SAM Magazine

Penni Jones’s website is titled, Scapegoats and Sacred Cows, and under that title is written This is my existential crises, get your own. She has a sharp, refreshing voice. Penni is also an editor, screenwriter & t-shirt wearer. Her novels are Suicide Souls, Kricket and On the Bricks. Penni and I talked about writing, imaginations and how in her dedication she writes about the grief following suicide. As we talked about Suicide Souls, we agreed that her novel has many layers, it's part thriller, part mystery and has humour. As much as this is a work of fiction, Penni respectfully writes about the topic of suicide. We have a good conversation including her inspiration behind some of her scenes. Would you believe the Detroit airport? And ghosts. Scapegoats and Sacred Cows – This is my existential crisis. Get your own. Penni Jones author (@pennijonesauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

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Kemeasha Brown is a children's author, who, after flight delays, touched down in New York City and joined me on the podcast. Kemeasha's children's book, "It's Ok to Not Be Ok," is a doorway for parents and children to discuss mental health. Her book is enjoyed by all ages and is receiving accolades from all over. Kemeasha's "attitude of gratitude" comes through in our discussion. Kemeasha explains the inspiration for her book, including the book cover and illustrations. Our discussion levered into issues affecting us all. Kemeasha knew the timing of her book was just right when she saw Japanese professional tennis player, Naomi Osaka, on the cover of time with the caption "It's Ok to Not Be Ok." After listening to this podcast, you'll come away feeling inspired. "What act of kindness have you done today?"
Kemeasha Brown (@meashawritebooks) • Instagram photos and videos
Meashawritebooks
Thank you to Vitriol for the new music.

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Sue Stoney has authored textbooks. She has sewn for as long as she can remember. She creates her own dyes and dyes her own wool, silk and other fabrics, as well as producing her own patterns. Zero waste. When she’s not scouring linen with soda ash to prepare it for dying with onion skins, Sue is blogging or zigzagging around Australia discovering all sorts of public art.
Sue joins me on the podcast and we talk about zero waste as well as kick around the idea of Sue writing a fictional novel.
fadanista – For indulging my fads
Sue Stoney (@suestoney) • Instagram photos and videos
2021 British Columbia Fires - Canadian Red Cross

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Ashley Good is an author, podcaster and indie filmmaker. She joins me on the podcast and we discuss everything from her YA novel, Mary & the Alien, filmmaking, and being the creative behind the Foggy Isle Film Festival. We discover we are both fans of The Umbrella Academy, and we agree that creative expression is not about following the rules but creating and putting your creation out there, be it novel or film. 

Ashley Good

Mary & the Alien — Ashley Good

Foggy Isle Film Festival – Foggy Isle Film Festival (foggyislefilms.com)

Ready, Set with Ashley Good — Ashley Good

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Six amazing authors join me in the dressing room and we talk about their short stories in the Moonlight and Misadventure anthology, which is the third short story anthology from Judy Penz Sheluk’s Superior Shores Press. Award-winning short story authors from the US and Canada are featured in this anthology, as well as talented new authors, who are breaking into Canada's mystery writing scene with their unique voices. These individual stories flow so nicely together. They are notes in a phrase of music. And to tap into your moonlight theme, when I read the stories of these authors, I thought of Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune. This anthology was a pleasure to read.

Susan Daly - Joie de Livre

Judy Penz Sheluk | One Writer's Journey

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Edgy, different and a nameless protagonist. 
Candas Jane Dorsey's writing style defies convention. As I said to Candas during our interview, she's in the driver's seat of a Bugatti and she's just told me to "buckle up." 
Candas is a prolific internationally known award-winning author. In 2005 she was awarded the Province of Alberta Centennial Gold Medal for her artistic achievement and community work, and in 2017 the WGA Golden Pen Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Literary Arts. In 2019 she was inducted into the City of Edmonton's Arts and Cultural Hall of Fame. 
Candas and I share favorite story lines and discuss her nameless protagonist in her book The Adventures of Isabel, the first in her Epitome Apartments Mystery series.  Candas can be found on the socials at Candas Jane Dorsey at art - Home | Facebook and Candas Jane Dorsey (@CJDwriter) / Twitter
Photo taken by PJ Groeneveldt

