Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk Podcast

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Bleeped words: L*nched, Add!ct!on x 2, V!olence 

Hello, My Happy People,

What do a former advertising executive, a Tuscan winemaker, and a novelist have in common? In Daniel Grace’s case, everything seems to come back to storytelling. Daniel joined me to talk about his fascinating path from the advertising world, where his career included international agencies and even Super Bowl commercials, to the vineyards of Tuscany, where he has spent decades producing wine. Somewhere along the way, another kind of storytelling demanded his attention.

That story became In the Wake of Golgotha, a modern reimagining of Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate that brings these familiar historical figures into an entirely different light. Daniel and I talked about what inspired him to explore their stories, the questions that began to emerge as he looked beyond what most of us have been taught about them, and how he turned those ideas into a dark literary thriller that spans thousands of years.

We also talked about the unexpected connections between advertising, winemaking, and literature, whether years of professional marketing experience actually make it easier to promote your own novel, and, of course, books, wine, and book-to-screen adaptations. Daniel is an incredible storyteller, and this conversation went in directions I never could have predicted when we started.

Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more about my conversation with Daniel at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog.

Daniel's Website

Daniel on Instagram

il Molino di Grace Winery

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About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
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Bleeped word: Murd3r3d x2

Hello My Happy People, 

Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I talked with middle grade and young adult author Aaron Starmer. Before publishing approximately sixteen books over the past fifteen years, Aaron worked for a travel bookseller and later ran the documentation department for an African safari company. He shared how his work for the travel bookseller provided a second education in reading and what nonfiction taught him about organizing facts into compelling stories.

I asked Aaron what it was like to have his novel Spontaneous adapted into a movie. Aaron discussed why the movie’s release in 2020 did not provide the book with the boost it might have received at another time (understandably) and why even established, traditionally published authors can struggle to engage with a broad national audience.

Our main focus today was Aaron’s latest middle grade novel, You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This. The book follows twelve-year-old Roman as he organizes his late grandfather’s home and discovers strange objects in the attic connected to a family legend known as the Toe Beast. We discussed family secrets and the age when children begin to understand their parents and grandparents are complicated people with histories and secrets of their own.

During the Five Quick Questions, Aaron shared his favorite cookie, what it was like to tour Vermont’s indie bookstores, and his favorite family Thanksgiving tradition, among other personal stories.

He ended by giving us a preview of his work in progress inspired by events in his hometown. The book is expected sometime next year. I've already invited Aaron back to Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt to share that book with us next Halloween.

For more behind-the-scenes information from this episode, read today’s blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog.

Aaron's Website

Aaron on Facebook

Aaron on Instagram

Aaron on Threads

Aaron on Blusky

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About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello, My Happy People,

If you love Southern Gothic, magical realism, old folklore, and stories where the line between the living and the dead gets a little blurry, you are going to want to meet my guest today, Robert Gwaltney.

Some of you may recognize Robert’s name. Shortly after I interviewed him, I spoke with Amy Pence, author of Yellow, and she told me about the role Robert played as a mentor while she navigated publishing her first novel. I had literally just interviewed him, so hearing Amy talk about how much his guidance had meant to her gave me another glimpse into the person behind the books.

Robert joined me to talk about his latest novel, Sing Down the Moon, a story filled with family legacies, ghosts, a mysterious fig tree, and wonderfully dark Southern folklore. We also talked about his Southern roots, magical realism, the pressure of following a successful debut, and the writing community. And because this is Book Banter, somehow sweet tea, falling iguanas, and the possibility of haints wandering around Germany also made it into the conversation.

Once you've listened to today's episode, don't forget to check out the BTS blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog for more from my interview with Robert.

Robert's Website

Robert on Facebook

Robert on Instagram

Robert on Threads

Robert on Amazon

Robert on Linktr.ee

Support the show

Shop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_Books

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BurckhardtBooks.com: 

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• Apply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application

About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello, My Happy People,

What happens when an author who has spent years writing contemporary fiction is told the story she really needs to write is historical? For Julie Gerstenblatt, it led straight to Nantucket, an island she has known since childhood, and eventually to her latest novel, The Stargazer of Nantucket. 

