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

EPISODE 716 - Richard DeVeau - In Plain Sight - In Washington, nothing is what it seems

In this engaging return visit to the show, author Richard DeVeau discusses his new thriller In Plain Sight, the second installment in his Eve Tanzi series following the debut Lights Out. Living in Batavia, Illinois—a suburb along the Fox River west of Chicago—he shares how his brother's lighthouse refurbishment on Cape Cod sparked the idea for Lights Out. Intrigued by lighthouses as historic guides with foghorns offering comfort to sailors, DeVeau flipped the concept: what if someone weaponized them for evil? His antagonist launches missiles from real lighthouses in Boston and Maryland, subverting their heritage in a tale of domestic terrorism known as the Greater Boston Massacre.

DeVeau explains how In Plain Sight stands alone while advancing the series. Picking up after the first book's tragedy, protagonist Eve Tanzi—a tough Special Forces operative, CIA agent, and artist—works directly with the president from a D.C. apartment to unmask remaining cabal members: a senator, judge, and presidential insider. She recruits a trusted Afghanistan comrade—described as Einstein in Arnold Schwarzenegger's body—for brains, brawn, and budding romance, amid fresh conspiracies threatening national control. Each book builds momentum for readers jumping in mid-series, with key backstory woven in naturally.

Drawing from his New England roots, World War II comic fascination, and French Canadian heritage (echoed in Eve's Quebec ancestor), DeVeau revels in research via books like Modern War in Ancient Land and firsthand accounts. He compares writing to his 35-year fine art painting career: both involve dialoguing with the work, solving problems, and immersion. Sensory details, especially smell's memory power (burning tires in Kabul, his grandmother's tourtière pie), enrich scenes. Dialogue flows naturally from eavesdropping at gallery openings and ad copywriting experience, avoiding stiff "writing-speak"—a tip reinforced by reading screenplays like early drafts of Roxanne.

DeVeau aims for a book-a-year rhythm, planning the third by summer. He credits early readers like his Harvard-educated pastor friend for developmental edits sharpening Eve's reactions, and highlights her warrior-artist balance as an ancient archetype adding depth. His early ebook involvement—crafting ads for Stephen King's 2000 novella Riding the Bullet, which crashed servers with 500,000 downloads—foreshadowed the digital revolution.

Books are available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Ingram distributors; local signings continue at his nearby store. Visit richarddeveau.com for updates.

Key takeaway: Lighthouses symbolize guidance, but DeVeau shows how flipping familiar icons fuels thrilling stories—write what you love, research deeply, and let process mirror your passions for authentic, immersive tales.

https://richarddeveau.com/

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EPISODE 715 - Babs Walters - Facing The Jaguar - Telling is Healing

In this moving episode, author Babs Walters discusses her memoir Facing the Jaguar, a deeply personal story of trauma, healing, and transformation. Speaking from her home in sunny Florida, she reflects on the lifelong promise she made to write her story and how the process of sharing it became both a journey of self-discovery and a tool for helping others confront their own pain.

Babs traces the origins of her memoir back to childhood, when she first dreamed of telling the truth about her family’s secrets. But it wasn’t until decades later—and after significant healing—that she could write from a place of grace instead of anger. Early writing attempts were too raw, she recalls, even her NYU professor once told her that “even War and Peace has peace in it.” Therapy and time allowed her to transform her painful experience into a message of hope, forgiveness, and empowerment.

She also explains how she learned the craft of memoir writing—understanding that an autobiography tells a life story, while a memoir shares one story within a life. Through multiple writing courses, Babs mastered structure, pacing, and the importance of universal themes. Her editor encouraged her to shape her narrative around recurring imagery from her childhood, including a haunting dream about a jaguar that became both a metaphor for fear and a symbol of strength. This dream later inspired the book’s powerful title, Facing the Jaguar, signifying her confrontation with her father, the man who caused her deepest trauma.

Beyond recounting abuse, Babs sought to make her book a story of survival and purpose. She hopes to inspire readers to break cycles of generational trauma, release shame, and find their voices. Facing the Jaguar speaks directly to survivors, especially women, people in recovery, and anyone ready to face painful truths. She cautions, however, that healing is a gradual process—“a journey, not a destination.” Her short, vignette-style chapters let readers pause and regroup as they process emotional material.

