Back Porch Writer

We experienced technical challenges again this week. We apologize for the inconvenience to our guest, Margaret Brettschneider, and to all of you. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done when these things happen. Thank you for continuing to support the show and for your patience.

The regularly scheduled show with New York Times bestselling author, Wendy Wilkinson, was cancelled due to technical difficulties on the Blog Talk Radio platform. We'll try to get her back another time. 

In the meantime, enjoy this prerecorded show. Kori talks about Alltop, past guests, upcoming guests, SMEs, and NaNo.

Ron Fritsch has written and published four novels set at the end of prehistory. Agriculture and the settled living of humans in villages and towns were new to the world. Humans were about to invent writing. Humanity was on the brink of what we call “civilization” and “history.”

The titles in this epic, allegorical adventure (and the years of their publication) are: Promised Valley Rebellion (2010), Promised Valley War (2011), Promised Valley Conspiracy (2012), and Promised Valley Peace (2013).

When the stories begin, prehistoric farmers inhabit a fertile river valley they believe their gods promised them in return for their good behavior and obedience. Their enemies, hunters roaming the mostly barren hills beyond the mountains enclosing the valley, believe their gods gave it to them.

Then one farmer who’s just come of age chooses not to kill, with his well-aimed arrow, a young hunter. The always curious son of farmers figures out how to cross over the border unseen and “go with” his equally adventuresome adversary instead.

Although both of their peoples welcome men who “go with” men, as well as women who wish to live with women, the youthful farmer and hunter are “eternal” enemies who know they’re committing treason every moment they’re together.

The four Promised Valley novels ask whether civilization and history, with their countless heaven-sanctioned wars and genocides, could’ve begun differently.

We're wrapping up our Thrillerfest month with our very own show host! Back Porch Writer host and author, Kori D. Miller discusses the creation of her book, Deadly Sins: A Dezeray Jackson Mini-Series. 

Kori began publishing her essays and short stories in 2007. Since then, she's published two books. The first, My life in black and white: A book of experiences, and then Deadly Sins. She enjoys writing essays about everyday life experiences as a non-white woman in America, but also loves escapism. Chalk that up to her Gemini nature! Ms. Miller writes mysteries for middle grade and adult readers, and general ficton for children. 

When she isn't writing, or thinking about writing, Kori spends time with her family, and is the owner of The Tea Trove.

Sunny Frazier trained as a journalist and wrote for a city newspaper, military and law enforcement publications. After working 17 years with the Fresno Sheriff's Department, 11 spent as Girl Friday with an undercover narcotics team, it dawned on her that mystery writing was her real calling. Both “Fools Rush In” and “Where Angels Fear” are based on actual cases with a bit of astrology, a habit Frazier has developed over the past 42 years. To learn more, go to http://www.sunnyfrazier.com

Mark Langan retired after a twenty-six-year career with the Omaha Police Department. In 1978 Mark was the youngest police officer ever hired on the Omaha Police Department at age eighteen. He worked as a uniformed officer and as a detective in the Burglary, Vice, and Narcotics Units. Mark was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1988, working as a supervisor in the Narcotics Unit until his retirement in 2004.  During his career Mark wrote nationally published articles on various law enforcement topics and lectured throughout the country. Recognized as a court-authorized expert on narcotics investigations, Mark testified hundreds of times in both state and federal court Mark was awarded the Omaha Police Department’s highest honors: the Medal of Valor for his actions in the Chavez shooting and the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in the Narcotics Unit, and numerous commendations over the years. From 2000 to 2008 Mark was appointed by the Governor to the Judicial Nominating Commission and was involved in selecting candidates for judgeships in Nebraska. Mark is now Vice-President of Field Operations for the Nebraska Humane Society where he is responsible for the investigation of crimes involving animals.

Award-winning homicide detective Brian Bogdanoff has retired from the Omaha Police Department. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduated from the Omaha Police Academy. Before his service as a homicide detective, Bogdanoff was a member of one of the most successful undercover narcotics units in Omaha. Three Bodies Burning is the true story of his blockbuster case.

Marie is a best-selling author, screenwriter, researcher and public speaker. She is the author of “2013: END OF DAYS OR A NEW BEGINNING- ENVISIONING THE WORLD AFTER THE EVENTS OF 2012,” “PSIENCE – HOW NEW DISCOVERIES IN QUANTUM PHYSICS AND NEW SCIENCE MAY EXPLAIN THE EXISTENCE OF PARANORMAL PHENOMENA,” and “LOOKING FOR GOD IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES," and “DESTINY VS. CHOICE: THE SCIENTIFIC AND SPIRITUAL EVIDENCE BEHIND FATE AND FREE WILL.” Marie’s first novel, “EKHO: EVIL KID HUNTING ORGANIZATION,” written with her son, Max Jones, was released in early 2014 and is the first of several novels she will have published, including “FREAK” and “GRIDWALKERS.” She is also working on several film projects for 2014. She has appeared on television shows such as ANCIENT ALIENS and has been a guest on hundreds of radio shows all over the world.She is a staff writer for FATE Magazine, Paranoia, Intrepid Magazine and a regular contributor to New Dawn Magazine.

From Tracy on Amazon.com

I seriously just love being creative. Art has always been my first love, closely followed by reading and writing, photography, book building, illustration, printmaking, and imaginary-friend creating. My children are my richest inspiration, along with nature and humanity in all their forms and faces. I live in a small town in Iowa, and have always called the Midwest my home. I use all sorts of mediums as outlets for my creative impulses, and my writing and illustration are just the latest incarnations of my "oddness" walking around on its own in the world. Here's to all the folks who deviate, who don't fit the mold, who try to spread a little of their uniqueness around--especially the children, who deserve to be forever encouraged to hold on to the magic dust that sparkles about them from the moment they are born. Without the magic, what a boring world it would be.

Check out Bug Summer.

Learn more about Tracy's books and illustrations.

Kathy Rygg is Editor In Chief at Knowonder! She's returning to the show to tell us all about Knowonder!'s new editing services. Find out more about how they work with authors here.

Kathy is a children’s fiction author with a degree in magazine journalism from Iowa State University and has worked in corporate marketing/public relations for several Fortune 500 companies. She has written for the McGraw-Hill Companies’ Business Publications Division in NYC and was the Editor in Chief of Women’s Edition magazine in Denver, CO.