Every Soul Has A Story®. Dara Levan chats with author and blogger, Alison Hammer!

If you missed our conversation, you can watch it here! Alison and I chatted about balancing a full-time job and author life. We also discussed #jewishcommunity #jewishbooks and the power of stories that empower, educate, and lift up others. And “protecting the flame,” which is Alison’s mantra for 2022.

Alison is co-writing an upcoming book with @bradeighgodfrey, which will release in June! Check out their process and journey at @alibradybooks.

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Advertising lost a copywriter. The literary world gained a storyteller. Alison Hammer balances a full-time career as a Creative Director with being a multi-published author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me—and she's about to add co-author to that list with The Beach Trap, coming June 14th. In this conversation, Alison shares how she and her best friend Brady co-wrote a novel while living 1,500 miles apart, why "protect the flame" became her mantra after a crushing burnout, and how she's learned to say no to protect her creative energy. She also tackles the complex topic of writing diverse characters authentically, the rise of Jewish representation in fiction beyond Holocaust narratives, and why the only job of a first draft is to exist. From being on America's Funniest People as a teenager to selling a book on proposal with her co-author, Alison's journey proves that creativity doesn't have to come at the cost of your wellbeing—you just have to know when to protect the flame.

0:00 - Intro and Alison joins
1:30 - Alison's office and background
2:52 - Co-writing The Beach Trap
4:43 - Selling a book on proposal
5:50 - Collaborating across the country
7:19 - Creative director and copywriter
8:37 - Keeping work and writing separate
10:38 - "Protect the flame" mantra
13:36 - Avoiding burnout with boundaries
16:17 - The burnout photo on the cruise
18:23 - Jewish representation in fiction
22:05 - Write what you know vs. pushing boundaries
28:28 - America's Funniest People story
30:22 - Advice: finish the first draft


•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://www.alisonhammer.com/

QUOTES:
"If you're going to do representation, do it right and give them a voice and a history and a character arc."
– Alison Hammer

"You can learn so much by reading a book because it puts you in the shoes of another person."
 – Dara Levan

Every Soul Has A Story® LIVE episode with guest @maggiesmithwrites.​​​​​​​​
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Maggie is a former psychologist and CEO/founder of a national art consulting company. In 2017 she pursued her dream to become a full-time writer.​​​​​ Maggie is also the host of “Hear Us Roar," a podcast for the Women's Fiction Writers Association. ​​​​​​​
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Her debut novel, TRUTH AND OTHER LIES, will be released next week. The novel is at its heart about how, at a formative age, young women often pattern themselves after someone older and seemingly wiser and how that choice can affect the trajectory of their lives.
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At 26, Maggie Smith opened a retail store in a mall—despite having never worked in retail or business. That fearless, "how bad can it be?" attitude would carry her through careers as a journalist, art gallery owner, PhD psychologist, and finally, debut novelist. Next week, her novel Truth and Other Lies launches—a story of three women, two secrets, and one lie that explores everything from feminism across generations to the complicated dance of mother-daughter relationships. In this conversation during Women's History Month, Maggie reveals how her own contentious relationship with her mother informed the novel's most difficult scenes, why she believes fiction's truth lies in psychological authenticity rather than plot, and how characters like her protagonist Megan Barnes helped her revisit what it felt like to be 25. With a cover designed to represent three women through flowing scarves, her book—and this interview—reminds us that women's stories matter, that friends are the family we choose, and that it's never too late to become who you were meant to be.

0:00 - Intro and tech difficulties
2:21 - Maggie joins the conversation
3:39 - Cover design and collaboration
6:07 - Art career and business journey
8:18 - Journalism, psychology, and writing
10:38 - Feminism across generations
13:36 - Mother-daughter relationships
17:54 - Writing difficult characters
19:40 - Going deeper with the "why" question
21:05 - The hardest thing you'll ever do
27:08 - Truth in fiction
29:57 - Friendship and "framily"
35:10 - Megan's journey to self-worth
38:08 - Writing ideas in the shower
40:25 - Final thoughts and launch

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://maggiesmithwriter.com/

QUOTES:

"Somebody should have told me how hard this was. When I said I was writing a novel, there should have been somebody that slapped my hand and said, do you know what that is?"
– Maggie Smith

"There are so many blessings and silver linings in having more life experience from which to draw upon."
 – Dara Levan

Every Soul Has A Story®. Dara Levan and Dara Kurtz discuss finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. A podcast episode on self-care, love, loss, life lessons and being grateful for everyday moments.