Babs now uses her platform and website to continue helping others. She offers resources, writing workshops, and a checklist titled “How to Tell When You’re Ready to Tell.” She reminds listeners that not every story must be shared publicly—sometimes healing begins privately, even if it’s just writing something down and letting it go. Her site also invites visitors to leave anonymous postcards sharing secrets as a symbolic step toward release and honesty.

Perhaps the most poignant part of the conversation is Babs’s reflection on love and recognition. Her daughter and husband have become her strongest champions, countering a lifetime of shame and silence. Their support proves that healing can restore not only inner peace but also connection. “The hardest part of keeping a secret,” she says, “is not having a witness.” Through her book and speaking engagements, she now serves as that witness for others, showing them they are not alone.

Key takeaway: Facing the Jaguar reminds listeners that courage and compassion can coexist with pain. Healing begins when we stop hiding, find our voice, and face the “jaguars” in our own lives—because sharing our truth, in whatever form we choose, can save both ourselves and others.

https://babswalters.com/

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EPISODE 714 - David Lomax - Trail of Thoughts - true story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery in the remote wilds of Alaska

In this heartfelt conversation, author David Lomax joins Dave to share the extraordinary story behind his deeply personal and historical memoir, Trails of Thoughts. Speaking from his serene home in Oregon, David reflects on his 25-year journey to complete a book rooted in his own lived experience and the remarkable legacy of his stepfather — a pioneering native Alaskan contractor, pilot, and visionary.

David opens up about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia and the courage it took to tell his story authentically. He describes how the book began as handwritten notes, written at a time of uncertainty, and how a patient editor helped him shape the narrative from raw pages into a structured, meaningful chronicle spanning from childhood to the present. Through humility and persistence, David discovered how storytelling could help him reclaim both memory and identity.

At its heart, Trails of Thoughts is a record of survival — not just in Alaska’s unforgiving wilderness but in the complex terrain of personal loss, family dynamics, and self-doubt. David shares how writing became a process of emotional endurance, one that forced him to balance truth with grace. He touches on the challenges of portraying loved ones honestly, especially when grief and memory intertwine. His reflections on losing his son, Robert, reveal a vulnerability that resonates deeply with anyone who’s had to process pain through creative expression.

Beyond its emotional depth, the book captures a vivid portrait of life in the Arctic: the building of new villages, the ingenuity required to survive in extreme conditions, and a profound respect for the Indigenous communities whose traditions shaped David’s understanding of resilience and respect for nature.

David also speaks with pride about the audiobook adaptation, a richly detailed production complete with authentic aircraft sounds from Alaska’s past. Hearing his own words brought to life moved him deeply — a reminder that his years of persistence have preserved a story worth remembering.

Key Takeaway:
David Lomax’s journey shows that storytelling is an act of endurance, humility, and healing. Even when the path is long and imperfect, sharing our truth — in our own words — can become both legacy and liberation.

https://trailofthoughts.com/

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EPISODE 713 - Scott Pearson - Simon & Schuster’s Star Trek Novel Editor and Author Taking Us To New Places and Beyond

This episode features author and editor Scott Pearson sharing his woodland life in Carlton, Minnesota, and his multifaceted career in science fiction, Star Trek, and publishing. From fan to professional, he reveals how persistence and adaptability built his path through a rapidly changing industry.

Scott describes his detached office amid the trees, a quiet hub for editing and writing. Publishing has evolved dramatically since his early days mailing manuscripts; self-publishing, once taboo, is now viable. His key advice: keep writing, finish stories, and explore contests or networks to break in. A lifelong Star Trek fan since grade school, he started with derivative sci-fi, shifted to literary fiction in college—his first published story about a Minnesota farming couple—then returned to genre via the Strange New Worlds contest win. This led to Star Trek short stories, a novella, and an ebook, plus anthology work blending sci-fi, mystery, horror, and thriller. His latest, the self-published The Sad Rains of Mars, collects a dozen sci-fi tales.

As Star Trek's copy and developmental editor, Scott ensures fiction aligns with canon, verifying quotes by rewatching clips. He balances fandom with professionalism, enjoying stories while catching continuity gaps for "retcons." Fan fiction hones skills but stays non-commercial; licensed work requires agent connections and multi-layer approvals from publishers and Paramount. Conventions like Shore Leave connect writers and editors.

Freelance editing—Star Trek novels, Baen Books, IDW comics, self-publishers—fills his days, often crowding personal writing despite a Monday-Thursday schedule. He spotlights Tales of the Weird World War, co-written novellas with Bill Leisner mashing genres in an alternate history of shapeshifting monsters, from 1940s noir to 1950s saucers.

