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Today’s episode takes us to sunny California where I chat with a man of many talents, Ryan Burke.

Does Ryan's voice sound familiar to you? It should, he is the voice of the introduction to this podcast and the narrator for one of my Cops and Writers audiobooks. 

Ryan Burke is Canadian; his parents and extended family are Australian, and he lives in America pursuing a career in entertainment. His eclectic background is reflected by his career. Having worked in both Canada and the US as an actor, producer, and stuntman he is now working in VO and Audiobooks. 

During his years of study abroad he has earned both a BFA from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and an MBA from Argosy University. Ryan is an award-winning producer, actor and is a current top seller for Audiobooks.

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How I discovered Ryan through his performance of Chris Fox’s books.

·      How his performing in high school plays and comedy later in his life paved his way to Hollywood.

·      How his journey from Canada to New York, back to Canada and finally Hollywood happened.

·      What a narrator, actor, director, and producer do when creating an audiobook. 

·      How and why, you should, or shouldn’t create your own audiobook.

·      How Ryan keeps his body and voice in shape.

·      What you, as an author can do to make your narrator's job easier.  

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Ryan at his website to learn more about him and his amazing audiobooks!
Check out Joanna Penn's book, Audio for Authors!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group
Listen to Episode #38 of the Cops and Writers Podcast with guest Chris Fox

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

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What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

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Today’s episode takes us to coastal New Hampshire where I chat with bestselling author, J.D. Barker. 

J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and THE FOURTH MONKEY. His latest, A CALLER'S GAME, will be released on February 22. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. 

 His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How J.D.’s early years of being a ‘babysitter’ to rock stars helped him craft stories later in his career.

·      How and why J.D. quit a lucrative job in finance to fulfill his dream of being a full-time writer.

·      When J.D. realized he had ‘made it’ in the writing business.

·      His bestselling book the Fourth Monkey, more specifically how that was not the original title, how he did and didn’t get the police procedure parts correct, how he told the story from multiple points of view, and how he injected raw emotion into the story. (There are spoilers here if you haven’t read the book and want to.)

·      The steps into getting your book made into a T.V. show or movie. 

·      The necessary work ethic needed to succeed in the author business.

·      Co-writing with James Patterson.

·      What a typical writing day looks like for J.D., including making time for exercise.  

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

This episode is for the writers out there!

Visit J.D. Barker's website to learn more about him and his books!
Check out the Best of BookTok!

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group
Listen to Writers Ink Podcast!
Listen to Episode #36 of the Cops and Writers Podcast with J Thorn
Listen to Episode #52 of the Cops and Writers Podcast with Zach Bohannon

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

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Today’s episode takes us over the pond to England where I chat with West Midlands Police Sergeant and author, Ralph Kern. 

Ralph Kern is a sergeant in the UK’s West Midlands Police. He has spent his sixteen years of service policing one of the most challenging areas in Britain in various roles. He’s also an author. While focusing on science fiction and techno-thrillers, his experiences and dealing with the pace and dangers of modern policing translates into his work.

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How Ralph went from studying aerospace engineering to becoming a police officer.

·      What the requirements, training, and equipment look like for a new constable in the West Midlands Police Department looks like.

·      How local police departments communicate or don’t communicate and work together trying to solve cases.

·      When an armed response unit, K-9, and motorcycle units are called into service and who summons them. 

·      Ranks and career paths in the West Midlands Police Department. 

·      Ralph takes us through a homicide scene including who does what and why.

·      The arrest process and when a lawyer/solicitor is summoned to an interrogation.

·      We chat about Ralph's successful author career writing science fiction blending elements of crime fiction into his stories.  

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Ralph Kern's website and learn more about his books and his interesting life.

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

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Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today’s episode takes us to sunny Florida where I chat with mystery, thriller, crime writer, and my friend, Tom Turner. 

A native New Englander, Tom Turner dropped out of college and ran a Vermont bar. Limping back a few years later to get his sheepskin, he went on to become an advertising copywriter, first in Boston, then New York. After 10 years of post-Mad Men life, he made both a career and geography change and ended up in Palm Beach, renovating houses and collecting raw materials for his novels. 

After stints in Charleston, then Skidaway Island, outside of Savannah, Tom recently moved to Delray Beach, where he’s busy writing about passion and murder among his neighbors... 

