TOPICS OF CONVERSATION

The inspiration behind "Veil of Secrecy"

Researching her subject and the level of detail involved

Margaret's writing journey - from poet to novelist

Personal interests outside of writing

A bit of insight into her next project

Margaret's advice to emerging authors

Steve Bassett was born, raised and educated in New Jersey, and, although far removed during a career as a multiple award-winning journalist, he has always been proud of the sobriquet, Jersey Guy. He has written for several publications, including the Pulitzer Prize winning Salt Lake Tribune. He’s worked for the Associated Press, where his exposés gained national recognition, and CBS television news in Los Angeles, earning three Emmy Awards for his investigative documentaries.

His book, “Golden Ghetto: How the Americans and French Fell In and Out of Love During the Cold War,” was published in 2013. “Father Divine’s Bikes,” Book One in his Passaic River Trilogy was published in 2018. “Payback: Tales of Love, Hate and Revenge,” is the second novel in the trilogy continuing the historical noir crime drama surrounding Newark, NJ in the post WWII era.

For more information about Steve Bassett and his books, visit his website at http://www.stevebassettworld.com.

Topics of Conversation:

About “Payback – Tales of Love, Hate, and Revenge” and the Inspiration Behind the Story

The German-American Bund and the Minutemen

Redlining then and now – and other parallels in the story to current events

Personal Interest – on owning a 600 year-old property in Central France and the differences between French and American Culture

Steve Bassett was born, raised and educated in New Jersey, and, although far removed during a career as a multiple award-winning journalist, he has always been proud of the sobriquet Jersey Guy. As a natural iconoclast, he joined the dwindling number of itinerant newsmen roaming the countryside in search of, well just about everything. He is an award-winning journalist and writer and has written for several publications including The Long Branch Daily in New Jersey, the Pekin Daily Times, and the Pulitzer Prize winning Salt Lake Tribune. He’s worked for the Associated Press, where his exposés gained national recognition, and CBS television news in Los Angeles, earning three Emmy Awards for his investigative documentaries. His book, “Golden Ghetto: How the Americans and French Fell In and Out of Love During the Cold War,” was published in 2013. “Father Divine’s Bikes,” is his first work of fiction, a historical, noir crime novel set in 1945 Newark. Bassett currently resides in Placitas, New Mexico with his wife Darlene Chandler Bassett.

Lucinda Clark is the Founder of P.R.A. Publishing and the Poetry Matters Project Ltd. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa. now residing in Georgia. She has written and published a four-part poetry series titled View From the Middle of the Road with various emerging writers from many areas of the arts. She is currently a contributor to the Accentuated Reading Project. Her mission is to build community connections through collaborations based on literary arts.

Topics of Conversation:

History of the Poetry Matters Project

Poetry Matters Project Literary Prize – 20 Year Anniversary

Where are they now? Update on some of the past contest winners.

Getting involved – as a contestant, judge or volunteer

Poetry Diversified 2019 Anthology

Poetry Readings by Lucinda Clark

Michael McCord, the former political editor and columnist for The Portsmouth (NH) Herald, is an award-winning journalist and writer.

A U.S. Army veteran, he covered his first presidential primary campaign in 1980 and has written for dozens of publications – including the Boston Globe Magazine, Boston Globe, New Hampshire Business Review, Boston Herald, New Hampshire Magazine – and has won New England & New Hampshire press association awards for investigative reporting, political commentary, feature and historical writing, and business journalism.

Among many adventures, he profiled James Dougherty, Marilyn Monroe’s mostly unknown unknown first husband, for Boston Globe Magazine. He also co-wrote the produced theatrical play “think twice before you think” about the life and writings of e e cummings. His essay on the history of the New Hampshire presidential primary was included in the 2008 analogy The American Presidency.

His Real America saga includes The Execution Channel: A Political Fable (2013) & End Times: More Great Adventures in Real America (2019). Penelope will be the final book in the trilogy.

He lives in Exeter, NH with his artist wife Anne and their cat Vito (the Twitter star of the family).

Topics of Conversation:

A vision of “Real America”

How the Real America in the book compares to the current political climate in the U.S.

Satire – a fun book to write

How the Information Warfare plot plays out

Promoting and Self-Publishing

and more!

Topics of Conversation:

Introducing a world of adventure through extraordinary animals and locations

Encouraging outdoor adventures

Characters who use their own skills and imagination to invent and solve problems

Storytelling and instilling hope

The Publishing Industry vs. The Gaming Industry

Topics of Conversation

A young woman’s sexual awakening.

America’s infatuation with the Kennedy’s

Researching historical figures

The power of language

Susan’s current project – a mystery/thriller based on a true story!

Advice for emerging authors

Topics of Conversation:

Artemisia Gentileschi’s influence on the art world and her relevance to today’s women

Italy – its history and beauty

A common theme connecting all of her books

Incorporating history into historical fiction

Artistic expression

Advice for emerging authors

Topics of Conversation:

What is dirty science?

Which areas of research are being targeted?

The spiritual and the psychic

How to recognize unscientific methods and educating the public

Getting the word out - read the first chapter

Topics of Conversation

Writing her memoir

The different forms of abuse and how to recognize it

Consequences of abuse

Healing

Helping Others

Inspiration