Key takeaway: Persistence through industry shifts, from fan roots to pro editing and original work, turns passion into a sustainable creative life—finish stories, honor canon, and balance paid gigs with personal projects.

https://scott-pearson.com/

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EPISODE 712 - Valerie Taylor - A Romantic Comedy Series and A Cozy Series - Write From A Different Perspective

This episode features novelist Valerie Taylor discussing her shift from corporate marketing to writing romantic comedies and cozy mysteries, sharing practical advice for aspiring authors on overcoming blocks, building series, and embracing new challenges.

Valerie shares a recent encounter at a senior living center craft fair, where she stood out as the only author among crafters. When a woman confessed she was stuck 30 pages into her book, Valerie suggested rewriting a scene from another character's viewpoint. This technique, she explains, refreshes perspective and sparks new ideas, a method she uses in her multi-viewpoint novels to avoid getting bogged down.

She warns aspiring writers against thinking they will produce just one book. Finishing and publishing the first creates an addictive high from reader feedback, often leading to more. Valerie's "What's Not" series follows mature protagonist Cassie O'Callahan through dysfunctional marriages, new romances, and travels to Venice, Paris, and Greece. A minor character, Venus Bixby, grew so compelling that she spun off into a cozy mystery series set earlier in a fictional New England whaling town, Chatham Crossing.

In the cozies, like "Switched to Death," quirky sleuth Venus runs an oldies music store, cookie bakery, and cat daycare. When the mayor dies at the Christmas tree lighting, her business is implicated, pulling her into the investigation alongside someone she cares about. Valerie notes cozies keep romance "clean," stopping at the bedroom door, making them suitable for teens and adults.

Drawing from her marketing background, she details crafting cohesive covers with symbolic motifs and alliterative signposts like "Cats, Cookies, Chaos." Travel research, from walking Venice scenes to emailing Greek wineries, ensures authentic settings. As an introvert, she has adapted to competitive book fairs but prefers intimate craft events.

Looking ahead, Valerie eyes shorter forms like Substack essays, historical fiction, or screenplays, drawn by praise for her dialogue. Her newsletter "Behind and Ahead" spotlights global authors and personal updates. She stresses life experience as a superpower for writers of any age.

Key takeaway: Writing thrives on fresh perspectives, persistence beyond one book, and new challenges; observe closely, let characters evolve, and treat every project as a chance to grow.

https://valerietaylorauthor.com/

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EPISODE 711 - Reyna Marder Gentin - Jessica Harmon Has Stepped Away, A Mother Daughter Story and a Book Tour

This episode explores how former criminal appellate attorney turned novelist Reyna Marder Gentin reinvented her life and writing, and how law, empathy, and complex family relationships shape her fiction. It offers an honest look at creative risk, persistence, and the emotional truths behind her stories.

From Courtroom to Creative Writing
Reyna begins by describing life in Westchester County, just north of Manhattan, and her long career as a criminal appellate attorney. For more than two decades she represented people convicted of serious crimes, trying to secure reduced sentences or second chances. Over time, though, she hit an emotional wall: she felt increasingly unable to understand the human backstories behind acts that appeared undeniably “evil,” especially because appeals work limits lawyers to the trial record rather than the full complexity of a person’s life. That disconnect pushed her to leave the law and follow an unexpected path into memoir and fiction writing.

Learning to See Stories Differently
Reyna explains that appellate work trained her to see every situation from multiple angles, always asking “what if” and searching for alternate interpretations. That habit now drives her fiction; when she reaches a pivotal scene, she challenges her first instincts and explores how events might unfold differently, always seeking the emotional hook that draws readers in. She talks about the importance of crafting empathy on the page, just as she once tried to do for judges, and how her sense of an “ideal reader” has evolved.

Patience, Persistence, and the Reality of Publishing
Reyna is candid about the gap between writing classes and real-world publishing. Not everyone will finish a book, and even completed manuscripts may never be published.

Her Books, Characters, and Themes
Reyna walks through her body of work and the life experiences that inspired it. Her debut, Unreasonable Doubts, draws on her public defender background and follows a young lawyer losing faith in her work who becomes emotionally entangled with a client. Her middle grade novel centers on an eighth-grade girl with undiagnosed dyslexia, a hardworking single mom, and a perceptive teacher who finally recognizes the girl’s strengths and learning challenges. Another novel, Both Are True, follows a new family court judge balancing the emotional demands of her courtroom with a complicated romantic relationship.

