Inside Lenz Network

Writers Tricks of the Trade explores the business and craft of writing with co-hosts Morgan St. James and Dennis N. Griffin. Guests are people who have "been there and done that." In other words, authors, editors, public relations people, publishers and more who share their tips, techniques and frequently stories about the industry when it comes to the business and craft of writing. This episode covers what it takes to create those "can't put down" books. This is a re-broadcast of the first show in the series, so live call-in is not available. Morgan, as the author of 12 books in publication and over 600 articles about writing and Dennis with 16 books in publication and multiple TV and radio broadcasts, share their thoughts and experiences with information for everyone from the novice to the published writer.

Writers Tricks of the Trade airs on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm PST - 9:00 EST. All shows are archived for future listening as well.

A former investigative reporter for several newspapers across the country, Caitlin Rother left her field and pursued her dream, to be a full time writer. Her true crime books include LOST GIRLS, DEAD RECKONING, TWISTED TRIANGLE, BODY PARTS, DEADLY DEVOTION and the New York Times bestseller, MY LIFE, DELETED.

Settling in her home town, San Diego, Rother teaches writing courses, coordinates writer's events, belongs to several writer's groups, appears as a crime expert, and offers her services as a "book doctor" and coach to aspiring writers. Her eye for detail as a journalist lends itself to writing the stories of several high profile cases, as well as her ability to develop interesting characters and plot lines in her crime fiction book, NAKED ADDICTION.

Regarded as one of America’s premier investigative journalists, Burl Barer‘s true crime books such as BODY COUNT, HEAD SHOT, MOM SAID KILL, BROKEN DOLL, FATAL BEAUTY, MURDER ON 9/11, MANLING WILLIAMS’ DEADLY SINS, and MURDER IN THE FAMILY are required reading in many criminology classes and among true crime fans. Barer has appeared on numerous Investigation Discovery television shows, including Deadly Women (2011), Snapped (2011), Scorned: Love Kills (2012), Deadly Sings (2013), and Behind Mansion Walls (2013). Also in 2013, Barer served as a consultant to the television pilot series, “The Saint,” starring Adam Rayner as Simon Templar.

WildBlue Press recently released the 20th anniversary edition of Burl Barer’s MAN OVERBOARD the story of the death, and resurrection, of Phil Champagne.

Writers Tricks of the Trade welcomes our Guest Tony Todaro, President of Greater Los Angeles Writers Group and the CEO of West Coast Writers Conferences. Tony will discuss the benefits of attending writer's conferences and belonging to writers groups for writers at all stages of their careers. Many writers who attend conferences have evolved to guest speakers or give workshops themselves, but there is always something to be learned. The next West Coast Writers Conference is "THE BIG STORY," February 20-22. The co-host of the Writers Tricks of the Trade Show, Morgan St. James, will be presenting a workshop for that conference and participate in two panels. For details on this outstanding conference, visit http://www.wcwriters.com/bigstory/program.html

From the eye of an investigative journalist, John Ferak enters the controversial world of domestic violence and homicide through his latest WildBlue Press book, DIXIE'S LAST STAND. He writes with factual detail the circumstances leading to murder in the escalating violent marriage of Dixie and Scott Shanahan, and the shocking aftermath of an abused woman at the end of her rope with few options left.

DIXIE'S LAST STAND opens the dialogue concerning the justification of intimate partner homicide and "battered woman syndrome" often used as a defense during trial. Was Dixie Shanahan acting in self defense, or was the murder of her husband a pre-meditated action? 

HOST WEBSITE: DonnaGore.Com

Entering the true crime genre with his 2009 book The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, Kevin Sullivan fulfilled a long time interest in true crime and history. The book was well received by readers globally and gave Sullivan entry into the community of crime authors.

Sullivan has written two accounts about George Armstrong Custer and his historical "last stand" during the Great Sioux War of 1876, Shattering the Myth: Signposts on Custer’s Road to Disaster and Custer’s Road to Disaster: The Path to Little Bighorn, both gathering several good reviews. 

