BookSpeak Network

BookSpeak Network

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BookSpeak Network episodes

  • "A Book of Plays" featured on the Brown Posey Press Show

    A collection of short works make up the Brown Posey release, "A Book of Plays," and highlights the talents of the Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania, also known as PAPA. Incorporated in 2008 and led by the late Marjorie Bicknell, the group provided a space for playwrights to read their works, and gain feedback and insights.

    Brown Posey Press Show host Tory Gates discusses the alliance and the work of four contributors: "All Hands on Deck," by Cindy Rock Dlugolecki, "Morning Ride," by Barbara Trainin Blank, "The Ugliest Side of Humanity" by R.C. Joel, and "Abbreviations" by Diane L. Hetes.

    Find out more about the Playwrights Alliance of Pennsylvania through their     Facebook page.

    44 min
  • Douglas Brode, Author of "Meet Me in Manhattan," on the Sunbury Press Books Show

    The romanticized history of Old West desperados Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid cannot be examined without including the woman who figured prominently in their histories, Etta Place. 

    Author Douglas Brode examines a brief two-and-one-half weeks in the life of Butch, Sundance, and Etta--their trip to New York City, as they leave the West behind for a new life in South America. Brode reimagines from Etta's point of view, what they experienced as old ways changed into what would be called, "Modern Times." This historical work of fiction also highlights what they would have seen, and the people Etta might have met.

    Douglas Brode has had a varied life. A novelist with nearly three dozen books to his credit, he is also a graphic novelist, playwright, Hollywood screenwriter, film and TV historian, and radio/TV commentator. In addition, he is a syndicated columnist. His works include an analysis of the work and vision of Rod Serling,  plus studies of filmmakers Woody Allen and Stephen Spielberg. 