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0:00 - Double Dara intro
3:13 - Sending out 75 Valentine's cards
4:10 - Speaking to a sorority about self-love
5:52 - Breast cancer journey and self-discovery
7:33 - Breast cancer support and the "after"
9:39 - Who she was before vs. who she is now
11:50 - Losing her mom at 28 with a newborn
13:49 - Not judging others on their path
16:28 - Feeling emotions without being afraid
19:06 - Finding extraordinary in ordinary
23:45 - Toxic positivity and authentic gratitude
27:01 - Boundaries, saying no, and intentional living
29:50 - Books: I Am My Mother's Daughter and Crush Cancer
32:43 Connection and loving one another

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://crazyperfectlife.com/

QUOTES:

‘"We're on a polarity planet and you can't just take the highs without the lows."
– Dara Kurtz

"Awakening is painful—living with your eyes and heart wide open means letting in pain too."
 – Dara Levan

Gabi Coatsworth has been trying to figure out how America works—all while holding onto her British accent, her love of proper tea, and the belief that love never truly dies. In this heartfelt February conversation, the award-winning British-born author shares the story behind her memoir Love's Journey Home, a moving account of falling in love with her husband Jay at first sight in Copenhagen, walking away because he was married, reconnecting five years later, and ultimately returning to care for him when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—only to fall in love with him all over again.

Gabi reveals why memoir isn't autobiography, how writing by hand unlocked memories she couldn't access through typing, and why the emotional truth of a story matters more than getting every fact perfectly straight. From barbershop quartets singing in hospital rooms to the voice of her late husband still guiding her, this conversation is a powerful reminder that love—in all its complicated, imperfect, enduring forms—is always worth writing about.

0:00 - Intro and month of love3:09 - Recording her audiobook
3:45 - British in America for 40 years
4:35 - The proper way to make tea
8:15 - The Crown and British secrets
10:14 - Fiction inspired by real life
13:19 - Memoir vs. autobiography explained
16:27 - How Gabi met Jay in Copenhagen
18:45 - Gabi's career in market research
19:53 - Reconnecting five years later
21:48 - Falling in love again during illness
25:28 - Love looks different at different phases
27:31 - Writing memoir by hand
29:50 - Love never dies
33:14 - Final thoughts and tea

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://gabicoatsworth.com/

QUOTES:

‘’If anybody here is thinking of writing a memoir, is start it by hand. Because when you're writing by hand, your brain has time to catch up with the words and bring back more stuff to your memory."
– Gabi Coatsworth

"Love looks differently at different phases.  So much happens on a page we can't just do in our heads."
 – Dara Levan

For 12 years, Dan Blank has been helping writers and creators share their work with the world—without the ick factor that makes so many authors cringe at the word "marketing." A self-described introvert who takes daily naps and thrives on routine, Dan has built a thriving business teaching authors how to develop platforms, launch books, and connect authentically with their ideal audiences. In this conversation, he shares how "document don't create" can transform your social media strategy, why giving yourself permission to mess up is essential for creativity, and how thinking about your audience as one person at a time makes putting yourself out there infinitely more approachable.

 From his morning writing routine to his weekly newsletter (sent every Friday for over 15 years), Dan reveals the systems that keep him grounded and productive. Whether you're a novelist terrified of self-promotion, a poet wondering how to find your readers, or any creator looking to share your work with more confidence, this episode will reframe how you think about platform-building—and remind you that your unique voice is your greatest asset.

