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

Episode 476 - Bruce Stock - We Throw a Curve Ball with Switch Pitcher and The Canadian Veterans Party

Meet Local Author & Veteran Bruce Stock

Bruce Stock was in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry; he was the first PPCLI officer to become a vice-regal aide-de-camp to the Governor-General. He served at Rideau Hall with the Vaniers from 1964 to 1966 and was there with the Governor-General and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson as they inaugurated and unfurled the new Canadian flag in 1965. 

On leaving the forces, Stock specialized in corporate communications and media relations, becoming a speechwriter for the founder of Shoppers Drug Mart and well-known philanthropist Murray Koffler. He was asked to re-enlist as a Public Affairs Officer for the Canadian peacekeepers during the Bosnian War in 1993. After the Dayton Accords ended the conflict in 1995, he returned to Bosnia as a Public Information Officer with the UN International Police Force.

He concluded his military service with mandatory retirement, while working as a media relations officer for Emergency Measures Ontario, he played a key role in the Provincial Operations Centre during the devastating ice storm of January 1998. As a member of this team, he received the Amethyst Award, the province’s highest award for achievements made by public servants.

It’s not his only award. In recognition of his 40 plus years as a practitioner, teacher, mentor and visionary in public relations, Bruce was inducted into the College of Fellows of the Canadian Public Relations Society in 2010. In recognition of his military services, he was recently honoured by the London Knights in their 2021 Remembrance Day ceremonies!

Bruce now lives with his family in London, where he continues work as the President of a consulting firm, The Great Communications Secret. He helps manage the reputations of his clients in the private and not-for-profit sectors. But we shouldn’t forget his work as an author!

Bruce is a busy man – on top of all this work, he continues to write. He finished Switch Pitcher, his first novel, last summer. Born in Timmins, Bruce remembers watching the days of the Hollinger Miners dominating a local gold-mining industrial league. It sparked a passion that he’s carried with him his entire life; now, Bruce has put his long-time enthusiasm for this great game into a compelling narrative that’s sure to be a hit among baseball fans.

Bruce has always wondered what it would be like if Major League Baseball had switch pitchers – players who could pitch right-handed and left-handed – much like switch hitters. If you have a Blue Jays (or, closer to home, London Majors) fan in the family, this book is the perfect gift!

https://www.sly-fox.ca/smallbusinessthatrocks-canadian-author-bruce-stock/

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Episode 475 - Tami Kiekhaefer - How The Movie, A Man Called Otto Speaks to Anxiety, Loneliness and our Ungaurded Minds

A Little About Me

After over 20 years in the field of psychology and social work, I still feel a passion for the work I provide  to my clients as well as continuing to develop my personal and professional skills. I enjoy working with  adults and adolescents in all capacities. Witnessing the transformation as people move from wounded,  unbalanced and fearful, to becoming empowered, focused and self-reliant is one of the greatest rewards.  The power of growth never fails to amaze me, and I am grateful to be part of your journey.         

Thank you for inquiring about these services and I welcome you to begin this process  

We leave no stone unturned in exploring the beautiful and sometimes ugly mess of life. Join your fearless leaders Tami Kiekhaefer & Desiree Grimaldi  as we delve into the raw, unfiltered stories of love, loss, triumph, and everything in between.  

https://healthyhealing.net/unguarded-minds-podcast
https://healthyhealing.net/

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Episode 474 - Lily Iona MacKenzie - Dreaming Myself into Old Age, One Woman's Search for Meaning

I don’t have hayseed clinging to my trousers, but growing up on a Canadian farm gave me a unique foundation as a writer. I sprouted under cumulous clouds that bloomed everywhere in Alberta’s big sky. They were my first creative writing instructors, scudding across the heavenly blue, constantly changing shape: one minute an elephant, bruised and brooding. The next morphing into a rabbit or a castle. These billowing masses gave me a unique view of life on earth.

As a girl, I prowled the land, talking to chickens and pigs and lambs, creating scenarios for them. I also tried to make perfume from the wild Alberta roses and captured caterpillars, watching with wonder when they transformed themselves into butterflies. Everything around me seemed infused by nature spirits waiting to be released.

