Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality

Rachel Burr joins Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem Laced with Morality for a heartfelt and hope-filled conversation about the power of stories to shape young hearts.

Rachel is the author of Butterfly Goo, a charming children’s book that blends imagination, gentle humor, and meaningful life lessons. In this episode, she shares how storytelling can help children navigate emotions, build resilience, and discover that even life’s messiest moments can lead to something beautiful.

With a passion for nurturing curiosity and confidence, Rachel believes books are more than entertainment—they’re tools for connection, growth, and understanding. Together, we explore how Butterfly Goo opens the door for thoughtful conversations between children and the adults who love them, and why stories grounded in hope matter now more than ever.

✨ A conversation filled with creativity, encouragement, and the reminder that transformation often begins in unexpected places.

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or at www.drkatherinehayes.com

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Like the protagonist in her debut novel, The Moon Goddess’s Smile, Catherine Wu spent her formative years in China before coming to New York City as a graduate student. After a successful career in biomedical research and podiatry, Catherine followed the pull of her heart and stepped fully into her calling as a storyteller.

She honed her craft in fiction at Grub Street in Boston, pouring years of passion and perseverance into a story that blends culture, mystery, and humanity—a true labor of love.

Today, Catherine lives in Jacksonville, Florida, where she shares life with her husband. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her battling sword ferns and pennyworts in her garden, experimenting with bold and unexpected flavors in the kitchen, or researching her dream family vacation to southern Europe.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Following God-given dreams later in life

• Cultural identity and storytelling

• The journey from science to fiction

• The heart and mystery behind The Moon Goddess’s Smile

Affiliations:

Florida Writers Association

National League of American Pen Women

GrubStreet, Boston

🔗 Learn more about Catherine Wu:

https://www.catherinewu.com/

🎧 Listen to the podcast on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

or visit 👉 www.drkatherinehayes.com

Make sure to check out this episode—you won’t want to miss it! 🙌🏾💗

#CatherineWu #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #PodcastInterview #AuthorInterview #TheMoonGoddesssSmile#AuthorsOfInstagram #WritersOfInstagram #Books #Bookstagram #Mystery #DiverseBooksMatter#ReadersOfInstagram #WritersCommunity #AuthorLife #ListenNow #Storytelling #WomenWriters #BehindTheMoonGoddess’sSmile

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Bates, a retired United States Marine Corps officer whose career spanned infantry, counterintelligence, and human intelligence operations. Josh served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as additional operational assignments across the Indo-Pacific.

Josh is a graduate of:

• University of San Diego (BA, Political Science)

• Marine Corps University (MA, Military Studies)

• Hawai‘i Pacific University (MA, Diplomacy and Military Studies)

He currently lives in Kailua, Hawai‘i, and The Baghdad Shuffle—a gripping, morally complex thriller—is his debut novel.

We talk about war, identity, truth, and how lived experience shapes fiction that doesn’t flinch from reality.

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

or visit 👉 www.drkatherinehayes.com

📚 Connect with the Author:

Instagram: @hardboiled_alive

Book: The Baghdad Shuffle

🎙️ Connect with the Podcast / Host:

Website: www.drkatherinehayes.com

Podcast: Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem Laced with Morality

#MurderMysteryMayhem #PodcastInterview #JoshBates #HardboiledAlive

#AuthorsOfInstagram #AuthorLife #WritersCommunity

#MilitaryFiction #PoliticalThriller #MysteryPodcast

#ApplePodcasts #SpotifyPodcast #GooglePodcasts

#Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #WritersSupportingWriters

#VeteranAuthors #DebutNovel #TheBaghdadShuffle

#DiverseBooksMatter

🎙️ She’s Back! Jayna Breigh Returns to the Podcast ✨

I had the absolute joy of reconnecting with Jayna Breigh at Reader Rendezvous 2025, and now she’s back on the podcast to celebrate the release of her most recent novel, An Appearance of Impropriety 📚💫

Jayna is an award-winning author and attorney, best known for her romantic legal dramas—stories that seamlessly blend faith, justice, suspense, and heart. Her novels invite readers into emotionally rich worlds filled with compelling characters, high-stakes ethical dilemmas, and just the right touch of romance.

In this episode, we dive into:

✨ The inspiration behind her latest release

✨ Crafting authentic courtroom drama with faith at the center

✨ Writing characters who wrestle with truth, integrity, and redemption

✨ Balancing romance, intrigue, and meaningful themes

Whether you love stories that make you laugh, think, and reflect, enjoy hearing directly from the author behind the words, or are passionate about Christian fiction with depth and purpose, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Tune in as Jayna shares her journey from courtroom storytelling to the page—and now to the mic. Stay in touch with her https://www.jaynabreigh.com/

📚 Tell us—which Jayna Breigh book is your favorite, or which one are you most excited to read next?

