer a comprehensive approach to college planning and student counseling. Our staff members are highly experienced and ready to advise in all areas of college life and college financing. Avoid the many obstacles that often hinder those new to the process involved with completing a college education.

We also take the financial needs and priorities of parents into consideration. You need to protect your retirement savings, home and nest egg."

Erik Weibel is a thirteen-year-old eight grader who loves to read. He started his blog, This Kid Reviews Books when he was nine and is now in his fourth year blogging. On his blog, he not only reviews books but also encourages other kids to get into reading and writing. Erik supports other kids on his blog through his “Creative Kid Thursday” feature. Erik is the Co-Host of The Write Chat vlog with his friend Felicia Maziarz where they interview authors and illustrators about the writing process. In addition to being an avid reader (averaging 20-30 middle grade books a month), Erik enjoys writing creatively. He writes a monthly book review column for The Upper Bucks Free Press. In 2013, he self-published a chapter book called “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea: Book 1; A Bad Idea,” which he wrote when he was nine, and took a year to edit.  He is working on Book 2. He has an original poem published in “The Song of Sahel Anthology” (Plum Tree Books, 2013) titled “One Kid.” He also has an original short story in “Lucky Draw” (Prints Charming Books, 2015) titled “The Rabbit’s Revenge.” Erik is also an active participant in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 challenge and Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo.

Felicia “The Neighbor Girl” Maziarz is just about 12 years old, and, after publishing two books,she has paw-sed her writing career to pursue other interests. She is the co-creator/host of The Write Chat with Erik Weibel of This Kid Reviews Books where she and Erik video interview authors. Felicia is an award-winning author, and has published two books in her Stanley & Katrina series.

http://www.stanleyandkatrina.com/

http://thiskidreviewsbooks.com/

Jenn Thor is a wife and mother of two teenagers. While her family keeps her busy and vastly entertained, she has the remarkable opportunity to spend her days working toward becoming a published romance author. Jenn is a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Authors of the Heartland based in Omaha, Nebraska. She spends her Monday nights with her critique group.

MISS PRISS: ON AND OFF THE COURT Book one in the new tween chapter series, by Mom’s Choice Award winning writer-illustrator Team, ‘Brenjudy’, introduces Priscilla Penelope Paxton (Miss Priss), a ten year old whose interests and curiosity land her in, sometimes, sticky situations. A unique coming-of-age story bound to bring giggles and enjoyment to all its readers as Miss Priss encounters and overcomes a slew of challenges, even the one that will continue to grow—self-awareness. The book will be released with full color illustrations. 

Priscilla Penelope Paxton is a witty ten year old whose interests and curiosity land her in, sometimes, sticky situations. Dance classes, Girl Scouts, school assignments, friends and hanging out at her family's drug store, and the local Piggly Wiggly would leave any other person with no time for anything else. Yet, the thrill of basketball and joining the Little Dribblers finds its way into Miss Priss' heart. Though this interest will prove to be a dream that requires overcoming the greatest of challenges; Mom’s opposition. A task that will require ingenuity, perseverance and a little help from some loved ones.

Adrian Koesters holds an MFA in poetry from the Rainier Writing workshop at Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in fiction and poetry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her first book of poems, Many Parishes, was published by BrickHouse Books as part of their New Poets Series, and other work has appeared in Berkeley Review, The Gettysburg Review, Hotel Amerika, and elsewhere. She has been a poetry and fiction assistant editor at Prairie Schooner and fiction editor at A River and Sound Review. She taught writing at UNL and the Creighton University MFA program, and lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Web URL: www.adriankoesters.com

Koesters' Many Parishes is an original. The poems seem to smack the hard-ass contemporary world up against a deep spiritual sense, until we see they're one and the same. Adrian Koesters is able to write of men calling out to a ten-year old ''spinster'' to ''come on down, sweetheart, I got something over here to show you,'' and allow us to feel in her small, frightened heart the identical anguish of soul as in the nun who's ''divided from the principalities and goes in terror of them.'' These poems, like the nuns, ''take things personally.'' They're lyrical confessions of the deepest griefs--abuse, divorce, doubt, and loneliness. They provide absolution, and positively joy, in their skillful and lucid singing. --Fleda Brown, author of No Need of Sympathy

Mellissa Thomas is a Central Florida freelance writer, journalist, author, poet, speaker, and award-winning screenwriter. She lovingly overworks herself authoring several blogs, writing for several publications, and is Chief Editor of Orlando Fashion Magazine. She has also guest blogged on popular blogs, including Under30CEO and James Chartrand's Men with Pens.

With five years of U.S. Naval service and two college degrees (including one in Film), this introvert has lots of story ideas and practical life advice to share. Find out more at mellissathomas.com.

Book Blurb: In the Rough

The first 48 hours in Naples saw International Supremacy Bureau Agents Maia Highland and Roy Chambers face death on more than one occasion. Now, with the help of ISB’s Europe Lead Agent Evan Knightley, the duo’s race to find Tenderfoot intensifies given the untimely murder of Italy’s top ranking military official, who was involved in the case, and the treacherous quest for the truth behind the cryptic video message on Highland’s computer.

Speaker, author and trainer, Elizabeth Bachman is known as The Star Maker for Speakers. She is passionate about helping people shine on ANY stage. Using her 30 years of experience as an International Opera Director, directing such luminaries as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, now she works with business professionals, authors and speakers to find their unique voices, close more sales and become known as a Star in their Field.

Fluent in 5 languages, Elizabeth has directed over 50 operas around the world, giving her a wealth of tools to help business professionals become Star Presenters. She is the creator of “Taking Your Show on the Road: How to Get Booked as a Speaker” – the ultimate guide for getting more speaking gigs, and the acclaimed Virtual Mastermind Series: “Speak For Succe$$.”

A sought-after speaker, Elizabeth has presented to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, E Women Network, Women in Consulting, the Sacramento Speakers’ Association, numerous radio shows and telesummits. Founder and Artistic Director of the Tyrolean  Opera Program (TOP Opera), a summer opera training program in the Austrian Alps, she continues to support the opera community. Whether working with you to jazz up your act, punch up your pitch or polish your presentation, Elizabeth helps you stop procrastinating, get past your blocks and take your show on the road.