I soon realized that all objects are in motion, waiting for stories to illuminate them. The clouds’ shifting form also schooled me in the various possibilities open to me as a writer. So did Jack Frost’s enchanted creations that enlivened the windows in wintertime, forcing me to view my surroundings as if through a bewitching prism. These early experiences helped me to envision multi-dimensional characters. No wonder magical realism pulses at the heart of my narratives, and my work celebrates the imagination.

As an adult, I continue to seek instruction from clouds. Just as they provide the earth with much-needed water, I believe that stories have a similar function, preparing the mind to receive new ideas. Also, conditions inside a cloud are not static—water droplets are constantly forming and re-evaporating. Stories, too, change, depending on who is reading them, each one giving life to its readers.

I’ve published reviews, interviews, short fiction, poetry, travel pieces, essays, and memoir in over 165 American and Canadian venues. Fling!, one of my novels, was published in July 2015 by Pen-L Publishing. Regal House Publishing released Curva Peligrosa, another novel, in September 2017. Pen-L Publishing published Freefall: A Divine Comedy on 1/1/19. The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up!,  featuring the same main character as in Freefall, came out on October 2021. My poetry collection All This was published in 2011, and a chapbook (No More Kings) was released in March 2020.

Shanti Arts Publishing will release my hybrid memoir Dreaming Myself into Old Age: One Woman’s Search for Meaning in 2023 as well as my new poetry collection California Dreaming. 

I also taught writing at the University of San Francisco (USF) for over 30 years and was vice-president of USF’s part-time faculty union. I currently teach creative writing at USF’s Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.

https://lilyionamackenzie.com/

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Episode 473 - Joe Herod - In A World of Writers be a Storyteller - Joe’s journey from dusty boxes to literary dreams is nothing short of magical

Joe Herod, or as the literary world knows him, JS Herod, channels the spirits of Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, and Patrick Rothfuss in his writing. Born in Dallas, Texas, Joe's early years were spent crisscrossing the country, courtesy of his father's military career. Naturally, Joe caught the travel bug and spent years on the move himself. In 2019, he found himself back in a sleepy town in rural Mississippi, caring for his ailing dad. Though his father never discouraged Joe’s writing, he never really acknowledged it either. By Christmas 2023, Joe had nearly shelved his author dreams—until fate intervened. While rummaging through his mom's attic, he unearthed a box of his late Dad's personal belongings. Inside was his USMC pocket watch and the original handwritten manuscript of what would eventually become "Chronicles of the Bard King." It was like his dad was giving him his blessing, reigniting his passion for storytelling. Joe’s journey from dusty boxes to literary dreams is nothing short of magical.

https://thebardking.com/

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Episode 472 - Natasha Sharma - Beneath Divided Skies - Based on the ‘Rescue and Restoration Act of 1949’

About the author

Natasha Sharma is a freelance software developer who moonlights as a writer. She has been a voracious consumer of the written word since her childhood and is never without a book (or a Kindle) by her side. A true blue feminist, she is passionate about creating awareness on gender inequality and other social issues. At the same time, her work displays a characteristic streak of cleverness and wit. 

Her stories have been published in several online magazines like eShe, Reading Frame, Thinking Pen, eFictionProject, Penmancy, amongst others. Her op-ed pieces and other articles can be found on leading web portals such as MoneyControl, SheThePeople, and Women’sWeb.

Natasha was also the proud participant of the Humanity Project by Tacenda Publication, which has fetched them a mention in the Asia Book of Records.

Last year, her winning story was featured in the eShe and Embassy Books join venture, a paperback, Everything Changed After That. In 2022, her winning stories have been featured in Existing Loudly (volume 3) by The Write Order and The Runner's Tribe by The Impish Lass.

Book: Beneath Divided Skies - In 1947, Satya, a teenager, is orphaned by the Partition, and flees to India to join a clandestine organization rescuing abducted women. Risking her life in undercover missions, Satya’s unwavering determination reflects the unyielding resilience of the human spirit. She finds purpose and unexpected love with a Pakistani officer. As she battles for women’s freedom, Satya faces an agonizing choice—will duty to her country overshadow her heart’s desire, or can she reconcile love and purpose amidst the chaos?

Based on the ‘Rescue and Restoration Act of 1949’, Beneath Divided Skies explores the lives of social workers, women, and the hard choices they face.

https://a.co/d/5hqs1A7

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Episode 471 - Rebecca Hendricks - Hard Dog's Night - Hound Dog Series, historical fiction, coming-of-age, and the power of music

Rebecca Hendricks is a writer and author of the new novel Hound Dogged.