Julie and I had a lot of fun talking about what really goes into historical fiction, including the research rabbit holes that can swallow hours of your life and the unexpected amount of math involved when your characters need to get somewhere on an historically accurate schedule. We also talked about the point when an author has to stop chasing every fascinating detail and remember there is still a story to tell.  

Of course, we get into The Stargazer of Nantucket, Julie’s seafaring adventure about a determined young woman who refuses to accept that her place is safely back on shore. But there is much more waiting aboard the Stargazer than Winnie expects. Our conversation takes us through the real history that helped inspire the novel, women who pushed against the boundaries of their time, some fascinating Nantucket locations, and even a historical legend Julie had to decide how to handle in her fiction. And because this is Book Banter, we also somehow ended up discussing whether being born in the 1900s officially makes us historical.  

Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more from my interview with Julie Gerstenblatt at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog.

Julie's Website

Julie on Facebook

Julie on Instagram

Julie on Linktr.ee

Buy Her Book

Scotland: Thanks to Rohan and June and these shops in Pitlochry

Coffee Break

All About Books

Hettie's Tearoom

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About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello My Happy People,

Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I’m talking with author Lucy Ashe about her unusual journey from professional dancer and teacher to historical fiction author and the experiences that eventually led her to writing novels.

Our main focus is The Model Patient, Lucy’s historical psychological thriller set in early-1960s London. We explore the troubling relationship between a young model and her psychoanalyst and the questions the story raises about trust, manipulation, power, and professional boundaries.

Lucy also shares some of the inspiration and research behind the novel and how its historical setting influences the story. We talk about creating characters within a period when attitudes toward women, mental health, psychoanalysis, and professional authority were very different from those we recognize today.

Along the way, we get to know more about Lucy herself, her experiences before becoming an author, and how those different parts of her life eventually contributed to her writing.

And, of course, we finish things off with our Five Quick Questions, which are rarely as quick as the name suggests.

Lucy's Website

Lucy on Instagram

Lucy on TikTok

Lucy's Linktr.ee

Lucy on BookBub

Buy Model Patient

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About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello My Happy People,

Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I share my chat  with award-winning author Krysten Lindsay Hager about her journey from journalism to becoming a published author and the experiences that helped shape the stories she writes today.

Krysten writes uplifting, PG-rated stories for young readers through New Adult audiences, with themes of self-esteem, friendship, finding your voice, and healthy relationships. We talked about why these themes matter to her, the books she enjoyed growing up, and why she loves writing supportive “cinnamon roll” characters.

Krysten also introduced us to When Stars Collide in the City, the third book in her Stars in the City series. We discussed influencer culture, maintaining a public image, and the pressures young people face to conform and fit in.

We also talked about Krysten’s own experiences growing up and how they eventually became part of what she wanted to accomplish through her fiction. She talked about spending years trying to fit in and learning that what makes someone different can also be what makes them special.

Krysten's Website

Krysten on Facebook

Krysten on Instagram

Krysten on YouTube

Buy Her Books

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About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello, My Happy People! 

In today’s episode, I’m sit down with award-winning author Stacy Hawks for fascinating book chat about her journey from the classroom into full-time writing. We talk all about her love for local history and how her Appalachian roots in Allegheny County, North Carolina, continue to inspire both her historical fiction and her poetry. 

Our main focus is on her debut novel, Dividing Ridge: The Unsolved Murd3r of Elva Brannock. This haunting, real-life 1937 cold case left a tight-knit mountain community shaken, and Stacy uncovers how local secrets, fear, and tradition kept the truth in the shadows for decades. We also chat about the rest of The Ridge Series (Devils Ridge and Patriots Ridge). Starting with Dividing Ridge is the absolute best place to jump in and move on to the next two. 

Plus, stick around for our "Five Quick Questions" segment! They are never actually quick but they are too fun to stop asking! You will get to hear how Stacy picks songs for her book playlists, her favorite family travel memory, which DC and Marvel superheroes she identifies with most, and which section of the bookstore she hits first. 

Be sure to check out my blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog for BTS insights on today episode. Then subscribe to our newsletter with the link below so you never miss out on any Burckhardt Books/Book Banter Productions updates. 