0:00 - Intro and first podcast of 2022
1:36 - Dan's office and typewriter collection
5:04 - 12 years working with writers and creators
6:37 - Co-creation: the magic of art
7:06 - Who Dan works with and how
8:35 - Word-of-mouth business and referrals
9:55 - Introverts and marketing
11:40 - Superpowers, boundaries, and daily naps
17:56 - Deadlines as creative motivation
20:26 - Leaning into your strengths
23:38 - Creative success pyramid and systems
26:07 - Time blocking and daily routines
29:30 - Dan's art background and creative journey
32:38 - Document don't create
39:46 - Permission to mess up
45:11 - Favorite part of life and final advice
48:14 – Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://wegrowmedia.com/

QUOTES:

I have always felt that you can create art just for you and not share it. And that's a wonderful thing. But if you do want to publish it or share it, to me, that's where art becomes complete."
– Dan Blank

"If I can impact one life, whether through every soul has a story here, whether it's through writing, photography, anything, then that's a life that's fulfilling and worth living."
 – Dara Levan

Dara Levan chats with author and blogger, Gabi Coatsworth on her memoir, "Love's Journey Home" and finding love the second time around.

One decision changed everything for Jenn Bouchard. Sitting on Crane Beach on the North Shore of Massachusetts, the longtime social studies teacher turned to her husband and said, "I think I want to see if I can write a novel." That moment sparked a two-and-a-half-year journey that would become First Course—a debut novel centered on food, second acts, and the delicious messiness of starting over. A 22-year teaching veteran and mother of two, Jenn shares how she carved out writing time during summers, found her community through the Women's Fiction Writers Association, and ultimately landed a traditional publishing deal with Touchpoint Press after coming heartbreakingly close with ten agents.

From the inspiration she drew from Elizabeth Gilbert and Lisa Genova to the friendship that became her secret weapon (her best friend Stephanie, an English teacher who reads everything she writes), Jenn's story is a testament to the power of showing up for your creative dreams—even when you're already juggling a full life. Grab a glass of wine (we recommend the Winderly Pinot Noir from Oregon!) and settle in for a conversation about food, fiction, and finding your second act.
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0:00 - Intro and holiday happy hour
1:19 - Wine talk: Pinot Noir and Brunello
3:35 - Teaching for 22 years and finding writing
5:14 - Inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert
6:48 - Writing while teaching full time
7:42 - Finding a writing community
9:57 - The importance of reader feedback
11:16 - The path to traditional publishing
12:42 - Getting "the email" from Touchpoint Press
14:07 - What traditional publishing looks like
16:53 - Writing the second book is easier
18:01 - Food, cooking, and favorite recipes
23:52 - Food as connection and memory
27:13 - Writing about second acts
30:19 - Final cheers and holiday wishes

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://Jennbouchard.com/ 

QUOTES:

"I have gotten a lot out of getting to spend time sort of immersed in the settings that I'm writing about."
– Jenn Bouchard

"Why not write what feels organic and true to us? You can really feel at a visceral level something you've lived, something you've smelled, something you've seen."
 – Dara Levan

The other side of grief is love—and you have to love something a great deal in order to grieve it. That's the powerful message author Leslie Hooton shares in this raw, heartfelt conversation during Grief Awareness Week. A stroke survivor who has had to learn to walk multiple times throughout her life, Hooton brings her signature Southern charm and hard-won wisdom to a discussion about love, loss, and everything in between.

From her "bargain basement body" that she's learned to be grateful for to the unexpected tears that creep up at the most joyful moments, Leslie reminds us that grief is exhausting, unpredictable, and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. She explores how her novels Before Anyone Else, The Secret of Rainy Days, and the upcoming After Everyone Else tackle the complicated terrain of friendship, family, and finding yourself. With honesty, humor, and a whole lot of heart, Leslie and host Dara Levan dig into why rainy days expect less of us, how to be gentle with yourself during the holidays, and why putting on airs is simply too much work. This is not a downer—it's a celebration of the love that makes grief possible.

