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

Episode 578 - Chad Boudreaux - From Homeland Security and US Justice Department to Thriller Author

CHAD BOUDREAUX has a broad range of government, legal and corporate experience. Prior to serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised Secretary Michael Chertoff on almost all significant matters facing the newly established department.

Before working for Homeland Security, Boudreaux served in several high-ranking positions at the U.S. Justice Department, where he was hired the night before the September 11, 2001, attacks. During his time at the Justice Department, Boudreaux focused most of his time on matters relating to terrorism and homeland security.

His career in the government led him to write his debut novel, Scavenger Hunt.

https://www.chadboudreaux.com/

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Episode 577 - J Hall  - A Book for New Dads and A Book to Make College Clear for Students and Parents

J Hall is an author, educator, podcaster from Oklahoma City where he lives in with his wife, two dogs, and a rotating cast of adult children who stop in for meals and occasional dog-sitting. Most importantly, he is a grandpa, and he will certainly bore you to tears telling you how awesome his grandson is.

J is the author of two books - God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need and his new book - College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College. J clearly does not believe in short titles.  

After more than 15 years in professional ministry, J has spent the second half of his career in higher education, currently serving as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College and teaching sociology.

Since 2021, J has hosted and produced the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read through interviewing authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma. He also co-hosts a monthly book chat show through the Bookcast with his daughter, author and screenwriter Hannah Herron. J is a regular guest on a number of podcasts, talking about everything from books to pop culture to fatherhood and more. 

https://www.jhallwriter.com/

https://www.okiebookcast.com/

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Episode 576 - Anne Mollova - The Trianid, the Young Adult Fantasy Triology that had to be written

Anne Mollova is an award-winning fantasy author living with her family in Pittsburgh, PA. Aside from writing, she loves being in nature, making music, eating chocolate, drinking tea, and creating things out of yarn and needles. She still keeps an eye out for faeries and hasn't yet accepted the fact that she cannot have a pet baby dragon.

Seer of Strands 

Book 3 of The Trianid

A new and dangerous magic. A promise to the faerie king. A musical treasure map no bard can decode.

With the darklings gone, the kingdom of Dúramair is no longer under threat. But the Trianid remains splintered, and behind the walls of Monstar Abbey, the Seer of Strands harbors two secrets: a seemingly destructive magic rising within her and a promise to the faerie king that must be kept.

When Faer Dinnán appears to see the promise fulfilled, it ensnares the young Trianid in an adventure that will test the limits of both their magic and their bonds. But even as Lirianna hopes her efforts will strengthen the Trianid, her own destiny as the Seer of Strands becomes increasingly tenuous. Fearing for a future her secrets could destroy and confronted by a past she thought she left behind, Lirianna can no longer ignore her growing magic—or the consequences of using it.

“The plot of Keeper of Scales is … executed with a confidence and verve that should have no problems hooking in readers with its venerable twists and turns.” - The BookLife Prize

“Anne has truly written an epic YA Fantasy for the ages.” - Anne Sengstock

“Thoughtfully crafted and impressively immersive, this novel is hard to put down.” - Judge, 10th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards

https://www.annemollova.com/

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Episode 575 - Maury Wood - Grit and Wit - Husband. Dad. Faith-filled smart aleck 

Maury Wood is a husband, dad, former teacher, and a lifelong student of faith, family, and sarcasm. He’s been with his wife for almost 25 years, and together they’re raising four kids who give him endless material and keep him humble.

Husband. Dad. Faith-filled smart aleck. Sharing stories on marriage, parenting, and the mess between—with grit, wit, and a prayer.

https://gritandwit.substack.com/

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Episode 574 - Lawrence C. Connolly - Science fiction, fantasy, and horror

About the author

Lawrence C. Connolly’s books include the collections "This Way to Egress," whose titular tale of psychological horror was adapted for the Mick Garris film "Nightmare Cinema"; and the Bram-Stoker-nominated "Voices," which features Connolly’s best stories from The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Year’s Best Horror, and other top magazines and anthologies of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. A third collection, "Visions," was praised by Publishers Weekly for featuring an eclectic mix of “entertaining and satisfying” SF.