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"What are you that Random House is not?" "Be nimble. Be quick." Today, I have award-winning author and consultant, Bill Morrison on the podcast. Bill is the author of Lions in the Grass, a #1 Amazon Bestseller as well as the 2020 Canadian Book Club Award winner in the 2020 Business/Self-Help category. He has appeared on the CTV Morning Show talking about “the tricks of professional persuaders” and is a consultant in the field of emotional positioning and consumer behaviour. He has spent the last 25 years uncovering the elements of influence and persuasion that impact human motivation. After two decades of unprecedented success in condominium tower marketing, he now consults with corporations, brands and individuals on how to emotionally connect their audience with their offerings.

In the beginning of the podcast you will hear about Bill's 2 book giveaway. The first two listeners to email me the correct answer to the question: What is the title of the "great great book" written by Sun Tzu that Bill refers to in the podcast? will win a free copy of Bill's book Lions in the Grass.

Bill Morrison Author of Lions in the Grass (morrisonwrites.com)

Bill Morrison (@billmorrisonwrites) • Instagram photos and videos

Bill Morrison - President - Newterra Marketing Consulting | LinkedIn

Morrison Writes - Home | Facebook

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Today I'm excited to share my discussion with creative Teoni Spathelfer. Because the recording is a little difficult to hear in some sections, we had horrible weather during the recording, I wanted to note the names mentioned. Teoni shared the sound effects of the waves for her documentary, Teoni's Dream, with Elder Gilbert Joe. Teoni mentions Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, who is part of Reconciliation Canada. Heritage House is the publisher of Little Wolf, which we discuss on today's podcast. 

Teoni's Dream can be listened to at the 4:40 mark here February 26, 2010 - Part 1 | CBC.ca.  Teoni felt her ancestors were bringing her a message through her dreams. Little Wolf is the first in a trilogy, and it tackles topics such as racism, isolation and overcoming challenges. The second book in this trilogy is White Raven. Teoni blends three generations of women to create her character, Little Wolf. A beautiful children's book which is appropriate for children and adults. Tune in and learn about Fire Woman who came to Teoni in her dreams.

Teoni Spathelfer | Facebook

Teoni Spathelfer (@teonispathelfer) • Instagram photos and videos

65 Canadian picture books to check out in spring 2021 | CBC Books

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Lauren was a registered nurse and mom at an early age. She didn't anticipate after her first child, she would suffer from post-partum depression. With the love of her family and help from her physician, she slowly started to feel better and emerged from those dark days and found her calling as a Scroll Saw Artist. She now chases her dreams one project at a time in her garage. Lauren's business Wild Wood Creative is thriving. I was able to get this Scroll Saw Artist to stop by for a quick discussion about her journey and art. 
Www.wildwood-creative.com
Wild Wood Creative - Home | Facebook
Wild Wood Creative (@wild.wood.creative) • Instagram photos and videos

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Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK. She grew up in Switzerland and now lives in Canada with her husband and three sons. Before moving to Canada, she had completed commercial studies in Geneva and worked as a PA for DuPont. Later she moved to Neuchatel and became the Purchasing Manager for a high-tech company. Hannah is the author of numerous essays and pieces. Her fifth novel, You Will Remember Me is in stores now, and it's receiving great reviews. On Friday, May 28, it was on the Globe and Mail’s list of “riveting thriller novels to start summer off with a bang.” They also tweeted that, “McKinnon is a writer to remember.”
Hanna and I discuss using “sweet” similes to describe a voice, how Hanna went from writing a rom-com to suspense, writing in multiple first-person points-of-view, and breaking rules to produce the best novel possible.
Home - hannahmarymckinnon.com
Hannah Mary McKinnon Author 📚 (@hannahmarymckinnon) • Instagram photos and videos
Hannah Mary McKinnon - Home | Facebook

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