Desideratum

By Theresa Bakken

For audiobook lovers searching for your next listen, Desideratum features compelling scenes from audiobooks in all genres and sincere chats with the authors, narrators and industry geniuses making the... more

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FAQs about Desideratum:

How many episodes does Desideratum have?

The podcast currently has 109 episodes available.

Desideratum episodes:

July 23, 2021 Episode 19 Hunting Teddy Roosevelt historical fiction with James A Ross
Today's featured story is an excerpt from the historical thriller Hunting Teddy Roosevelt. The story takes place during Roosevelt's well documented safari in Africa in 1909. Author James Ross places an assassin on the trip hired by forces who want to keep Roosevelt out of politics forever. And he creates a female journalist / explorer who travels with the safari and whose work shines a light on colonial atrocities in the Congo. The story has layers of excitement and personal discovery. You can find the book wherever books are sold and connect with James on his website and through his newsletter. On the Desideratum Podcast website you will find a link to his MOTH main stage storytelling - which gives you a taste of his next project. Thanks for listening.
https://www.jamesrossauthor.com/hunting-teddy-roosevelt
https://desideratumpodcast.com/
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21min
July 16, 2021 Episode 18, When the Apricots Bloom with author Gina Wilkinson
Our featured story comes from former foreign corespondent and award winning journalist Gina Wilkinson. Her rich and suspenseful novel, When the Apricots Bloom, was inspired by her time in Bagdad twenty years ago. The story is told through the lens of three resilient women: an artist, a diplomat’s wife, and a secretary. Their complicated friendship and shared goal to protect their families is peppered with historical truths that transport you to their reality. My conversation with Gina explores the long standing idea that fiction is the lie that reveals the truth. You will hear Chapter 1 of the book come to life through the voice of narrator Raghad Chaar.
You can find When the Apricots Bloom in all its formats here: When the Apricots Bloom on Amazon.
You can see a photo Gina took in Iraq that helped her develop her characters friendship on the Desideratum Website.
A special thanks to Vida Engstrand at Kensington Books for connecting me and Gina. And, thank you for listening.
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42min
July 09, 2021 The River Maiden Book 1 The Once and Future Series by Meredith Stoddard, Ep17
Our featured story is from author Meredith Stoddard who writes folklore inspired fiction. You will hear the beginning of her Book One, The River Maiden, in her Once and Future Series. There are five books in this contemporary fantasy series - so far. Meredith says she has more story to tell. 'These characters have mountains to climb, caves to feel their way through and emotional swamps to navigate.' Listen for how Meredith's characters are changed by betrayal and kindness. Hear what informs the choices they make and the way they see the world. There's an echo of this character development in Meredith's personal stories about her grandmother, Joyce. The lessons in life that Joyce gives Meredith draw from her nearly 104 years of experience. Meredith is the grateful granddaughter of a storyteller and a memory keeper. Read more of the Once and Future series as well as her short story bonus material on her website. http://www.meredithstoddard.com/ . And, here is a link to the author she mentions in the podcast - who she recommends to everyone - Steven Pressfield, https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/ The featured picture for this episode is Joyce at 100. You can it on the Desideratum Podcast website and Desideratum Podcast Facebook page. https://desideratumpodcast.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/DesideratumPodcast/?ref=pages_you_manage Thanks for listening.
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21min
July 02, 2021 The Flying Cutterbucks with Kathleen Rodgers and Michelle Williams, Ep16
As we head into the Independence Day holiday, on today's episode Kathleen Rodgers shares her impassioned convictions about democracy and talks about the stand she found the courage to take as an author. She invited her narrator and dear friend Michelle Williams to join the conversation. They dive into high school memories about CB radio handles and the eastern New Mexico sky. Kathleen says she can feel the land and smell the wind in Michelle's narration of Kathleen's 4th novel, The Flying Cutterbucks. Hear for yourself in our featured story, Chapter 1 of The Flying Cutterbucks, where the opening lines will take you back to a moment in October 2016. When you want to listen to the rest of the story, here is a link to Kathleen Rodger's The Flying Cutterbucks audiobook on Audible.
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Flying-Cutterbucks-Audiobook/B096MW4N6N
And, a link to all of Kathleen's books and more on her website.
https://kathleenmrodgers.com/
Thanks for listening.
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31min
