By Phil Giangrande
The podcast currently has 100 episodes available.
“The Tramp” an original comedy pilot starring John O’Hurley (Seinfeld, Family Feud) and the comedian/Sirius XM host Godfrey, will make its West Coast Debut in the Pilots category at this year’s Dances with Films Festival at the TCL Chinese Theater, June 13-23, 2019.
The dynamic duo of Brian VanHooker and Steve Quistgaard are the driving force of the comedic Turtle with Lemonade Productions which created “The Tramp.”. Working together since the age of 15, when they made their first pilot, the two have produced a variety of creative ventures, including the online shorts “Little Known Moments in American History” and the animated pilot/comic book “Barnum & Elwood” in the almost 20 years that have since ensued. However, they consider “The Tramp” to be their most ambitious project to date.
The premise of “The Tramp” centers on out-of-work, narcissistic, game show host Chip Turner who has finally found a way to get his big comeback - provided he agrees to star in a new reality show where he will live as a homeless person on the streets of New York City.
The series is done in a mockumentary-style format that will follow Chip as he tries to adapt to street-living and contend with many obstacles; one of those is his executive producer Martin Miles who knows that to make “The Tramp” succeed, he'll have to ensure Chip gets down in the gutter to represent the real struggles that homeless people face, even if he has to manufacture those hardships for the camera.
“Overall, “The Tramp” is a series about survival.,” says VanHooker. “While Chip entered into this new reality show out of a desperate desire to rekindle his career, he has no idea just how complicated and dangerous street living can be.”
Adds Quistgaard, “As the series progresses, Chip’s naivete will give way to increasing bitterness over his state of affairs. When his reality show becomes more popular, Chip achieves exactly what he wants: relevance. But at a higher price than he bargained for.”
Seasoned performers O’Hurley and Godfrey have a field day with this fish-out-of-water comedic saga.
“The Tramp” will compete in the pilots category at this year’s Dances with Films Festival at the TCL Chinese Theater on Saturday, June 22ndat 2:15PM.
The World Without You is a story about the Frankel family who come together in 2005, a year after the death of the youngest son Leo, a journalist, at the hands of Al Qaeda to memorialize him at their summer cabin in the Berkshires. In so doing, they discover that the man they are burying is not quite the golden brother and son they thought, nor are they, as a family, the singular force for all that is helpless and downtrodden in the world that they were raised to be. Stuck in this country house together for the first time in years, each of Leo’s survivors must admit untruths they’ve been holding onto about not only him, but themselves, and finally obliterate the old family mechanism, to have any chance at surviving as “The Frankels,” in the future.
In this episode, Phil talks with Actor and Executive Producer Suzanne Johnson about her passion project "The World Without You." Suzanne plays Marilyn in this wonderful film and shares the tips and challenges of shepherding a project from funding to film festivals and distribution. You'll enjoy this conversation with Suzanne Johnson. As always, keep writing.
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I spoke with author of "Next Therapist Please" Laurie Finkelstein at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Laurie Beth Finkelstein is the author of the award-winning Next Therapist Please. Based on her real-life experience hopping from one therapist to the next, it is a humorous take on heavy topics like depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mental health blessings.
Finkelstein is also the author of the forthcoming AHOOT!which is a guide to medical marijuana for older adults. She is an expert in this area and knows how to break the stigmas associated with pot with a hit of humor.As an advocate and speaker, her responsible cannabis use based on personal experience and research. In her words, "I have experimented for five yearsso you don’t have to!”
Finkelstein donates part of her sales of Next Therapist Pleaseto NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Illness. As amental health advocate, she is a NAMI member, two-time course graduate of the 12-week Family to Family class through NAMI, and an ongoing attendee at NAMI support groups and lectures. Finkelstein is a graduate of Pepperdine BA in Liberal Studies, School of Professional Studies.