    Brode also taught at the Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

    30 min
  • "A Susquehanna Tale" Author Robert John Andrews on the Sunbury Press Books Show
    Author Robert John Andrews brings the 18th-century Susquehanna Valley to life in this Catamount Press novella, A Susquehanna Tale. This period of early American history is hard, where the rifle, tomahawk, and knife rule. It is a time of hope and loss, land-hungry settlers and the Iroquois; here, two men, frontier scout Alexander Tennant and pioneer Colonel William Montgomery discuss the stories of their lives and times.A Susquehanna Tale is discussed by Robert John Andrews and Sunbury Press Books founder Lawrence Knorr in this BookSpeak Network podcast. Retired after more than 40 years of pastoral work, including nearly three decades as head of the Grove Presbyterian Church in Danville, Pennsylvania, Andrews is a popular newspaper columnist, community and church leader, and public speaker on historical and spiritual topics. His first book, Nathaniel's Call won the First Book Award from the Presbyterian Writer's Guild, the first print-on-demand book so honored. Danville remains Andrews' home, and he says he's learned to cherish this region's rich history and love the tale of its river.
    29 min
  • "The Carousel Man" Author Stephen Paul Sayers on the Sunbury Press Books Show!
    Horror author Stephen Paul Sayers comes to Hellbender Books with a new tale of suspense in The Carousel Man. Haunted by nightmares and visions, a desperate man returns to their source: a childhood carousel ride. There, he uncovers a shocking truth—and a long-forgotten promise that he is condemned to fulfill.Sayers is the author of the bestselling Caretakers horror trilogy, A Taker of Morrows, The Soul Dweller, and The Immortal Force. He appears on the Sunbury Press Show to discuss his love of old horror movies (watched with his ill-behaved dog, Ollie), how they influenced his writing, and his work as a college professor. He makes his home in Columbia, Missouri, and Plymouth, Massachusetts.  You can find out more about him at his website.
    26 min
  • "How the Story Ends" Author Tory Gates Appears on The Sunbury Press Books Show!
    "We are vessels...and sometimes we have to empty them."For years, Jhana has traveled the country as a National Public Radio reporter, looking for the stories of interesting people to tell. Now she has returned to her hometown of Sorel, to empty her vessel and tell listeners her own tale. As she navigates a hometown that has changed but still retains much of what it once was, Jhana reunites and remembers to see if one can go home again, in How the Story Ends.The seventh book by Tory Gates, How the Story Ends finds the author returning to commercial fiction. His works on Brown Posey Press include the Sweet Dreams Series, a young adult/time travel series with an emphasis on music. He is also the author of the award-winning A Moment in the Sun, Live from the Cafe, and the self-published Parasite Girls, which can be found on Amazon and Draft2Digital.For nearly 40 years, Tory has worked in broadcast radio, and is currently an anchor for NBC News Radio, but also provides news content for stations across Central Pennsylvania. He is also the host of "The Brown Posey Press Show" here on the BookSpeak Network. On this episode of The Sunbury Press Books Show, Tory discusses his career, his Vermont upbringing, and what inspires and drives his writing. You can find more on his website.A native of Cambridge, Vermont, Tory graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine. He lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his cat, Kao. He can be found anywhere that good coffee is served.
    30 min
  • Garrett Stack and "The Duke of Ash Avenue" on the Sunbury Press Books Show!
    Elbridge Corvallis finds himself in an unenviable position. About to start his professional hockey career, "Elby" is called home to Lowland, Pennsylvania, due to his mother's death. A car accident then keeps him home, and Elby has to somehow heal, and figure out how to get out of a gritty, dying steel town.Elby must also contend with his father's slide into madness, a pervy landlord, a revenge-minded physical therapist, and also the "Duke of Ash Avenue," a mysterious character who wants to secede and return the town to British rule. The darkly humorous situation and the strange characters that surround him leave Elby to consider his own place in the world, and whether Lowland really has anything for him?Garrett Stack brings his first novel, "The Duke of Ash Avenue" to the Catamount Press and the Sunbury Press Book Show. A poet and author of short fiction, Stack's work has appeared in several literary magazines. "Yeoman's Work," a collection of his poetry came out in 2020 on Bottom Dog Press. He holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University. You can find out more about Garrett on his website.
    24 min
  • "Arcane Assassin" Co-Author R.A. Fischer on the Sunbury Press Show
    Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation is the first of the Raven Naelo series, now available on the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. The daughter of an elven king and human mother, Raven is a would-be rogue seeking to follow her father's path and become a realm guardian. After proving her worth against a gang of half-orcs, her father sends Raven to a training camp, where she meets fellow travelers, mages, nymphs, and archers. Their training is tested as they step into the world of advanced magic, but Raven finds her own power and danger at every turn.As the world plunges into war, Raven must fight to save her homeland from destruction, and the possibility that living and dead will never find peace.AnneMarie Knorr-Fischer is co-author of what promises to be an exciting quest, that she and her wife Rachel have set Raven upon. She discusses with host Lawrence Knorr how a love of Dungeons & Dragons and the discovery of old gaming documents and maps inspired Raven and the newly-released start of an exciting and captivating series. The authors live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
    26 min
  • R. Kane Maurer & "The Forbidden Powers" Series on the Sunbury Press Books Show
    R. Kane Maurer brings his love of fantasy and adventure tales to a trilogy of his own design, The Forbidden Powers. After agreeing to explore a local cave, Jonny is thrust into another world of magic, trolls, dragons, and legendary heroes only read about. Jonny quickly finds this is all too real and must learn to not only save himself but to defend the world he knows from a sinister force who seeks the power of a god."The Cup in the Shadows" is the first of Maurer's three-volume set, available through the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and others, Maurer has brought his original storytelling to the printed word, and discusses the trilogy with host Lawrence Knorr.R. Kane Maurer lives with his family in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
    25 min
  • "The Deceived Ones" Author Judith Krummeck on the Brown Posey Press Show
    The Deceived Ones is a tale of displacement, a stranger in a strange land, music, and a tale most familiar to fans of a certain bard. In her debut novel, Judith Krummeck brings real places, war, music, and identity to life. Vira is a talented, but introverted Ukrainian woman who is forced to flee her homeland as Russia invades. She lands in Baltimore with help from the Uniting for Ukraine program, carrying the clothes on her back and her viola da gamba. An assault and the loss of her passport drive Vira to assume the identity of her twin brother Sevastyan, who fights to avoid conscription and follow Vira to the US.Meanwhile, Orson is commissioned to write an opera for the Twelfth Night Festival, but cannot compose; his muse, the equally brilliant soprano Isabella refuses to sing again, for him or anyone else. Vira's musical talents come Orson's way, as she tries to remake herself and navigate a path to a new life. Based on Twelfth Night, Judith Krummeck discusses The Deceived Ones on the Brown Posey Press Show. A native of South Africa, Krummeck is an essayist, author, and playwright. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore. She is the author of "Beyond the Baobab," an autobiographical series of essays, and "Old New Worlds," a work of historical non-fiction. Her writings have appeared in The Rumpus, Baltimore Fishbowl, and Past Ten. Judith is also the evening drive presenter on classical music radio station WBJC in Baltimore, where she lives with her husband. You can find more about Judith on her website.
    55 min
  • Wayne Stewart tells of the "1960" Pittsburgh Pirates on the Sunbury Press Show
    The Pittsburgh Pirates were the doormat of the National League for much of the 1950s but began to turn things around late in the decade. Through changes in the front office and management, the Bucs had their first winning season in a decade in 1958 but slipped to fourth place the following year. 1960: When the Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All the Way is the story of that magical run, from spring training to a wild World Series against the New York Yankees.Wayne Stewart brings his love of baseball, plus extensive research and player interviews to the table in this comprehensive look at a unique team that won 95 games and then took the Yankees the distance. Shortstop Dick Groat earned the NL MVP Award, 20-game winner Vernon Law took Cy Young honors, and an outfielder named Roberto Clemente hit .314 with a then career-high 16 home runs. Players such as Harvey "The Kitten" Haddix, Roy Face, Hal Smith, and Bill Mazeroski made their respective marks; the latter was mostly a defensive specialist who hit the series-clinching homer.A native of Pittsburgh, Wayne Stewart grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania. The town produced several athletes who made it in the pros, including Stan Musial and Ken Griffey, Senior, and Junior (Stewart in fact was a high school teammate of the elder Griffey). Stewart is the author of a string of books on baseball, football and basketball, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in professional sports."A must-read for every baseball fan." -- Vernon Law
    31 min

About BookSpeak Network

From the publisher's feed

Three different shows. One common theme: celebrating the world of books.This podcast network is for readers and writers interested in hearing about awesome new books spanning a wide variety of…