Ink, Coffee, and Regrets

Step into the smoky alleys of post-war Hollywood with this episode of BookTalk, where we explore Dan Bronson’s gripping noir novels Someone to Watch Over Me and Shout at the Devil. Follow studio fixer Jack Shannon—a scarred, cynical insider navigating scandals, starlets, and the machinery of fame—as he uncovers secrets that echo through the golden age of Tinseltown. Blending hard-boiled mystery with emotional depth and historical texture, these books are a must-read for fans of classic detective fiction, Hollywood history, and morally complex storytelling. If you love noir that bleeds truth and style, this commentary is your invitation to dive in.

Step into the smoky alleys of post-war Hollywood with this episode of BookTalk, where we explore Dan Bronson’s gripping noir novels Someone to Watch Over Me and Shout at the Devil. Follow studio fixer Jack Shannon—a scarred, cynical insider navigating scandals, starlets, and the machinery of fame—as he uncovers secrets that echo through the golden age of Tinseltown. Blending hard-boiled mystery with emotional depth and historical texture, these books are a must-read for fans of classic detective fiction, Hollywood history, and morally complex storytelling. If you love noir that bleeds truth and style, this commentary is your invitation to dive in.

If you've ever asked yourself why you write—or why anyone does—this episode is for you. In “Why Do We Write?”, we dive into the messy, beautiful motivations behind putting words to page: the craving to be read, the catharsis of journaling, the thrill of creation, and the quiet search for self-understanding. Whether you're a seasoned author, a secret poet, or someone who scribbles thoughts in the margins of life, this episode will resonate, challenge, and maybe even inspire you to pick up the pen again. Tune in and explore the paradoxes, pleasures, and power of writing.

In this episode the host explores why people write — from the desire to be read and the private practice of journaling, to using fiction and nonfiction to make sense of life and discover oneself.

Listeners are invited to reflect on their own writing, try exercises like writing a story with no plot, and share their experiences with the show.

In celebration of Halloween, I thought I would put together a fun little piece talking about some of my favorite books for the season, as well as a little history and some movies.

This month I discuss Travelling the Alphabet Geographically, by Sylvia Clare. A journey across the world and through her own growth as she visits the people and places along the way.

A Talk about how we create our characters for our stories.

Today I am talking about Mulberry Seeds.

Set in the sweltering Texas summer of 1968, Mulberry Seeds by Lisa-Behrens Smith is a poignant novella that follows sisters Jolene and Corrine as they navigate poverty, displacement, and the fragile bonds of family. Through heartbreak and hardship, they discover resilience in each other and fleeting joy in the small adventures that shape their coming-of-age. It's a tender, evocative tribute to innocence lost and the quiet strength of sisterhood.

Today I take a brief dive into the differences between Hard, Soft, and Fantasy science fiction and give a personal feel for the differences between them, along with some of my own bland humor.

Today I talk about one of the books that really pushed me into wanting to take writing seriously.

Greg Bear's Blood Music. A Fantastic tale of what can go wrong if science, even for the right reason, goes unchecked.