Stacy's Linktree

Dividing Ridge Website

Dividing Ridge on Facebook

Dividing Ridge on Instagram

Dividing Ridge Store

Stacy on Amazon

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• BBP on Facebook
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• Apply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application

About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Hello My Happy People,

In this episode of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I’m talking with author Cyndi Brec, a self-described storyteller and legend sleuth whose Therans Trilogy blends mythology, mystery, archaeology, romance, and lost civilizations.

Cyndi takes us inside the world of the Therans and shares how real history and places have influenced her stories, including the historic Keister Water Mill, which she and her husband co-owned for more than 20 years. We also talk about her writing process, being a “pantser by design,” how she manages dyslexia as a writer, and why she chooses to write stories that are personal to her rather than chasing market trends.  

And somewhere along the way, Cyndi tells me something about our history that completely surprises me. Apparently, this interview actually began more than two years before we sat down to record it. 

UPDATE: In regards to recent events, a tribute was added at the end of todays podcast to honor Miss Dolly Parton.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Miss Dolly's Imagination Library

For more behind the interview information on Cyndi Brec and this episode, read today’s blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog.

Cyndi's Website

Cyndi on Wordpress

Cyndi on Facebook

Cyndi on Threads

Cyndi on Instagram

Cyndi on Amazon

Support the show

Shop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_Books

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BurckhardtBooks.com: 

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• BBP on Facebook
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• Apply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application

About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Bleeped Word: K!ll!ng

Hello Happy My People,

In this episode of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I talked with award-winning and Amazon bestselling author Leslie Hachtel about her writing career and her time-travel romance, Come Back to Me.

Leslie has written nineteen romance novels across several subgenres, including historical romance, time travel, and romantic suspense. Before becoming an author, she also had a pretty eclectic collection of jobs, including licensed veterinary technician, caterer, horseback riding instructor for the disabled, and advertising media buyer.

I talked with Leslie about how she went from simply loving to write to making it her career, some of the challenges she has faced along the way, and what it has been like seeing her work move beyond novels into television and film. We also discussed how her writing process changes when she moves between different romance subgenres.

Then, of course, we got into Come Back to Me. Leslie takes readers back to Scotland in 1562 as Skye Blaine travels through time in search of the man she loves. We talked about what inspired Leslie to combine romance, history, time travel, magic, and faith in one story, as well as the historical research that went into creating the world of the novel.

And because nobody escapes my Five Quick Questions, Leslie also faced questions inspired by a little snooping around her website, including avoiding housework, her many careers, her writing buddy Josie, and book-to-movie adaptations.

For more behind the interview information from this episode, read today’s blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog, where I share my impressions of my conversation with Leslie.

Leslie's Website

Leslie on Facebook

Leslie on Wordpress

Leslie on Amazon

Support the show

Shop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_Books

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BurckhardtBooks.com: 

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• BBP on Facebook
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• Apply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application

About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I? 

Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now.

Bleeped words (done to make sure we do not get censored anywhere): S3x (x3), sh0t, bl00d, b0mbs, k!lled

Hello My Happy People, 

Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Nathan Jorgenson joins me today for a conversation that goes well beyond his latest novel, Otto’s Portal.

Nathan spent nearly 40 years as a dentist, but writing and storytelling were already part of his life long before he became a novelist. He wrote for outdoor magazines, told stories around campfires with friends and family, and eventually found his way to fiction through a deeply personal story he began for his father.

We talk about the unexpected path that led to his bestselling and award-winning career as a novelist, the importance of words, learning from both positive and negative reviews, and why connecting with readers means so much to him. Nathan also shares his thoughts on finding inspiration in the people and places around us, the role his wife plays in his writing career, and why retirement apparently leaves a lot less time for writing when the fish are biting.

And of course we also talk about Otto’s Portal, a fascinating new Amazon bestselling novel that brings together real historical events, science, good and evil, and characters searching for redemption.

For more behind the interview information from this episode, read today’s blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog.

Nathan's Website

Nathan on Facebook

Nathan on Instagram

Nathan on Amazon

Support the show

Shop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_Books

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BurckhardtBooks.com: 

• *NEW* Haunted Hearts Series
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Book Banter Productions:

• BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter Magazine
• BBP on Facebook
• BBP on TikTok
• Apply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application

About Dianne:

• Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author 
• Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?