To date, Tom has written eighteen crime thrillers and mysteries and is probably best known for his Charlie Crawford series set in Palm Beach. 

I think you guys are going to really like this interview and get some helpful tips and tricks for your author careers.  

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How and why later in life Tom began his successful indie author career.

·      How his copywriting background helps him write winning book descriptions.

·      How he and his cover designer work together creating amazing book covers.

·      How he gets his police facts straight and breaks the ice with local detectives and police officers getting the inside scoop on police work from them for his stories. 

·      Why and how he started out being traditionally published and switched over to being a self-published author. 

·      The importance of books being in a series.

·      How he writes every day and has published eighteen successful books in less than six years.

·      How Tom triumphed over cancer and continues to be a successful indie author!

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Connect with Tom and buy his books on his website!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC), Counterterrorism, U.S. hostage recovery activities, special operations, counterintelligence, and human intelligence, these are just some of the topics today’s guest, Col. Christopher Costa is an expert. 
 
 Mr. Costa served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC). At the NSC, he was responsible for coordinating counterterrorism policy and strategy as well as U.S. hostage recovery activities. Mr. Costa had 34 years of progressive national security experience and well-documented success in strategy, policy, special operations, counterintelligence, and human intelligence, deploying on multiple contingencies and to combat operations in the Republic of Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Mr. Costa's last assignment with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was as Program Director in the Operations Directorate. Previously, Mr. Costa served as a Department of the Navy civilian at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group – with US Navy SEALs. 

Mr. Costa holds an M.A. in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University; an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College; and a B.A. from Norwich University. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and two Bronze Stars. In May 2013, Mr. Costa was inducted into The Commando Hall of Honor for extraordinary and enduring service to Special Operations Forces. 

In 2018, Mr. Costa joined the International Spy Museum as the Executive Director where he plays a leading role in building on its extraordinary success as a Washington attraction and speaks responsibly on current counterterrorism and intelligence issues. 

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How Chris’ internship in law enforcement shaped him throughout his long and distinguished career in the military and government.

·      Why he joined the Army?

·      Chris gives us an overview of his career in special operations and being a military intelligence officer.

·      The vital importance of our partners in foreign lands. 

·      Identifying threats to our country. 

·      What it was like being a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council.

·      The Havana Syndrome. 

·      His role as Executive Director of the International Spy Museum.

·      “The Deed is All, Not The Glory.”

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Contact Mr. Costa at the International Spy Museum!

Check out Episodes #43 and

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

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This episode is near and dear to my heart. I have witnessed George in action and the compassion and healing that he provides to members of law enforcement and their families.

Who takes care of the men and women in blue who take care of you? George Papachristou, that’s who. Today I’m honored to have Police Chaplain George Papachristou on the show. George gives us a peek behind the curtain of the world of police chaplains.

George graduated from Marquette University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Theology. George worked for a short time in a suburb of Milwaukee and eventually had a 15-year career with the City of Milwaukee Police Department. George is ordained by Elmbrook Church in Brookfield and is active in their Chaplain Ministry. George serves as the Chaplain for the Milwaukee Police Department and assists the MCSO and Wisconsin State Patrol. George serves on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S) and is a member and certified Instructor with the International Conference of Police Chaplains.
 
In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How George got started in law enforcement.

·      What are the duties of a police chaplain?

·      What is the training required to be a police chaplain?

·      Real-life examples of the calls he responds to. 

·      The differences between a civilian and a police chaplain. 

·      How he gained and keeps the trust between himself and the officers.

·      How he interacts with and works with the police psychologist. 

·      The clues that are given, or not given by a person serious about committing suicide.

·      How to start a police chaplaincy in your department and why it’s needed. 

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

You can contact George Papachristou at: [email protected], or his mobile phone: 262-617-9153.
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Have you ever dreamed of quitting your day job and making a good living from your book business? I know what you are thinking. Didn’t he start out his last podcast with this question? You are correct, but today I have a different indie author that was able to do this with his writing. 
 