June 25, 2021 Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss by Kevin Garrett and Connor Judson Garrett Ep15
This week's featured story is from a father and son writing team. You're going to hear Chapter 1 from their book Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss, A Tale of Southern Magic. You will also hear why the 'why' is so important to them, how the magical world they've created has real world 'good truths', and what impact a real life car accident had on a fictional character.
When you are ready to hear the rest of the story, here is a link to the book and audiobook. Thanks for listening!
https://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Under-Spanish-Moss-Southern/dp/B094K3W3DV/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1624055606&sr=8-1-spons
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44min
June 18, 2021 The Library of Lost Souls by Meghan Holloway Ep14
Today's featured story was inspired by a teller of tall tales - a lover of stories. As we head into Father’s Day weekend, listen to Meghan Holloway talk about the ways her grandfather enriched her life and her writing. Meghan Holloway wrote a successful WWII Historical Fiction published by Polis Books called Once More Unto the Breach as well as a trilogy in the Thriller Crime genre with Hunting Ground released last year, and Hiding Place out this August. But, we are talking about something very different - a book she wrote that is set in the future. At its heart, it is a love story about what it means to be human and the ways we grapple with loneliness and loss. Today we are talking about The Library of Lost Souls.
http://www.polisbooks.com/authors/meghan-holloway
https://www.meghanholloway.com/the-library-of-lost-souls
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21min
June 11, 2021 The Eves by Grace Sammon Ep13
Today's featured story is from Grace Sammon's novel The Eves. Grace describes The Eves as a multi-generational novel portraying lives lived well and lives in transition. It captures the conversations we wish we had had with our parents, if we had taken the opportunity, and the lessons we would want to impart to our children, if they were ready to listen. Told through the voice of the psychologically complex Jessica Barnet, this is her story. Listen to: why Grace struggled with her main character being called a liar, how Grace uses a nerdy explanation of Mitochrondrial DNA, and what Grace sees in those simple handprint paintings from childhood. Connect with Grace on social media and find her book through her website https://gracesammon.net/. Find a picture of Grace with a special handprint quilt her beta readers created for her on the Desideratum Podcast website. Thanks for listening.
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19min
June 04, 2021 Gawk by Dianne Bilyak Ep12
This weeks featured story is from author Dianne Bilyak. It's a vignette from her memoir Nothing Special: The Mostly True, Sometimes Funny, Tales of Two Sisters. The title tells you a lot. This book with a long descriptive title took an unusual and interesting path to publication. I am excited for you to hear about it. I loved Dianne's dedication in the book "To my inimitable sister, Chris Bilyak, thanks for making my life fun, for always singing with me in the car, for 'liking me a lot', and teaching me that dancing can solve most problems." You can find the book through Dianne's website, and get a glimpse of the sister's relationship today on the Nothing Special Book Facebook Page. Thanks for listening!
http://diannebilyak.com/
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23min
May 28, 2021 Mercy - Mystery Short Story in Peace Love and Crime Anthology by Joseph S. Walker, Ep11
Today's featured story is from Edgar Award Nominee Joseph S. Walker. The Edgar Allan Poe Awards are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. The short story Joe chose for the podcast is titled Mercy. It was inspired by the growled word 'mercy' in the the Roy Orbison song Pretty Woman. It's published in a clever anthology called Peace, Love and Crime where each story draws inspiration from a song of the '60s. Listen to why Joe enjoys contributing to anthologies and what essential thing he fights for everyday. You can find all his published work through his website and find the anthology with Mercy in it at Untreed Reads Publishing. Thanks for listening.
Joseph S. Walker Crime Writer : https://jsw47408.wixsite.com/website
Peace, Love, and Crime (paperback) edited by Sandra Murphy : Untreed Reads Publishing
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38min
May 21, 2021 Border Song short story by Paranormal / Romance author Laura Kemp, Ep10
Our featured story this week is from Laura Kemp. Border Song is set in Oklahoma, a long way from Laura's Michigan based Yellow Wood series. She explains how she feels about nature - especially the wild places. And, she talks about being a spooky storyteller at heart. You can find her books on her website and check out the world she has created at 'Kemp Camp' on FB. Thanks for listening.
https://laurakempbooks.com/
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34min

FAQs about Desideratum:

How many episodes does Desideratum have?

The podcast currently has 109 episodes available.