Her newest book shifts away from law entirely and delves into the fraught, intimate territory of a mother-daughter relationship. Protagonist Jessica Harmon, a stalled thirty-year-old would-be writer, feels stuck in an unfulfilling editing job and blames her famous academic mother, Cynthia, for her inability to launch. When Cynthia wins a lifetime achievement award and invites Jessica on a book tour, buried secrets and a long-ago, life-changing episode from Cynthia’s college years come to light. Reyna explores themes of resentment, love, generational influence, and the search for identity, emphasizing that even when the ending isn’t conventionally “happy,” characters can still arrive where they need to be.

https://reynamardergentin.com/

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EPISODE 710 - Corey Croft - Wrestling With Your Writing, A Novella - France V. Brazil

In this episode, author Corey Croft joins the show from Vancouver to explore the realities of writing, the creative life and the difficult choices facing modern authors. Corey speaks candidly about the tension between traditional and independent publishing, explaining that neither path is easy. One demands the perseverance to face repeated rejection while the other requires the stamina to handle every piece of the work alone. For Corey, the deciding factor always comes back to feedback. Writers need readers, and honest critique can illuminate which publishing route makes sense and what a story truly needs.

Corey describes his creative evolution from a younger, more dramatic writer to one now grounded in clarity, craft and emotional honesty. He explains how his latest novella France v Brazil ninety eight reflects this transition. The book is a compact, introspective character study about a man unraveling emotionally and spiritually after years of isolation. It blends existential themes with dark humour in a way that nods to Camus and Sartre, posing questions about control, freedom and the limits of understanding oneself. Corey emphasizes that while the subject matter is heavy, the story is not meant to glamorize mental illness. Instead, it seeks to express genuine human struggle in a way that lets readers see themselves in the character’s vulnerabilities.

The conversation turns toward artistry and presentation, including Corey’s unconventional book covers and his longstanding creative collaboration with his brother. He explains that he values originality over trends, both in visuals and in writing, and that experimentation is essential for growth. Corey also speaks openly about how his characters often begin as reflections of his own emotions. Revisiting old drafts feels like revisiting earlier versions of himself, allowing him to refine characters from anger into something more complex and relatable.

Though the novella is small in scope, Corey intends its impact to be personal and profound. He hopes readers approach his work without preconceived notions and feel something authentic, whether admiration or discomfort. For him, art exists to make people think, feel and question, not to provide easy answers.

Corey shares his website and social links where readers can explore his stories, poetry and upcoming soft launch. He notes that while self-promotion remains a challenge, creating art for its own sake continues to drive him.

Key Takeaway:
Corey Croft’s work reminds us that writing is both introspection and connection. The most powerful stories emerge when we let go of perfection, invite feedback and embrace the honest, messy work of understanding ourselves through the characters we create.

https://coreycroftauthor.com/

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EPISODE 709 - Sandra Schnakenburg - The Housekeeper’s Secret - Uncover the story hidden by a family’s beloved housekeeper, Lee Metoyer

In this episode of Living The Next Chapter, author Sandra Schnakenburg shares the extraordinary origin of her memoir The Housekeeper's Secret, born from a deathbed promise to her beloved housekeeper, Lee Metoyer. A corporate finance veteran with no formal writing training, Sandra recounts how Lea, who raised her from age three on their 44-acre estate starting in 1965, lived with them for 30 years under a fabricated identity. Lee often teased the family about her unbelievable life story she planned to write, but lung cancer cut her plans short in 1994, leading her to implore Sandra to tell it instead.​

Fifteen years later, while clearing her late mother's home, Sandra discovered Lee's ashes hidden in a closet, reigniting her quest. What began as a search for Lee's supposed husband and son—lost in a car accident, per her cover story—unraveled a shocking truth: Lee had reinvented herself to escape a traumatic past tied to a prominent Creole family in Louisiana, marked by resilience amid hardship. Clues like her aversion to baths, frostbitten feet, false teeth, and evasive one-word answers to Sandra's probing questions fueled the mystery, transforming the book into Sandra's own healing journey through 3,000 pages over a decade.​

Sandra dove into writing classes at Rice University, formed critique groups, and battled resistance, inspired by books like Stephen King's On Writing and Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. The memoir blends family love, historical Creole lore, and investigative suspense, readers experience the unveiling alongside her, falling for Lea's electric spirit before grappling with revelations of survival and reinvention. Now a top seller celebrating its first birthday, it's sparking film interest and global resonance on themes of abuse, narcissism, and legacy.​

Key Takeaway: Honor the call to share your story, no matter your background; perseverance uncovers truths that heal and connect across generations, proving words outlive us

https://sandraschnakenburg.com/

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EPISODE 708 - Jeanette Gil - Cuban-American and proud Latina author - A book for kids - Aloe Vera's Special Gift

I’m a Cuban-American and proud Latina author who believes in the power of stories to celebrate culture, family, and the beautiful connections that shape us.