His novels include the eco-thrillers "Veins," "Vipers," and "Vortex." World Fantasy Award winner T. E. D. Klein called "Veins" "a crime thriller as intense and fast-moving as a Tarantino movie."

This fall, Caezik Science Fiction will release his new novel "Minute-Men: Execute & Run," a globetrotting adventure that combines elements of military science fiction, gaming, and medical suspense in a thrilling reinvention of the superhero genre. 

He is collaborating with brother Christopher Connolly and Academy Award-winning producer Jonathan Sanger to develop a feature film based on "Execute & Run."

https://lawrencecconnolly.com/

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Episode 573 - Gabrýel Grimm-Goretez - Holy Water Hurts, A Vampire’s Guide to Vampire Hunting

I'm Gabrýel—a 22-year-old author, artist, and musician based in Portland, Oregon. My work lives somewhere between gothic allure and post-punk energy, often shifting between darkness and defiance. I was once a high school valedictorian and poetry prodigy, racking up nearly every academic accolade I could… but what truly defines my voice is my unflinching exploration of identity and the cultural intersections I was raised within.

Book: HOLY WATER HURTS: A Vampire Guide to Vampire Hunting

It's 2007, and in the rain-soaked streets of Seattle Washington, Parker is fighting for his life in more ways than one. Not only is he a starving artist running away from a past that, like him, refuses to stay dead. But after one bender too many, he now finds himself deep in the underworld of vampire hunting while also battling the same infection he's hell-bent on eradicating. Parker's grapple with his agonizing reality of turning into the very monsters he hunts proves to be the most terrifying creature he's faced...

https://www.gabryelgrimmgoretez.com/

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Episode 572 - David Galef - Where I Went Wrong - A must-read for anyone who has ever screwed up royally

David Galef is an American fiction writer, critic, poet, translator, and essayist because he can’t seem to make up his mind what to specialize in, though he’s been a writer for over 40 years. He’s published over fifteen books, from novels and short story collections and children’s books to poetry books, criticism, and translation. A few highlights: His third novel, How to Cope with Suburban Stress, made Kirkus’ “Best Books of the Year.” His second short story collection, My Date with Neanderthal Woman, won Dzanc Books’ inaugural short story collection prize, and the title story was performed at Selected Shorts at Symphony Space. 

David received a B.A. in English from Princeton, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Columbia, with a specialty in British Modernism. From 1989 to 2008, he was a professor of English at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, where he administered the M.F.A. program in creative writing until 2007. In 2008, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to live in Tokyo for four months, after which he returned home, landed a job in New Jersey, and hopped back over the Mason-Dixon line. He is now a professor of English and the creative writing program director at Montclair State University.

David is married to the journalist and editor Beth Weinhouse. Their son, Daniel Galef, is a writer, too, God help him. David and his family live in Montclair, New Jersey, a cool, artsy community where you can’t throw a rock without hitting at least three writers.

Fun fact (at least some people find it fun): David has also been a humor columnist for Inside Higher Ed, where he wrote for years about a school called U of All People.

Book: Where I Went Wrong

Tony Mazza is having a bad day, which is what a lot of his days are like lately. He’s worked at a real estate agency, a bike shop, and a bar, among other places, and he’s currently managing as a hospital orderly. Or at least he was until, high on Percocet, he drove off with stolen property in an ambulance owned by the hospital and crashed into another ambulance. “Where did I go wrong?” he wonders aloud from his jail cell. Tony often wonders about this, whether it’s losing the affection of his kids (he’s twice divorced) or making a gaffe when selling a house to a prospective buyer. But he’s not hapless, he’s rather smart, and he’s even rather likeable. So where did he go wrong? This question keeps cropping up as each chapter takes Tony further back in time: issues with his first wife, disastrous investments, unfortunate family events in high school and earlier . . . all the way back to his birth, as recounted by his mother. Where I Went Wrong is Tony Mazza’s story, a novel that’s both comic and serious, exploring why some people fail while others get away with little short of murder.

https://davidgalef.com/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

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EPISODE 571 - Marc Sapir - I'll Fly Away, 40 Stories about Amazing Disabled Elders

Marc Sapir, a retired primary care, geriatric, and public health physician, is an essayist and political activist. He was the first Medical Director of the Center for Elders’ Independence for disabled elders for 9 years. He also previously worked for United Farm Workers and was a panel member of the Mad as Hell Doctors for Single Payer Health Care. A graduate of Brandeis University (BA) and Stanford Medical School (MD), he also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) epidemiology from the University of California, Berkeley.

