SAM Magazine

E98 - Sarah M. Stephen started writing at an early age, first scribbling pages of notes while pretending to be a journalist before she could print. After mastering the alphabet, she moved into poetry and short stories. Following a few successes in grade school (a regional poetry prize) and university (a short story published in an anthology), she traded creative tales for corporate ones. A few years ago, she rediscovered her love of words and resumed creative writing. She is a graduate of The Writer's Studio creative writing program at Simon Fraser University and a co-host of the Clued in Mystery podcast. Sarah tries to balance working, parenting, and writing, while leaving a bit of time for baking and running.

https://sarahmstephen.ca/

E97 - Teoni Spathelfer is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation from coastal BC. Since childhood she has loved immersing herself in her own culture and learning about other cultures around the world. Teoni has worked as a publicist; a radio journalist, host, and producer; and an arts and music writer. Her documentary Teoni’s Dream, informed by her mother’s residential school experience, has aired nationwide on CBC Radio. Her photography has been featured across various media and sold privately. She has been blessed with three daughters and four grandchildren.

Today, Teoni and I discuss the third book in her Little Wolf series, Abalone Woman. "Stories are medicine," Teoni writes. So true. It has been a great experience watching Teoni's journey. Our first interview was about the first book in the series, Little Wolf, followed up by White Raven, and then capping off with Abalone Woman. Thank you Teoni for sharing your stories and experiences on the podcast. All these books can be purchased from Strong Nations (link below), Indigo, Amazon, Munro bookstore (Victoria) 

https://www.strongnations.com/gs/show.php?gs=3&gsd=8400

E96 - Mickey Mikkelson is the founder of Creative Edge Publicity.

In 2006, he began his work in the literary and bookseller industry as the Special Events Manager for Chapters/Indigo, Canada’s largest bookstore chain, in St. Albert, Alberta. Ten years later, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist.

Since founding Creative Edge, Mickey has signed some of the top talents in the literary industry, including multiple award-winning authors, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, and successful indie authors, many of whom have become international bestselling authors while working within the Creative Edge brand.

Mickey and I have an informative conversation about publicity versus selling books. We talk about the gritty .... money. Mickey's humor makes for a fun podcast, including his story about the National Enquirer, and the red flags authors should be aware of when it comes to finding a publicist. Mickey also shares the touching story of how his daughter came up with the idea for Creative Edge Publicity logo. With over a hundred clients, Mickey explains how a simple, "I can get you a book signing," turned into what has become a boutique publicity firm, Creative Edge Publicity. Thank you so much Mickey.

https://www.creative-edge.services/ 

E95 - Author Diane Bator has been writing since she was able to tell a story and pick up a pencil. She works full-time at a live-stage theatre. After winning a mystery contest, she published several mystery novels, and she is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and a local writing group. We talked about writing and her numerous series, and creating relatable heroines. Also, what do authors do on TikTok? We think we've figured it out.

https://dianebator.ca/

E94 - H.S. Burney and I discuss her debut novel, The Lake Templeton Murders, a Fati Rizvi Private Investigator Murder Mystery. It is a fast-moving, action-packed mystery. Her sleuth, Fati Rizvi, is strong and independent and will let nothing get in her way when it comes to an investigation. We also talk about the local settings. The novel is situated on the West coast of Canada. And horror movies, we talk about horror movies! Thank you, H.S. for a fun conversation.

https://hsburney.com/

E93 - Gordon Mott, the author of Lithuanian Lullaby, The Angels of Klaipeda, and now Tears of Jurate is back and we talk about his latest novel. Gordon is quoted in the Baltic Times, “I have a special place in my heart for the Baltics.” Gordon is a former American-Lithuanian English teacher and he met his wife, Asta, in Lithuania in the early 1990s. Gordon’s first book, Lithuanian Lullaby, was published in early 2021, and immediately took off. The novel has been on the Amazon bestseller list in both the USA and Canada in the Lithuania category – it even achieved the coveted number 1 position in both countries. It has also sold well in Europe and has been purchased by readers as far away as India. Tears of Jurate carries on with Vana and Darius's story as well as the courageous story of Jurate, a market trader. As Gordon writes in his novel, "Welcome to 1997!"

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065013460047

E92 - Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author P.D. Workman joins me on the podcast. P.D. was born in Fort McMurray, Alberta and later moved to Calgary. She wrote her first novel-length fiction at the age of 12. She continued writing novels for her own enjoyment but did not publish her debut novel until 2013. She has now published over 80 novels. Her earlier books focused on young adult literature. Her focus now is mystery and suspense. She is best known for her cozy mystery series, Auntie Clem’s Bakery; Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator; and her P.I. series, Zachary Goldman Mysteries. We talk about Cut Out Cookie, book 17 in her Auntie Clem’s Bakery Mystery and On the Slab Pie, book 18, which is scheduled for release July 15, 2022. We also talk about Amazon, the benefits of having your own platform, and cake! Thank you P.D.

https://pdworkman.com/

E91 - Amy Tector talked to me about her debut novel, The Honeybee Emeralds which is a fantastic summer read. Amy holds a PhD in English literature from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles. She works at Canada’s national archives, Library and Archives Canada. She spent many years as an expat, living in Brussels and in The Hague, where she worked for the International Criminal Tribunal for War Crimes in Yugoslavia.

In The Honeybee Emeralds Amy beautifully weaves fiction and fact, as beautifully as the diamonds and emeralds in the honeybee emerald necklace. This suspenseful mystery is situated in Paris. From French royalty, Josephine Baker to the Mata Hari, this novel has intrigue, suspense, humor and the reader is rooting for the wonderful cast of characters. She even has The Honeybee Emeralds Parisian playlist on her Linktree account. Thank you Amy.

https://www.amytector.com/

All the way from Wanganui, New Zealand, I had the pleasure of interviewing fantasy author and landscape artist Steven Raaymakers.  Steven has a love for fantasy art and stories. He has painted concept art for the last 8 years including many commissions. He considers himself a visual storyteller. Steven wrote and created art during his teens, and we discuss the meshing of art and writing when it comes to crafting a series. We also discussed internal and external conflict, hand-in-hand in his novel, A Canticle of Two Souls, book 1, and his impactful words "war children." Steven's latest novel, A Canticle of War, book 3 was just published April 4, 2022. Thank you, Steven for joining me on the podcast.

https://www.stevenraaymakers.com/

E89 - TARA MOSS is an internationally bestselling author, human rights activist, documentary and podcast host, and model. Her crime novels have been published in nineteen countries and thirteen languages, and her memoir, The Fictional Woman, was a #1 international bestseller. Her most recent novel is The War Widow, the first in the Billie Walker mystery series. A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she has received the Edna Ryan Award for significant contributions to feminist debate and for speaking out on behalf of women and children. In 2017, Tara Moss was recognized as one of the Global Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life. In 2021, she hosted the Audible Original true-crime podcast The Man in the Balaclava. Tara Moss lives in Vancouver with her family.

Tara and I have a great discussion about her fast-paced, thrilling new novel, The Ghosts of Paris. The dialogue is intense, and the reader feels like they are watching a tennis match. Funny scenes, that noir setting, and an intriguing and secretive plot makes for a dynamite novel. Thank you Tara.

https://taramoss.com/