Whether you’re exploring my children’s books, or diving into my insights on education and leadership, my mission is to inspire and empower through the written word.

Grab a cafecito, take a look around, and discover something new. Let’s connect on this exciting journey of storytelling, learning, and growth.

Book: Aloe Vera's Special Gift - Aloe Vera’s Special Gift is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery teaching children that our differences can be our greatest strengths and that everyone has something special to offer the world—even if it’s not immediately visible.

In this insightful conversation, author and doctoral student Jeanette Gil shares the heart, hustle, and healing behind her debut picture book Aloe Vera’s Special Gift. Inspired by her grandchildren, her Miami garden, and cherished family memories, Jeanette’s story celebrates resilience, identity, and the healing power we all have within us.

Jeanette explains that writing the manuscript came naturally, but turning an idea into a published picture book required patience, realistic expectations, and deep collaboration. She learned quickly that in children’s publishing, illustrations carry just as much meaning as words, sometimes even more. Finding the right illustrator with cultural understanding and artistic alignment became essential. Together, Jeanette and her illustrator built not just a book but a creative partnership that continues to spark new ideas, from coloring books to upcoming seasonal spinoffs.

A passionate advocate for literacy, Jeanette describes her first school visit before the book was even officially launched. Reading to seventy-five children from immigrant families, she saw firsthand the emotional impact of her story and realized her deeper purpose. That experience inspired her current mission: filling school library shelves through book drives and empowering young readers to embrace their self-worth.

Jeanette also reflects on the realities of self-publishing as a business. Marketing, visibility, social media, website management – they all stretch her creativity outside the comfort zone. Yet she remains committed to enjoying the journey, not rushing the process, and allowing each story to shine in its own time.

Aloe Vera’s Special Gift shares a message that resonates with both children and adults. Aloe feels plain and overlooked compared to the colorful, sweet-smelling flowers in the garden until she discovers her unique gift to heal others. Her story reminds us that what truly matters is found inside: courage, kindness, the ability to help others, and the confidence to embrace your strengths. It is a celebration of growth, cultural roots, and the resilience that blooms through every season.

https://www.jeanettegil.com/

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EPISODE 707 - Dr. Dawn Filos - Tales of a Pet Vet - Stories from the Clinic and House Calls

Dr. Dawn Filos has been a practicing small animal veterinarian for over 31 years. She has taught pet first aid courses, CPR courses, and has always enjoyed educating her clients to enable them to be the best pet parents that they can be. She has a particular interest in sharing the emotional benefits that sharing our lives with pets provides. She speaks much about that, with guides on how to not just train your pets, feed and entertain them, care for them medically… but she discusses topics such as how to navigate pet insurance, and plans for legal trusts to care for your pets when you may not be here to do so… to name a few subjects. She hopes you will learn, laugh, and love subscribing to her blog.

Follow her, and keep an eye out for news on  her upcoming book release, Tales of a Pet Vet. Stories from the Clinic and House Calls,  to be released in October, 2024. It is the perfect gift for pet lovers. Dr. Filos is also available for public speaking engagements and zoom book clubs.

Book: Tales of a Pet Vet: Stories from the Clinic and House Calls - In stories tailor-made for pet lovers, a seasoned veterinarian shares her good, bad, and messy days on the job—and highlights the undeniable magic of the human-animal bond.

Dr. Dawn Filos has always had a passion for animals—and with a lot of hard work and perseverance, she turned that passion into a career. Here, with emotional honesty, Dr. Dawn shares her colorful, memorable journey from nervous novice to seasoned, self-assured doctor. This modern-day James Herriot ultimately finds her niche as a house-call vet, where she creates a way to practice on her own terms with the privilege of unique, intimate access into the homes and lives of her beloved patients and their human families.

Sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sad, and often hilarious, Tales of a Pet Vet will resonate deeply with pet lovers everywhere.

https://drdawnthepetvet.com/

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