Living The Next Chapter: Candid Conversations with Authors and Writers for Readers Searching for a New Read

EPISODE 778 - Patrick d'Entremont - Acadian Shorelines, the Acadian expulsion of 1755

A former columnist with the Chronicle Herald newspaper and belong to the Writers’ Council of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia. Acadian Shorelines is my debut novel. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where I spent the bulk of my professional life as an IT entrepreneur and business writer.

Having lived to this grizzled old age means I have perspective on life, which I put to good use in narrating the thrills and misfortunes of Tommy Breau, a teenage Acadian boy who just wants to get out and see the world. But I know now what he didn’t know then, and there’s the story.

I grew up in West Pubnico, Nova Scotia, a fishing community founded by returning exiles following the Acadian expulsion of 1755. I write stories that depict growing up in such a milieu and how it shaped who I became as an adult. I have found that this coming-of-age reminiscing resonates with many people, whether or not of Acadian descent. A brief excerpt from my novel was shared and thumbs-upped over three thousand times on Facebook.

Acadian Shorelines is being published by OC Publishing in the summer of 2026. I am also working on a sequel to this novel as well as a prequel.

Acadian Shorelines relays the hijinks and heartaches of teenager Tommy Breau growing up in the late 1960s in a small Acadian fishing village in Nova Scotia, where American radio broadcasts of pop music, world news, and baseball come in more clearly on his transistor radio than the Habs games from Montreal.

Hilarious and heart-breaking in equal measure and featuring a rich cast of smart but clueless friends, wished-for girlfriends, and a loving if strict family, Acadian Shorelines has the adult Tommy looking back and wondering whether the French, Catholic upbringing he was so eager to escape may have been the best years of his life.

As a child of the Sixties and of rural Acadian descent, this story is deeply personal to me and I believe I offer a unique cultural and historical perspective. Readers who enjoy energy, wit, and a touch of darkness will find Acadian Shorelines appealing, as will anyone who seeks temporary escape to simpler times. Or anyone who wants to drop in on a realistic, vivid setting they might previously have known nothing about.

This episode features a reflective and deeply personal conversation with an author from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who shares the long and patient journey behind writing his first novel, Acadian Shorelines. Growing up in a small fishing village, his story is rooted in lived experience, cultural identity, and a desire to capture a way of life that shaped him. He speaks candidly about the realities of writing, emphasizing that storytelling is not about perfection but about persistence, curiosity, and a genuine love for the craft.

At the heart of the discussion is the history of the Acadian people, including the forced expulsion in the 1700s and the lasting impact it had on generations. He explores how this history was often left unspoken within families, only to be rediscovered later through research and reflection. His novel brings this context to life through fiction, blending personal memory with cultural heritage. By setting the story in the 1960s, he highlights a period of transition where traditional French Acadian life began intersecting with broader English-speaking influences, creating identity challenges for young people coming of age during that time.

The conversation also dives into the creative process behind the book. What began as a simple coming of age story evolved into something richer when he embraced his own cultural background. Through workshops, writing groups, and feedback, he learned that setting is more than location. It includes culture, history, and global influences that shape characters and their worldview. He shares how collaboration with family and revisiting memories helped bring authenticity and depth to the story.

Listeners also get a glimpse into the characters, particularly the contrast between a naive protagonist and his confident best friend, which adds humor and relatability. The episode closes with updates on upcoming book launches, future writing projects including a sequel and prequel, and an open invitation for readers to connect and engage.

Key takeaway: meaningful storytelling comes from patience, embracing your roots, and doing the hard work to bring authenticity and depth to your voice.

https://patrickdentremont.com/

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EPISODE 777 - Ben Berwick - drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi like Star Trek and Doctor Who

In this episode, the conversation explores the mindset, craft, and persistence required to bring stories to life, through the lens of a sci fi author shaped by curiosity, imagination, and real world responsibility.

From the outset, the importance of perseverance stands out as a foundational trait for any writer. The guest shares the reality of sitting down to write and being met with doubt, hesitation, and creative resistance. The breakthrough is not waiting for perfect inspiration, but choosing to move forward anyway. Writing becomes both a discipline and an escape, a way to process life while building something meaningful from nothing.

