BookSpeak Network

Lana Shay is on a mission, to shed light on the perceived dark underworld of the sex industry. From five years in France where she learned French through an immersion program, the Wisconsin native worked as a stripper, webcam artist, a practitioner of sensual massage and a dominatrix for nearly ten years. Lana has also worked as a Transformational Coach, a Yoga instructor, Sensual Foodist, and Psychotherapy & Cognitive Liberty advocate. Available on the imprint Verboten Books, "Erotic Hustle" enlightens the reader to the therapeutic uses of psychedelics and the tantric approach to conscious sexual exchange.A self-described "Citizen of the World," Lana is also co-founder of Entheo Ventures and The Sensual Collective. She lives in Los Angeles.

Audrey Markum is facing two conflicts at once: facing a violent attacker in court, just as her friend's baby has been kidnapped. With help from Detective Rodriguez, Audrey wants justice for herself, but also to find the child; all the same, Audrey realizes she may not be able to have both.A Carlisle, PA native, Linda Cotton Jeffries is the author of "Picturing the Dark," the second of a series of Sunbury Press Releases. "Seeing in the Quiet" is the first of these, and Jeffries has also publicsed "We Thought We Knew You" and "Who We Might Be," on Fifth Avenue Press. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught special education for more than thirty years. She lives in Michigan.

Conventions, large and small bring together creatives and fans like nothing else. Returning to Aurora, Ohio after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, Cleveland Concoction, aka CleCon, assembled authors, creators, cosplayers, gamers, and performers that crossed all boundaries and provided three days of entertainment, education, and fun.BPP Show host Tory Gates made his second appearance at CleCon, and while promoting his books, including all three volumes of the Sweet Dreams Series, was able to speak with many of his fellows about their work, their influences and inspirations, and just why they do it.These brief, shoot-style interviews include former guests such as Olivia Berrier, Jason Lady and Marcus Cook. We also hear from Vik K. Walker, Weston Kincade, Marcus Calvert, and musical guests Camille and Kennerly, also known as The Harp Twins.The purpose of this program is to take you inside the convention, give you an idea of the activity, and also show that no matter what an artist practices, the ways and means are different for each person. We hope you will find a new friend to read or listen to through this program, and as we all hope, you come along on our journey.Check out www.clevelandconcoction.org for updates, and what's coming in 2024!*This program is dedicated to the memory of Dan R. Arman, who left us on May 19, 2023. I got to speak with Dan and his widow Mary at CleCon. They were a delight to speak with, and we remember a great talent and a fine man. TG

From its inception as a board game in 1987, the Arkham Horror franchise has continued to grow. Inspired by the works of J.P. Lovecraft, players are taken to Arkham, Massachusetts in the 1920s, where thieves, rare items, secret societies, and a drive and lust for power lead to adventures beyond imagination. That beginning has seen multiple versions of the board game, video games, and several literary works that draw on Lovecraft and others for the strange, macabre, and terrifying.On this special episode of the Brown Posey Press Show, Tory Gates speaks with three of the authors who have offered tales that pull in their experience, and connections to the game and serve to expand possibilities in Arkham Horror: Secrets in Scarlet. MJ Newman, one of the founders of the card game, a second-generation game designer and author in her own right, brings us "Crossing Stars," a tale told from two points of view, as Haresah, her lover Razim and their cohorts travel the Sahara Desert in search of the "Kisra," while the mysterious Amaranth involves the academic Luciana in a quest of her own.Carrie Harris, a self-described "geek of all trades" and author of numerous works, offers "Honor Among Thieves." Set in Buenos Aires, professional thief Rosa and her sister Milagros infiltrate high society to steal a wanted item, where they run into the somewhat-ubiquitous Red-Gloved Man and others. James Fadeley is one of the co-founders of Thunderbird Studios (which includes the San Cicaro series), and he provides, "In Truth, Art." As Turkey begins the transition to a secular world, art historian Ece Sahin (and member of a certain Coterie) discovers someone has taken a suspicious interest in her research.Arkham Horror: Secrets in Scarlet is available through Aconyte Books.

The story of Madame Sara Spencer-Washington would be lost to not only African-American history, but US history as a whole, were it not for her descendants and the work of author Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks. With a goal of introducing a new generation of children, "The Story of Madame Sara Spencer-Washington and the Apex Empire" is one of an entrepreneur who broke boundaries.In 1911, Spencer-Washington moved from Virginia to Atlantic City, New Jersey and started the Apex News and Hair Company, a door-to-door cosmetics business and hair salon, which she transformed to an international empire. With hundreds of products, and 45-thousand agents around the world, Spencer-Washington opened beauty schools and expanded to Haiti and South Africa. She was honored at the New York World's Trade Fair in 1939 for her endeavors, and also served as a philanthropist and civic leader.Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks had a passion for writing from childhood, and won awards for her essays. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University, she wrote for the school newspaper The Weathervane; her works have also appeared in Bronze Magazine, among other publications. Her first book for Sunbury Press was the 2017 release, "Chicken Bone Beach: A Pictorial History of Atlantic City's Missouri Avenue Beach," which was nominated for a literary award by the Schomburg Center in New York City.Cheryl is also an accomplished singer-songwriter; she lives with her family in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.