Rebecca has made a career doing accounting and Judicial Assistant work, but her passion has always been writing and creating colorful and exciting stories. Starting at a young age, Rebecca could be found in her room, spending countless hours writing stories in long hand or typing her work with one finger on her father’s antique typewriter.

Rebecca is a Colorado native where she lives with her husband, dog, and two cats. She enjoys urban exploration and camping with her husband and their Golden Retriever, Haley. In her limited free time, she enjoys restoring and giving new life to old dolls.

Book: Hound Dogged: (Hound Dogs Series)

In the vibrant year of 1958, a time when Rock & Roll pulsated through teenage hearts, five friends found harmony in chaos, forming The Hound Dog As societal forces clash and cultural upheaval takes center stage, John, Stu, Jerry, Patrick, and the talented newcomer Danny embark on a musical journey in the throes of a changing world.

Beneath the surface of their carefree strumming sessions in Stu’s mom’s basement, ambitions stir within the band. Doubts arise, and the camaraderie is tested as the members question each other’s motives, wondering if they can collectively reach the pinnacle of Rock & Roll stardom.

Tensions escalate, propelling The Hound Dogs toward an unexpected gig before a sizable audience, a challenge they are ill-prepared to face. Faced with the looming prospect of failure on stage, a talented newcomer, Danny Bruer, joins in and helps to save the day. However, Danny is preparing to audition for The Dice, a major band with a colossal ego, and they're determined to acquire something The Hound Dogs possess, whatever the cost.

https://rebeccahendricksauthor.com/

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Episode 470 - Nicole Meier - Unlock Your Author Super Power, Learn The Steps to Story and The Power of A Great Bumper Sticker

Here's the thing...writing a full-length novel manuscript is hard. I know
this because I have four published novels (and more hiding in drawers!). 
What I wished I had during this time was someone to be my sounding board, developmental editor, expert in my genre, co-strategist and right-hand cheerleader. So, when I discovered book coaching was an actual thing, I jumped at the chance.

These days, I happily tell people I'm serving my younger self by being the writing guide and author mentor I always wanted. 

But it wasn't until midlife that I finally got up the courage to follow my novel writing dreams...

I was that girl who was always writing stories

The Steps to Story Podcast with your host Nicole Meier, delivering weekly episodes (in short and accessible recordings!) that provide fiction writers with essential steps and strategies, so they can get clear on their big story idea, complete their manuscripts, and follow their novel writing dreams.If you’re an emerging author seeking guidance, this podcast is for you!

https://pod.link/1727947628

Jo Waterstone knows what you should read next. She’s honed the skill of sizing up a person and recommending their next book in the decades she’s worked at Bruebaker’s Books. Her life has been shaped by the store, the bustle of customers exploring the stacks, and managing the eager staff. She can honestly say it’s the best job she’s ever had.

Then the store’s elderly owner, Mr. Bruebaker, suffers a stroke, and just like that Jo’s perfect job is on the chopping block. Mr. B’s daughters and the bookstore’s icy CEO think the time is right to close for good, and they order Jo to lock up. But she doesn’t know what she would be without Bruebaker’s—and besides, the place is an institution. So instead of following orders, she decides to take a stand: along with a few brave team members, she barricades herself in the store, trying to buy time until Mr. Bruebaker recovers and can speak for himself.

Living in a bookstore has a certain magic to it, but the quiet hours among the books throw the choices Jo has made in her life into sharp relief. As supporters—and detractors—start to voice their opinions about her actions, Jo will have to decide what, exactly, is worth saving.

https://nicolemeier.com/

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Episode 469 - Beth Runkle - Intentionally Pursuing Christ in the Military Life - hope-filled and practical encouragements for military wives

Beth has been married to her military man for twenty-five years. Faith in Christ dramatically transformed Beth from a bitter and reluctant military wife to one who embraced the community. Beth is called to encourage other women to intentionally pursue Christ in military life through speaking and writing. Beth is completing a Master’s Degree from Gateway Seminary and is publishing a book called Another Move, God? 30 Encouragement for your Life as Military Wife 2024 with B & H Publishing based upon the life of the biblical character, Sarah.