A WildBlue Press "feature" VAMPIRE: The Richard Chase Murders is an in-depth look into the life and disturbed mind of a killer, his family, and his many victims, the living as well as the dead. 

Host Website: DonnaGore.Com

Our guest Jon D’Amore was first published at 10 when a story he’d written about the Civil War was distributed throughout the county school system. During that time, he began studying the guitar. By his 20s, having honed his love and knowledge of music, Jon was traveling cross-country as a musician.

While touring, Jon was also a feature writer for New Jersey’s 3rd largest newspaper, The Passaic Herald News, allowing him to enjoy the best of his favorite worlds…playing music and writing. Eventually, he found a different side of life. He said, “Goodbye and it’s been a slice!” to the music business and entered the corporate world. By the millennium another

change had taken place. For more than two decades, Jon knew that within him there was the desire and ability to write, so he drove to Los Angeles and started as soon as he arrived.

As an insider with no mob ambitions, Jon had been a trusted ear and learned of the life and death manipulations that made friends and relatives from his world disappear. When the smoke cleared, Jon was one of the few left standing. The others were either dead or in prison. The Boss Always Sits In The Back isn’t “just another mob story.” It reveals the demise of the mobsters who ran northern New Jersey…as told by someone who was there.

He didn’t stop until the manuscript and screenplay for The Boss Always Sits In The Back were completed. Jon has written and co-written several screenplays and articles. He still resides in California where he continues to write…and listen to music and will share what it takes to write a compelling memoir and publicize it.

WildBlue Press frontman Steve Jackson is the NY Times best selling author giving listeners background on WildBlue Press then delves into his latest book, BOGEYMAN, about child serial killer David Penton told through the eyes of the detectives and their families and showing the toll a case like this has on dedicated law enforcement officers. 

Colorado based Steve Jackson began his career as a journalist and newspaper writer covering "everything from science to medicine to international and social issues to politics and even a smattering of sports." 

Jackson is the author of nine true crime books and collaborated with former New York assistant district attorney Robert K. Tanenbaum to write eleven crime thrillers in the Butch Karp fiction series.  

Host website: DonnaGore.Com

Tad DiBiase, known as the "No Body Guy" began his career as a corporate litigator then changed course when joining the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in 1995. Specializing in domestic violence and forensic homicide cases in the gritty D.C. Superior Court, DiBiase tried the city's second "no body" case ever, followed by several other high profile cases. He's the nation's leading expert in "no body" cases and often consults with law enforcement and prosecutors across the country. 

In his book, No-Body Homicide Cases: A Practical Guide to Investigating, Prosecuting and Winning Cases When the Victim is Missing, DiBiase offers a practical guide for police and prosecutors and provides an expansive look at both the history of no- body murder cases and the best methods to solve them and present the case in court.

WriterOur guest for January 14, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, is best known as The Frugal Book Promoter, but she is also a literary writer, poet, and all round smart and giving marketer.

DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR TIPS FROM THE GURU OF FRUGAL MARKETING AND PROMOTION!

As a college freshman, she was the youngest person ever hired as a staff writer for the Salt Lake Tribune--"A Great Pulitzer Prize Winning Newspaper"--where she wrote features for the society page and a column under the name Debra Paige.

Later, in New York, she was an editorial assistant at Good Housekeeping Magazine. and also handled accounts for famous fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert who developed the first "10 Best Dressed List." It was her fun job to write releases for celebrity designers of the time including Pauline Trigere, Rudy Gernreich, and Christian Dior.

She was given the Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award by California Legislature members, Carol Liu, Dario Frommer, and Jack Scott and says she is really proud of that. In its first edition, "The Frugal Book Promoter" became an instant best seller as an e-book on ebookad.com and the paperback opened to rave reviews on Amazon. It is now in its second edition, expanded and updated. It became the first in the How To Do It Frugally series. "The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success" was the next. The Book Publicists of Southern California honored her with their Irwin Award and the "Pasadena Weekly" for literary activism.