#PodcastGuest #JaynaBreigh #NewBookRelease #RomanticLegalDrama #AuthorInterview #ReaderRendezvous #MustListen #BooksAndPodcasts #ChristianFiction #BookLoversUnite #anappearanceofimpropiety

After a successful career in the U.S. Navy, Wendy Gee now channels her boundless energy into community volunteering, leaving no stone unturned—or unpainted—at the Charleston Fire Department, Friends of the Lewes Public Library Board of Directors, and Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, University of Arizona, Naval War College, and Old Dominion University, Wendy combines her academic prowess and life experiences into her writing.

Residing in Lewes, DE, she is an avid golfer, a diehard Detroit Tigers and Lions fan (even when they’re not winning, but so excited when they are), and a pickleball enthusiast who’s always ready to serve up some fun. Her work has been shortlisted with Killer Nashville and the Writer’s League of Texas. And as a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime, Wendy’s passion for the mystery genre is no secret—though she might leave a few clues lying around just for fun. “Fleet Landing” is her first novel.
Make sure to connect with Wendy Gee🎙️ www.wendygeeauthor.com
You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website www.drkatherinehayes.com💗
#authors #podcast #interview #apple #spotify #google #authorsofinstagram #books #read #reader #writerscommunity #listen #writer #write #mayhem #authorlife #author #bookstagram #blog #book #booklover #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersgonnaread #mystery #diversebooksmatter #WendyGee

After a successful career in the U.S. Navy, Wendy Gee now channels her boundless energy into community volunteering, leaving no stone unturned—or unpainted—at the Charleston Fire Department, Friends of the Lewes Public Library Board of Directors, and Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, University of Arizona, Naval War College, and Old Dominion University, Wendy combines her academic prowess and life experiences into her writing.

Residing in Lewes, DE, she is an avid golfer, a diehard Detroit Tigers and Lions fan (even when they’re not winning, but so excited when they are), and a pickleball enthusiast who’s always ready to serve up some fun.

Her work has been shortlisted with Killer Nashville and the Writer’s League of Texas. And as a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime, Wendy’s passion for the mystery genre is no secret—though she might leave a few clues lying around just for fun. “Fleet Landing” is her first novel. Make sure to connect with Wendy Gee🎙️ www.wendygeeauthor.com.

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website ⁠www.drkatherinehayes.com⁠💗

#authors #podcast #interview #apple #spotify #google #authorsofinstagram #books #read #reader #writerscommunity #listen #writer #write #mayhem #authorlife #author #bookstagram #blog #book #booklover #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersgonnaread #mystery #diversebooksmatter #WendyGee

Michael G. Colburn has spent decades studying and writing about the creative process. An inventor, entrepreneur, and former president of the Food Service Consultants Society International, he’s authored over twenty patents and multiple books, including the bestselling His books include the bestselling Invent, Innovate & Prosper, and How Julia Found Happiness and Financial Success

Now devoted to fiction, Michael joins us to talk creativity, invention, and his novels, Stolen Brilliance & Asylum Murders: A Lady Black Mystery. We also explore how travel, long-distance walking, and curiosity fuel his writing journey.

✨ This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

🙌🏾 Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

💗 Or visit: www.drkatherinehayes.com

⬇️Connect with Michael G. Colburn: https://michaelgcolburn.com/

#MurderMysteryMayhem #PodcastInterview #AuthorSpotlight #MichaelGColburn #MysteryAuthor #WritersCommunity #AuthorsOfInstagram #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #CreativeProcess #AuthorLife #WritersOfInstagram #MysteryBooks #BookLovers #ListenNow #AuthorsSupportingAuthors #MurderMysteryAndMayhemLacedWithMorality #DiverseBooksMatter

Get ready for a gripping conversation with J. Lee (@j.leeauthor), the award-winning author behind The Hubley Case, The Silent Cardinal, The Deadly Deal, and The Reluctant Reckoner.

With dual degrees in Engineering and Sociology from Duke University, J. Lee brings a rare blend of analytical precision and deep insight into human behavior to his thrillers—creating stories packed with suspense, moral tension, and unforgettable twists.

In this episode, we talk about the craft of writing thrillers, the influence of real-world systems and social dynamics on fiction, and how moral questions elevate mystery and suspense. J. Lee also shares insights into his writing journey, his inspiration, and what drives the pulse-pounding stories readers love.