This book will equip military wives to get a handle on the chaos and uncertainty of their life with a firm hold on a sovereign God by gaining insights from the life of Sarah. The lessons will address some of the most common challenges encountered by military wives, such as:

• Loneliness
• Adjusting to moving far from home.
• Relationship challenges.
• Seasons of single parenting.
• Supporting their warrior in combat.
• Relinquishing control.

When you think of a husband deployed into combat, a spouse called to serve God and people, long seasons of loneliness and solo parenting, a Permanent Change of Station, starting new relationships all over again, and a life that seems constantly on the move and perhaps out of control, chances are you immediately think of the life of a military wife.
 
But there’s another life whose journey has many parallels to these things—and that’s the biblical character of Sarah.

Join author and longtime military wife Beth Runkle as she dives into the story of Sarah, offering thirty hope-filled and practical encouragements for military wives along the way.

Navigating the military lifestyle is not easy—but Jesus has His eye on those who are called to it, especially wives. Whether you face a parenting struggle, a marriage frustration, or yet another move, take heart in these encouragements as they empower you to embrace God’s peace and your unique role in His mission as a military wife.

https://www.militaryspouse.com/military-life/rest-should-be-part-of-not-an-escape-from-your-life/

https://www.bethrunkle.com/

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BONUS - Dave's Book Suggestion for December 2024 - Briefly Perfectly Human - Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End - Alua Arthur

"Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End" by Alua Arthur is a transformative memoir that challenges readers to confront their mortality and use that awareness to live more fulfilling lives

As America's leading death doula, Arthur brings a unique perspective to the often-taboo subject of death, infusing her narrative with warmth, generosity, and unexpected humor

The book weaves together Arthur's personal experiences, including her family's escape from a violent coup in Ghana, her battles with depression, and the loss of her brother-in-law to lymphoma

These profound encounters with death and transformation serve as a backdrop for Arthur's journey to becoming a death doula and founding her organization, Going with Grace

Arthur's writing shines with empathy and wisdom as she shares intimate stories from her work with clients facing the end of life

She explores the concept of "death embrace," advocating for open discussions about mortality and careful end-of-life planning

This approach, she argues, not only eases the burden on loved ones but also unlocks profound insights and personal growth for those confronting their own mortality

The memoir goes beyond simply recounting experiences, offering readers a new framework for thinking about death and its role in shaping a meaningful life

Arthur's message is clear: by acknowledging and preparing for our inevitable end, we can live more authentically and purposefully

"Briefly Perfectly Human" is praised for its raw honesty, inspiring perspective, and ability to transform readers' outlook on both life and death

It serves as a powerful testament to the importance of bearing witness to life's painful complexities and finding peace in our finite existence

For those seeking a thought-provoking and deeply human exploration of mortality and its impact on living, Arthur's debut offers a compassionate, insightful, and potentially life-changing read.

https://a.co/d/fuPLjpM
https://www.aluaarthur.com/

Alua on Mel Robbins Podcast
https://youtu.be/BDjgt8xRs48?si=75B1EjCmwpU_L6B5

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Episode 468 - Iris Angellys - Your Body Is the Portal to Your Soul - Your body has the answers, make it your best friend for life

Book: Your Body Is the Portal to Your Soul: Your body has the answers, make it your best friend for life!

It's time to step into your next level of magnificence.

When you look at your body, do you focus on the flaws, on parts that don't live up to your standards? Do you push your body at inopportune moments when you feel unwell or tired? Do you feel trapped, betrayed, or held back by your body?

What if you lived deeply trusting and in soul alignment with your body, made it your best friend and guide? What if you could move through life feeling vibrant, healthy and thankful for the answers your body gives for everything you experience?

In Your Body Is the Portal to Your Soul, Iris Angellys provides the simple steps to allow you to develop a loving, respectful and reverent relationship with your body. You will understand the different sensations your body uses to communicate with you, and how to live in alignment with your body's guidance in order for you to live your life to its fullest potential.

This book is filled with lived experiences, wisdom, practices, interviews, inspirational quotes and poetry to gently guide you home to your self.

Full and conscious embodiment, being truly present in our lives by being fully present in our bodies, leads to en-lighten-ment.
Start where you are, take one step at a time.

https://a.co/d/0hOk8nb
https://www.irisangellys.com/

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