Sci fi plays a central role in shaping both the author’s identity and storytelling approach. Influenced by worlds like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who, the genre is reframed not as spectacle, but as a vehicle for exploring the human condition. At its core, sci fi is about wonder, belonging, and the question of who we are and who we aspire to be. Even the most fantastical settings become relatable when grounded in human emotion, conflict, and connection.

The discussion also dives into the author’s creative process, including character development, world building, and the evolution of storytelling skills. A key lesson learned is the shift from telling a story to showing it, allowing characters to live and breathe on the page. Characters are not static. They evolve, surprise the writer, and sometimes even reshape the direction of the story itself.

Balancing creativity with real life responsibilities is another honest thread throughout the episode. Writing books over the course of years while managing a full time job and family life highlights the long game behind creative success. Publication is not just about sales, but about the deeply personal milestone of seeing one’s work out in the world.

The conversation also touches on the growing presence of AI in writing, acknowledging both its efficiency and the concern that it may dilute attention from deeply crafted human stories. Despite this, there is optimism that readers will continue to value authenticity and effort.

Listeners are also introduced to the author’s current works and future ambitions, including a developing trilogy and an expansive multiverse of interconnected stories filled with complex characters, moral tension, and imaginative worlds.

Key takeaway: Progress in creative work does not come from waiting for confidence or perfect conditions. It comes from showing up consistently, trusting your voice, and building something real one step at a time, even when doubt is part of the process.

https://www.facebook.com/BenBerwickAuthorPage/

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EPISODE 776 - Alisa Goodwin Snell - Lasting Love Academy - Are you tired of being single or struggling in a relationship

What happens when a marriage and family therapist experiences the very heartbreak she spent her career helping others navigate? In this episode, Alisa Goodwin Snell shares her deeply personal journey through divorce, single parenthood, remarriage, and the lessons that ultimately shaped her life's work helping people build healthier relationships.

Growing up in a family marked by both love and turmoil, Alisa believed that if she learned all the right things and made all the right choices, she could avoid the pain of divorce. Life had other plans. After becoming a marriage and family therapist at a young age, she found herself facing a traumatic divorce and the reality that expertise alone cannot protect us from life's challenges.

Drawing from decades of counseling experience, Alisa explains the three qualities she believes are essential to lasting relationships: empathy, self-control, and personal responsibility. These principles became the foundation of her coaching practice and the inspiration behind her books focused on helping singles navigate dating with confidence and clarity.

The conversation explores the emotional challenges many singles face, particularly the belief that repeated rejection means something is wrong with them. Alisa argues that success in dating is often less about who you are and more about the techniques and behaviors you use to connect with others. She shares practical insights on handling rejection, building chemistry, recognizing red flags, and making thoughtful decisions during the critical first weeks of dating.

Beyond relationships, Alisa offers valuable advice for authors and creators. She discusses her publishing journey, the realities of traditional publishing versus self-publishing, and how modern tools, including AI, have transformed the writing, editing, and content creation process. Her experiences provide an honest look at the business side of bringing a message to a larger audience.

The discussion also highlights the importance of moving away from fear-based thinking and toward a mindset grounded in faith, growth, and possibility. Whether navigating relationships, writing a book, or entering a new chapter of life, Alisa encourages listeners to focus on what they truly want rather than what they fear.

As she launches updated editions of her work and expands the reach of the Lasting Love Academy, Alisa's mission remains clear: helping people create meaningful connections, make better relationship decisions, and believe that lasting love is possible.

Key Takeaway

Lasting relationships are built not on perfection, but on connection. By focusing on empathy, personal responsibility, self-control, and a willingness to grow, people can approach dating and relationships with greater confidence, healthier expectations, and a stronger belief in their own worth.

https://www.lastingloveacademy.com/

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EPISODE 775 - Dr. Christopher Choukalas - Even the Darkest Night, A father's harrowing journey through paternal depression

Christopher G. Choukalas, MD, MS spent twelve years on faculty at the University of California San Francisco as an anesthesiologist, intensive care physician, researcher, academic author, and teacher to hundreds of students, residents, and fellows. He is most proud of his mission-driven work with veterans.