If you enjoy smart thrillers, complex characters, and conversations that go beyond the page, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or visit

👉 www.drkatherinehayes.com

📚 Learn more about J. Lee and his novels at jleethrillers.com

#MurderMysteryMayhem #PodcastEpisode #AuthorInterview #JLLee #ThrillerAuthor #MysteryPodcast #CrimeFiction #SuspenseWriters #AuthorsOfInstagram #WritersCommunity #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #DiverseBooksMatter #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #PodcastLife #BooksAndWriters #MurderMysteryAndMayhemLacedWithMorality

Author Lou Pugliese is retired from two careers: a senior manager at Toyota Motors with national (US) and international experience, and a business professor at a small, liberal arts college in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Lou and his wife, Kathy (and their dog Mitch), are now settled in Green Cove Springs, Florida. His writing influence comes from both careers, extensive travel, and a passion for obscure research.

Outside of his mystery and historical fiction writing, he published his doctoral dissertation on the roots of prejudice and has had poetry published through VoxPoetica. Lou belongs to the Mystery Writers of America and the Florida Writers Association (FWA), and serves as the monthly FWA chapter leader for Clay County, Florida.

Step into the intriguing world of mystery, history, and human complexity with Books by Lou Pugliese.

Lou is a seasoned novelist, researcher, and retired corporate and academic professional. Each story illuminates stories that linger in the shadows — haunted houses, hidden prejudices, unsolved puzzles, and the quiet crossroads where history meets horror, memory meets meaning, and suspense meets soul.

Lou draws on his rich background — from his travels and academic years teaching business, to his doctoral research on the roots of prejudice — to examine mysteries old and new.

Expect deep dives into his beloved works, like Blame it on the Moon, Final Exam, and his short-story collection Rest Stops on a Journey. Lou brings you:

• 🔍 In-depth conversations about writing mystery and historical fiction that matters

• 🧠 Reflections on societal tensions, prejudice, and what history remembers — and what it tries to forget

• 🎙️ Behind-the-scenes insights into research, storytelling, and the author’s creative process

• 👻 Occasional spooky tales, haunted-house legends, and commentary on human nature

Whether you’re a longtime fan of suspense and paranormal mysteries or someone curious about how fiction can reflect truth, Books with Lou Pugliese is your late-night companion for stories that haunt — and heal.

Tune in, dim the lights, and explore the dark corners of history and the human heart.

Stay in touch with Lou on his website: https://loupuglieseauthor.com/

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website www.drkatherinehayes.com💗

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With over 400 jury trials under his belt, Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 30 years, and recognized as a Super Lawyer over 10 consecutive years, Tad Nelson is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. His reputation for aggressive representation, combined with an unparalleled level of expertise, has made him the go-to criminal defense attorney in Galveston County and beyond.

Tad has not only mastered the law—he has mastered the science behind it. Achieving the prestigious Lawyer-Scientist designation from the American Chemical Society, he further solidified his expertise by pursuing a Master’s in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida. This deep understanding of forensic science gives him a cutting edge in cases involving DWI, drug charges, sexual assaults, and other forensic-heavy criminal matters.

Beyond his scientific acumen, Tad has earned the highest possible AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, an honor recognizing both legal skill and ethical integrity. His aggressive nature, wicked courtroom skills, and commitment to justice make him a wrecking ball when it comes to defending the rights of his clients.

With over 400 jury trials under his belt, Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for 30 years, and recognized as a Super Lawyer over 10 consecutive years, Tad Nelson is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. His reputation for aggressive representation, combined with an unparalleled level of expertise, has made him the go-to criminal defense attorney in Galveston County and beyond.

Tad has not only mastered the law—he has mastered the science behind it. Achieving the prestigious Lawyer-Scientist designation from the American Chemical Society, he further solidified his expertise by pursuing a Master’s in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida. This deep understanding of forensic science gives him a cutting edge in cases involving DWI, drug charges, sexual assaults and other forensic-heavy criminal matters.

Beyond his scientific acumen, Tad has earned the highest possible AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, an honor recognizing both legal skill and ethical integrity. His aggressive nature, wicked courtroom skills, and commitment to justice make him a wrecking ball when it comes to defending the rights of his clients.

Make sure to connect with Tad Nelson🎙️https://tadlaw.com/

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website www.drkatherinehayes.com💗

#authors #podcast #interview #apple #spotify #google #authorsofinstagram #books #read #reader #writerscommunity #listen #writer #write #mayhem #authorlife #author #bookstagram #blog #book #booklover #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersgonnaread #mystery #diversebooksmatter

You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or visit my website www.drkatherinehayes.com💗

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#authors #podcast #interview #apple #spotify #google #authorsofinstagram #books #read #reader #writerscommunity #listen #writer #write #mayhem #authorlife #author #bookstagram #blog #book #booklover #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersgonnaread #mystery #diversebooksmatter #TadNelson #AuthorsNeedExperts # MurderMysteryAnd MayhemLacedWithMorality