My guest on the show today is Zach Bohannon. Zach is a best-selling author who writes post-apocalyptic science fiction, horror, and thrillers. In addition to writing fiction, Zach is a book editor and writing coach. With J. Thorn, he hosts unique writing retreats and events all over the United States. He hosts two podcasts: Writers, Ink alongside J. Thorn and J.D. Barker where they talk to the biggest names in publishing, and the Creator Dad Podcast, where he has conversations with fellow creatives and entrepreneurs about balancing the responsibilities of life with their creative endeavors.

 In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How a drummer for a heavy metal band became a full-time author.

·      Podcasting, Writers Ink, and The Creative Dad Podcasts and how they and other podcasts he has been involved in have changed his life and business.

·      Who should start their own podcast and be a guest on one.

·      The benefits and drawbacks of co-writing books. 

·      How he and three other powerhouse authors wrote a book on a train and how that experience changed his life forever. 

·      The benefits and what genres work best, or not best, for writing in a series.

·      The advantages and disadvantages of having your first book be a breakout success. 

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Check out Zach's website!
Listen to Zach on the Writers Ink and Creator Dad Podcasts.
Check out the Creator Dad episode with me :-)
Check out the Career Author.
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Have you ever dreamed of quitting your day job and making a good living from your book business? My guest today did just that! 

Best Selling Author Dr. Cecelia Mecca had a good paying job in education and left that behind to pursue her passion for writing books. Since she left her day job, she has surpassed her income substantially and continues to grow her author career. 

Cecelia shares her incredible story with us and gives us a peek into her very successful author career and lets us know what works and doesn’t work for her author business.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How Cecelia started her author career.

·      When she knew the time was right for her to be a full-time author.

·      Her suggestions to those of you out there who want to go full-time as an author.

·      What her writing process looks like and what a typical business day looks like for her. 

·      Cecelia’s marketing strategy and her adoption of TikTok and other social media platforms. 

·      Why she chooses to be a self-published author.

·      What’s it like to have your husband being a part of your author business. 

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Check out Cecelia's website!
Go on over to Cecelia's penname Bella Michaelis page.
Check out Cecelia on TikTok!
Head over to Cecelia's Instagram.
Visit Cecelia on her Facebook page. 
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today’s show takes us to Waukesha Wisconsin, which is about 30 miles west of Milwaukee.

Why, because that is where I live. Today’s show is going to be a special Year In Review Cops and Writers Podcast. We say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022. I will also give you, my dear listeners a peek into my private life.

In today’s episode I will discuss:

·      Some basic information about myself.

·      Why I’m doing this show and the importance of looking back and moving forward.

·      How the Tim Ferriss Show Podcast #559 “Forget New Year’s Resolutions and Conduct a ‘Past Year Review’ instead episode pushed me into making some changes in my personal/professional life. 

·      Why I started the Podcast in 2021 and didn’t publish any books that year. 

·      Why I will scale down my consulting business, not give it up. 

·      My experience at the 20books to 50k indie book conference this year.

·      Me dipping my toes in the fiction world again by writing a crime thriller this year.

 All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Send us a text

Today’s show takes us to Knoxville Tennessee where I chat with Derek Pacifico.

Derek started his 24-year career in law enforcement with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a deputy, detective, and sergeant working in the jail and on the street in patrol and the homicide unit. After he retired from the sheriff’s department, he took a job in a small town in Tennessee where he was the chief of police for two years. In 2018 Derek landed a job teaching high school criminal justice where he enjoys teaching three different criminal justice classes to his eager students. 

Derek shares his vast experience in law enforcement and teaching with us in today’s show.

In today’s episode we discuss:

·      How Derek got interested in law enforcement and what life in the academy looked like.

·      How Derek working in the jail, was always outnumbered by dangerous inmates and how he used his “gift of gab” to keep safe.

·      How Derek worked his way to the homicide unit as a detective.

·      Derek’s promotion to sergeant and unique challenges that brought. 

·      What life as a small-town chief of police was really like. 

·      How a homicide detective and sergeant wound up teaching high school kids.

 

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Derek and check out everything he offers, including his books at his website.

Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.
If you have a question for the sarge, hit him up at his email.
Come join the fun at the Cops and Writers Facebook group

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

https://a.co/d/2UsJPba

Support the show

What's the craziest thing you saw when you were a cop?

My first week on the job, a guy running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That's chapter 1. There are 33 more.

Police Stories: The Rookie Years just launched - available on Amazon. 

Search 'Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell' or click th

Support the show