Originally from Minnesota, Chris now lives with his wife Lindsey, their twin girls, and their poodle mutt, Couscous, in Marin County, California.

Even the Darkest Night started out as a journal to help Chris cope with the unthinkable tragedies he saw nearly every day in the ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time his twins were born in August 2020, this journal became his lifeline to help him process the overwhelming darkness that came with fatherhood. He ultimately decided to turn his journal entries into a book in an effort to humanize the suffering behind paternal depression, which impacts an estimated 10–15% of new fathers in the United States.

A raw, unflinching look at the hidden cost of silence, and the quiet courage it takes to ask for help. — Jon Gustin, author of The Tired Dad

After a traumatic birth nearly claimed his wife's life, anesthesiologist and intensive care physician Christopher Choukalas should have felt grateful. His twin daughters were healthy, his wife had survived, and they had started a family. But instead of joy, Choukalas found himself spiraling, spending long evenings in the garage, unable to face the chaos and emotional strain inside his home.

Caught between caring for his wife, deciphering the needs of his newborns, and confronting painful childhood memories, his world began to unravel.

Despite clear signs, racing thoughts, anxiety, sleeplessness, panic attacks, and emotional distance from his children, Choukalas failed to recognize he was suffering from a serious condition. Like many men, he internalized his pain, hoping it was just the "baby blues" and would fade with time.

His turning point came when his wife, exhausted with his behavior and "checked-outness," urged him to seek help. Even though he's a doctor, he had missed the fact that he ticked off every symptom of paternal depression. Through intensive therapy, medication, and the support of a fathers' group, Choukalas began to understand his need for control and the lingering hurt from his own father's absence. Slowly, he rebuilt his connection with his wife and children and found healing.

Even the Darkest Night, Choukalas's powerful memoir, sheds light on the hidden struggles of fatherhood. With raw honesty and emotional insight, it challenges the silence and stigma surrounding men's mental health, especially in the early years of parenting. A much-needed voice and new understanding for fathers navigating love, identity, and healing in the shadows of expectation.

https://www.christopherchoukalas.com/

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EPISODE 774 - Molly Best Tinsley - Air Force Brat to US Naval Academy literature and creative writing teacher

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, author and educator Molly Tinsley reflects on a lifetime shaped by storytelling, teaching, military culture, and the creative process. From her early love of theater to a distinguished career teaching literature and creative writing, Molly shares the experiences that ultimately led her to fiction and her latest novel, *A Modest Trumpet Fanfare*.

Drawing on decades of experience as both a writer and teacher, Molly discusses the challenges many aspiring authors face when confronting self-doubt, perfectionism, and the pressure to follow prescribed writing rules. Rather than encouraging strict discipline, she advocates for embracing uncertainty, imagination, and what she describes as the productive chaos that often fuels creativity. For Molly, original writing begins when authors allow themselves the freedom to explore ideas without immediately worrying about structure, expectations, or external validation.

The conversation explores the tension between craft and creativity, highlighting the importance of listening to the work itself as it evolves. Molly explains how stories often reveal their own direction, surprising even the writer along the way. She reflects on the value of observation, curiosity, and paying close attention to people, conversations, and everyday life, qualities she believes are essential for creating authentic characters and compelling narratives.

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Molly's upbringing as a military brat and the inspiration behind her novel. Through multiple generations of one family, *A Modest Trumpet Fanfare* examines how military life, war, hierarchy, and displacement can shape relationships long after conflicts have ended. Rather than focusing on combat itself, the novel explores the quieter, often overlooked effects that military culture can have on families, identities, and personal histories.

Molly shares her perspective on the lasting impact of war, not only on those who serve but also on the families who live within its influence. She reflects on the realities of constant relocation, adapting to new environments, and navigating a culture built around structure, duty, and rank. These experiences became the foundation for a story that seeks to explore the human consequences of conflict across generations.