0:00 - Intro and tech apologies
1:34 - Leslie joins upside down
3:54 - Grief and love are two sides of the same coin
6:24 - Grieving expectations and the bargain basement body
8:56 - Gratitude as a daily practice
10:24 - Funeral casseroles and lucky dust explained
12:35 - When grief creeps up unexpectedly
15:31 - Khalil Gibran on joy and sorrow
18:03 - Grief is exhausting (and not just a year)
20:02 - Marriage expiration dates and reframing failure
24:32 - Writing to figure yourself out
28:43 - Accepting life as it is and the holidays
30:22 - The secret of rainy days revealed
34:39 - Be gentle with yourself


•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com
https://lesliehooton.com/


QUOTES:
"Being authentic—to thine own self be true—has been one of my life's velocities."
– Leslie Hooton

"No one's grief is lesser than something else's." 
– Dara Levan

What happens when the kids leave home and you're left staring at your husband across an empty table? For Leslie Rasmussen, that question sparked her debut novel After Happily Ever After, a story born from her own experience of rediscovery and the real-life journeys of countless friends. A former sitcom writer turned nutritionist turned novelist, Rasmussen shares how her characters literally started speaking to her in the middle of the night, how she overcame imposter syndrome to finally call herself an author, and why there simply aren't enough books with protagonists our age navigating life's next chapter. From the voices in her head (she assures us it's normal for writers!) to the moments of doubt that nearly kept her from pursuing her passion, Leslie opens up about the messy, beautiful process of creating art after years away from the craft. Whether you're an empty nester, a writer finding your way back, or simply someone wondering what comes after the fairy tale, this conversation will remind you that every soul—and every story—has the power to inspire. Tune in for laughter, wisdom, and the reminder that chocolate is a complete meal.

0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Leslie joins the conversation
2:54 - Is Leslie actually Maggie?
3:41 - Where Maggie came from
5:42 - When characters speak to you
7:53 - Growing alongside your characters
9:59 - Becoming an author vs. being a writer
12:55 - From TV writing to nutrition
19:05 - Social media friendships
21:15 - Nutrition practice and teenagers
25:21 - Why write this book now
28:56 - Three things Leslie is grateful for
32:56 - Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
•    https://bookshop.org/p/books/after-happily-ever-after-leslie-a-rasmussen/22c397bf54786de3?ean=9798200925513&bkshp-astro=t

QUOTES:

"I really didn't know what I was doing. So writing this novel, as I was going along, you finish the first draft and sometimes you look at it and you think, who's ever going to buy this?" 
– Leslie Rasmussen

"I've learned so much from my characters where I say, my gosh, like I'll write something and step away from it and say, did I write that?" 
– Dara Levan

For years, Ronit Plank thought she had done something to make her mother leave—until she wrote her memoir, When She Comes Back, and discovered the truth had nothing to do with her. In this deeply moving conversation with host Dara Levan, Ronit shares her story of growing up in the 1980s with a mother who followed a guru to India and a father who left first, the painful journey of insecure parental attachment, and the unexpected healing that came from writing her truth.

A teacher, author, and speaker, Ronit reveals how her relationship with both parents evolved, the nine pages of single-spaced notes her father gave her on the manuscript, and why she believes memoir is anything but navel-gazing. This episode explores breaking generational cycles, the power of vulnerability, and why our stories are always changing—because every time we remember, our brains are trying to heal. Whether you're a writer, a parent, or someone navigating complex family dynamics, Ronit's story will remind you that healing is an inside job and that you are not responsible for how others treat you.

0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Welcoming Ronit Plank
5:38 - From fiction to memoir
8:04 - The Sabra: tough outside, tender inside
10:23 - What When She Comes Back is about
15:44 - Dara's creative versus linear brain
20:20 - Dad left first, then Mom
22:44 - Family now: Shabbat dinners and an "honorary Jew"
24:56 - Sharing the manuscript with parents
29:49 - Healing: It had nothing to do with me
39:56 - Insecure parental attachment and breaking cycles
41:50 - Conscious parenting and resilience
46:34 - Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
•    https://ronitplank.com/

QUOTES:

"When you look back on the memory, you remember it in a different way, because what your brain is trying to do is kind of heal and grow and learn." 
– Ronit Plank

"It's really hard when there's someone you love or people you love in your life that literally, no matter what way you communicate it, their perception of reality is so distorted." 
– Dara Levan