He is the author of five plays and writes fiction, poetry, and music. He recently published a memoir, Deja Vu with Quixotic Delusions of Grandeur (May, 2024), and his writing has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, the Berkeley Daily Planet, the Palo Alto Times, the Stanford Daily, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Public Health, American Journal of Epidemiology, and more. He lives in Berkeley, CA.

I'll Fly Away
Stories about Amazing Disabled Elders by Marc Sapir
I’ll Fly Away invites readers to delve into the intimate narratives of 40 extraordinary elders, revealing their profound stories of resilience and the vibrant spirit that often persists in the twilight years. This collection not only highlights the challenges faced by aging individuals but also champions the beauty and dignity of every life story.

“A collection of wonderful real-life stories on aging. Dr. Sapir vividly portrays a complex series of human emotions, struggles, and relationships.”
—Thomas Irungu MD, MPH, medical director Sentara Health Plans, VA

“Could the lives of 40 disabled oldsters in a geriatric program make interesting reading? ‘Interesting’ is an understatement. These stories are fascinating.”
—Anthony Somkin MD, medical director RotaCare West Contra Costa

marcsapir.net

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Episode 570 - C B Strul - Papillon IV - A Space Opera, Trash Talk and  a Waste Filled Derelict Ark Spacecraft 

c.b.strul is author of such novels as The Ancient Ones, CONNECTIVITY, and Papillon IV as well as the founder of Odom’s Library. Additionally, he has in print the short story The Last Trucker and three novellas: Spinners, Forget the Complex, and What Grows from the Stump of a Tree? His short play Leading the Blind was produced in Los Angeles by the former artist organization ImageneseFree. And his three Minuet short films as well as the animated feature screenplay for Critter Crossing have received awards and recognition at multiple festivals in California and around the world

Papillon IV - A Space Opera unlike anything you've read before.

Ancient Earth calls for an initiative to clean up the planet. They send the majority of humanity's excess waste into space -- on the back of a recently derelict ark spacecraft.What the people of Earth don't realize is the effect this payload will have on the alien race of an unknown world.

https://odomslibrary.com/

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Episode 569 - Robin Nathaniel - Social Media SYNC - Stop Chasing the Algorithm. Start Leading with Intention

Robin Nathaniel

TEDx Speaker

Robin Nathaniel has a story of resilience, creativity, and reinvention. Beginning his career as a musician, Robin’s artistic roots laid a unique foundation for his journey. This experience in music, with its emphasis on connection and storytelling, naturally paved the way for his transition into the professional world of social media. Living by the motto "Connect. Create. Contribute," he aims to inspire a wave of positive transformation.

Social Media SYNC

A Framework for Intentional Human Connection in the AI Era

Stop Chasing the Algorithm. Start Leading with Intention.

Social Media SYNC is not another “how to go viral” book.

It’s a bold framework for creators, professionals, and mission-driven leaders who want to build real human connections in a digital world obsessed with trends.

In the AI era, if you're not building authentic human connection...you’re getting left behind.

Grab your copy of Social Media SYNC and build a presence that outlasts any algorithm.

Recommended by Writers:
“Robin’s work is a comprehensive guide for those seeking authenticity, willing to do the work to carve out a unique and intentional path for themselves in an otherwise overcrowded market.” –Joél Leon: TED Speaker, Storyteller, Gotham Book Prize Nominated Author

“Digital media, AI, and other technologies are never going away, nor should they. "Social Media SYNC" helps today's connected professionals understand how to build better and more connected relationships with each other.” –Ramon Ray: Keynote Speaker, Author, Host - USA Today Host

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbinmarx/

https://robbinmarx.substack.com/

https://books.by/RobinNathaniel

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