Throughout the episode, Molly's passion for teaching remains evident. Whether discussing creative writing workshops, storytelling techniques, or the joys of discovering the perfect word, she encourages writers to trust their instincts, embrace uncertainty, and remain open to where the creative process may lead.

Great writing often begins where certainty ends. By embracing curiosity, accepting self-doubt as part of the process, and remaining open to life's complexities, writers can create stories that are both deeply personal and universally meaningful.

https://shop.sibyllinepress.com/pages/author/molly-best-tinsley
https://shop.sibyllinepress.com/

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EPISODE 489 - Author Darlene Campos Shares the Amazing Story of Holocaust Survivor Pete Philipps

Hello! Hola! I'm Darlene P. Campos, an Ecuadorian-American author who is also a proud Houstonian.

I earned my BA in English-Creative Writing with a Medicine and Society Studies minor from the University of Houston (Go Coogs!) and my MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso (Go Miners!).

I am the author of the young adult novels Behind Mount Rushmore, Summer Camp is Cancelled, and Heaven Isn't Me, traditionally published by Vital Narrative Press.

Pete Philipps' Interview
Pete grew up in Essen, a major industrial city on Germany’s Ruhr River. His father worked as a cattle hide dealer for an international trading company in nearby Mühlheim. His mother was a designer for a fashionable women’s dress shop. Pete, his younger twin brothers, and parents lived together in an apartment.

1933–39: Pete had barely passed his first birthday when the Nazis came to power. His father realized the danger that now faced Jews in Germany, and the family left for Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1936. Pete attended Jewish school there, but the times were unsettling. In fall 1938, the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia, was incorporated into the Nazi Reich, and the following March, German troops marched into Prague. Shortly thereafter, Pete’s family left for Italy, where they settled in the Genoa suburbs. There, they were attacked by local antisemitic fascists. Soon after Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the Philippses immigrated to Ecuador.

1940–45: In Quito, the Philippses joined the growing colony of refugees from Germany. Pete attended a private boys’ school. His father set up business making margarine, while his mother did clothing alterations and knitting. In May 1941, just six months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Philippses arrived in the United States. Pete’s father returned to his former company.

After the war, Pete learned that his paternal grandmother, who had fled earlier to the Netherlands, had been deported to Auschwitz, where she perished. He completed his education and, after a tour of military duty in Germany, became a journalist for the New York Times.

https://www.ushmm.org/remember/holocaust-survivors/volunteers/pete-philipps
https://www.ushmm.org/
https://www.darlenepcampos.com/
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Published: Jan. 20, 2025

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Episode 393 - Adam Nimoy - The Most Human, Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy

Adam was born during the Eisenhower administration to Leonard and Sandra Zoberblatt Nimoy. He attended the University Elementary School, a “lab school” run by UCLA, where he was subjected to numerous psychological experiments. The experimentation continued at UC Berkeley in the form of mind-altering substances from which he may, or may not, have fully recovered. In a state of absolute certainty, Adam attended Loyola Law School. He was wrong. 

After seven years of practicing entertainment law and one moment of clarity, Adam left his life as an attorney to follow his passion of making films. After directing forty-five hours of network television, some of it sublime, some of it eminently unwatchable, Adam’s career plummeted due in large part to drug and alcohol addiction. On January 1, 2004, Adam entered 12-Step recovery hoping to achieve an attitude adjustment. This was a New Year’s resolution he knew he had to keep. For 8 years, he taught writing, directing and acting at the New York Film Academy and taught filmmaking at Beit T’Shuvah, an addiction treatment center where the residents kept him on the straight and narrow.

Book: The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy

"Engaging and immensely relatable, while at the same time offering deeply profound insights into Adam Nimoy's personal relationships, particularly with his famous father." — Eugene Roddenberry Jr., CEO Roddenberry Entertainment 

Living with Dad was like living with a stranger— as a kid I often had trouble connecting and relating to him. But I was always proud of him. Even before Star Trek I'd see him popping up in bit roles on some of my favorite TV shows like Get Smart, Sea Hunt, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. And then one night he brought home Polaroids of himself in makeup and wardrobe for a pilot he was working on.