Sunbury Press author Sherry Knowlton has won awards for her Alexa Williams series of mystery works, "Dead of Autumn," "Dead of Summer," "Dead of Spring," "Dead of Winter" and "Dead on the Delta." Combining her love of travel with her literary skills, Knowlton joins Lawrence Knorr to discuss her two-volume series, "Beyond the Sunset."Written in a series of stories, essays and anecdotes, Knowlton tells of how she went from a small-town upbringing in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to Woodstock, and to more than fifty nations on six continents. She tells of encounters with wild animals, Indiana Jones moments, transportation difficulties and intriguing cuisine, along with some practical travel tips for those who plan to venture on their own.Knowlton spent much of her working life in state government, primarily in human and social services. She served also served the Commonwealth as Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance, and now operates her own health care consulting business. A host of the Milford House Press podcast, Sherry is also a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime and Pennwriters. She lives with her husband Mike in the mountains of South-Central PA.

The Pinchot Family's places in American history is a long and at times complicated one. David S. Patterson brings an examination of three generations in his new book, "The Pinchots: A Family Saga" to the Sunbury Press Books Show.The Pinchot name is one that winds its way through Pennsylvania and US history, dating back to the American Civil War. Gifford Pinchot is noted for his work in conservation as head of the then Division of Forestry under President William McKinley, and served as head of the re-named US Forest Service through the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. His early relationship with Roosevelt kept him involved in political circles with connections through the time of the Kennedy Administration. Pinchot's forays into politics included two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania, and three unsuccessful campaigns for the US Senate.Other members of the Pinchot family are featured, all of whom espoused values of public service, as well as activism in the arts, culture and politics, with their own personal stories, triumphs and tragedies.David S. Patterson earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley, has taught deplomatic and peace history. His other works include "Toward a Warless World" and "The Search for Negotiated Peace." In addition, Patterson has served as chief editor of the "Foreign Relations of the United States."

...In my society there’s choices of destruction—In variety, I always felt like the rules never applied to me.Harrisburg, PA native Juelz Davenport brings his life story and that of his peers to a series of poetic works, "In My Eyes," Volumes 1 and 2, "In My Little Eyes," and "Penned in Pennsylvania."Juelz, as his friends know him, speaks frankly about life on the street, behind bars, and about making a difference today. His forthcoming novel, "Who is Shawn?" details the life of a young man struggling to find his way on Harrisburg's toughest streets.Not only a poet and author, Juelz brings his story and unique teaching methods to schools and universities. He works with children and young people of all ages, to introduce them to creative possibilities for now, and for their lives.Juelz Davenport's works, his programs and booking information can be found at www.iamjuelz.com

Hidden in a French cellar, a Roman Legion awakens from a self-imposed hibernation. Seeking revenge for the massacre of their fellows in the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, the legion emerges to exact revenge on their hated Germanic enemies.But they have overslept by nearly two thousand years--the world has changed, but the legion presses on. A NATO investigator has learned of their presence, and while inconceivable, he realizes time is running out.Mark Carlson brings "Out of  the Darkness: Vengeance of the Last Roman Legion" to the Sunbury Press Books Show. The first of a four volume series, Carlson brings history to life in a unique way. He has more than 200 public articles in national magazines, and is a popular public speaker. A student of classical history, Carlson has worked on the series for nearly ten years. His other works include, "When Yamamoto Ran Wild," the essay collection "War at Sea," and "When Galleys Ruled the Sea."He lives in San Diego, California.

Scotland, 1662. A young girl named Margaret meets Isobel, a teller of tales, of faeries and magic, which sweeps Margaret away from her devout Protestant family to learn of charms and the Otherworld. When Isobel is arrested and accused of practicing witchcraft, Margaret becomes a suspect. It remains for Katharine, Margaret's tutor and a Christian Mystic to potentially save them.Nancy Hayes Kilgore brings her third novel, "Bitter Magic" to Milford House Press. She is a winner of the Vermont Writers Prize, and a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award. Her writings have appeared in the anthology She Writes Press, Vermont Magazine, Bloodroot Literary Magazine and on Vermont Public Radio. Her previous works are "Wild Mountain" and "Sea Level."A Western Pennsylvania native, Nancy is a graduate of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars with a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling, She is a psychotherapist, former parish pastor and a conductor of worshops on creative writing and spirituality. Nancy lives in Vermont with her husband and pets.