It was December 1964 and nobody had heard of Star Trek. Still, the eight-year-old me had watched enough Outer Limits and My Favorite Martian to understand exactly what I was looking at. Spock's popularity happened quickly, and soon the fan magazines were writing about dad's personal life, characterizing us as a "close family." But the awkwardness that defined our early relationship blossomed into conflict, sometimes smoldering, sometimes open and intense. There were occasional flashes of warmth between the arguments and hurt feelings— even something akin to love— especially when we were celebrating my father's many successes. The rest of the time, things between us were often strained.

My resentment towards my father kept building through the years. I wasn't blameless, I know that now, but my bitterness blinded me to any thought of my own contribution to the problem. I wanted things to be different for my children. I wanted to be the father I never had, so I coached Maddy's soccer, drove Jonah to music lessons, helped them with their homework— all the things dads are supposed to do. All the things I wanted to do. So what if my Dad and I had been estranged for years? I was living one day at a time. And then I got his letter.

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3KvTi1s

https://adamnimoy.com/

original pub date - Wednesday, July 17, 2024

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EPISODE 237 - Stewart Lee - Me and My Addiction - one man’s battle to break free from a life heavily impacted by alcoholism

About our Guest -
I grew up in Exeter, Devon and lived with my parents and 2 older sisters. I didn't really have a troubled life but from a young age I discovered alcohol and my journey into addiction began.

Drugs and alcohol consumed my life from that point on. It got so bad that I thought I would either end up in prison, a psychiatric unit or dead. Either by someone else killing me or succeeding in killing myself.

I managed to find a way to recover and now live a clean sober life. You could say the complete opposite of how I lived before.

I'm hoping now that if I share my experience through writing books I can help to inspire anyone that change is possible.

The Book: Me and My Addiction tells the intense, but overall positive, account of one man’s battle to break free from a life heavily impacted by alcoholism. This thought-provoking book gives the reader a no holds barred, insight into addictions, and their power to change people’s lives, often without the victim realizing until it’s too late.

Stewart’s reflection of the problems around addiction, along with his real, raw and (brutally!) honest stories will open your mind to see life through the eyes of an addict.

If you think you, or maybe someone you know, may have an issue with alcohol it provides answers to the questions that many are afraid to ask, a deeper understanding of how addiction works, along with hope that it’s possible to break the cycle of destruction and to turn your life around.

https://www.stewartleeauthor.co.uk/
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Published: Aug. 31, 2023

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Episode 536 - Julie Riga - Stay on Course The Life and Legacy of Ennio Riga, Chef to the Stars

When Ennio Riga passed away in February 2016, he left behind an incredible legacy. To his many admirers who enjoyed his delicious culinary creations, he was a world-renowned chef. 

To Julie Riga, he was a loving father who taught her the importance of leadership, perseverance, and determination.

About the Author

Julie Riga, Ennio’s daughter, continues his legacy as a leadership coach, trainer, speaker, and author. In compiling the stories for the book, Julie carries on Ennio’s tradition by helping others reflect, and then decisively act on, their own calls to greatness.

https://www.stayoncourse.io/
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EPISODE 773 - Erin Blechman - My Unexpected Journey Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide, grief support to bereaved parents

Erin Blechman is an author, speaker, and certified Grief Educator whose mission is to elevate the conversation around grief and loss, mental illness, and suicide.

Her book, My Unexpected Journey: Reflections After Losing My Son to Suicide, chronicles the eighteen months following the devastating loss of her own beloved son, Max to suicide after his long battle with mental illness.

On June 3, 2020, we lost our firstborn son, Max, to suicide, after a long and difficult battle with depression.

My Unexpected Journey is a collection of my journal entries from the first eighteen months following his death.

She offers grief support to bereaved parents through online groups and community talks that seek to build greater understanding of mental illness, suicide, and loss and grief.

Erin lives part-time in both Pittsburgh, PA and Naples, FL with her husband, Bill and Max’s former dog, Emmylou. Their son, Sam, and his wife, Julia, reside in Pittsburgh. My Unexpected Journey is her first book.

https://erinblechman.com/

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