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I spoke with author of "Matt Miller in the Colonies - Virginian" Mark J Rose at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Mark J. Rose is a scientist, author and screenwriter. He lives in an equestrian community in Simi Valley, California, with his wife, three kids and two dogs.He holds a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry and is director of research and development at a major biotech company. He has been fascinated for many years with exploring the intersection of man’s basic humanity with the challenges of a rapidly changing technological world. Working primarily in the science fiction and thriller genres, all his writing deals with some aspect of the interaction of technology, science and society.
Virginian: Twenty-first-century scientist Matt Miller has achieved success beyond his wildest dreams in the American colonies. He’s become a wealthy businessman and politician, with a beautiful wife and family, but the American Revolution looms on the horizon. When a prominent British leader mysteriously disappears, Ben Franklin summons Matt to London to help investigate the involvement of Patrick Ferguson, a man whose ambitions are to change the future. Unknown to them all, another time traveler, with separate motivations, will join them in a struggle across two continents to change the destiny of Western Civilization.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "Dreamshores" Mike Robinson at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Although author of "Dreamshores" Mike Robinson has worked as an independent video-game producer and cinematographer, writing has always been the focal point of his creative life, although to him the phrase "creative life" sounds a tad redundant. He is the author of nine books: eight novels and one collection of short stories, all touching on the realms of the psychological, the metaphysical, the strange. A native of Los Angeles, he is also a screenwriter and producer, and editor of the magazine "Literary Landscapes" for the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, or GLAWS. "One of the best speculative fiction authors writing now." -- Leslie Ann Moore, bestselling author of the "Griffin's Daughter" series
Dreamshores: Restless and fire-hearted, ten-year-old Sierra Nevada Smith was always chasing monsters, whether through the pages of her favorite books or in the woods behind the secluded California town where she grew up. Fantastic new worlds opened for her, however, when, after a near-tragedy, she discovered the films of legendary stop-motion animator Russell Boylan.
Ten years later, she finds herself working aboard a yacht, adrift at sea and in life, her peers nicknaming her the 'Monster Girl' a sad consolation for her own stunted career as a stop-motion animator in this era of computer-generated effects. When their boat is mysteriously pulled through a corridor of fog, the crew finds themselves deposited on the shores of an extraordinary island, a place where the stomping, roaring, clambering dinosaurs and creatures of Russell Boylan's classic films have been relegated to live beyond script or screen, and to evolve.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "A Promise In Autumn, A Love Story" Barbara Morriss at the LA Times Festival of Books.
About a decade into Barbara Morriss' retirement from teaching, she and her husband happened onto an ancestral family story of great romance, punishing sadness and rich history. They worked with a genealogist and were able to develop a timeline of truths from old documents and newspaper publications. Since not all the facts could be determined, it became necessary for Barbara to fill in the gaps. Her first book Finding Grace started with a timeline of facts and magically a narrative began to unfold. Barbara has now written three books, Finding Grace, A Promise in Autumn, and Glory Be at the Glidewell Ranch. All stories were inspired by uncovering my husband’s family story from a century ago and became the Spring Water Trilogy.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "Voices" Robert Yehling at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Robert Yehling is a multi-genre, multi-subject, hybrid author who publishes both traditionally and through publishing partnerships. He is the Independent Publishers Book Award-winning author of nine books (soon to be 10) and ghostwriter of six others. His list includes: five poetry/essay collections - the latest is "Backroad Melodies", published in June 2013; two award-winning books on writing - "Writes of Life: Using Personal Experiences in Everything You Write" and "The Write Time: 366 Exercises to Fulfill Your Writing Life"; "The Champion's Way," a look at the 11 common characteristics of great champions and how we can develop them in our own lives; and "Voices," a novel that will be published in Winter 2014.
Voices: Legendary rock and roll singer/songwriter Tom Timoreaux, who like many began during San Francisco’s epochal Summer of Love, emerges from a long retirement with his band, The Fever. When his backup singer cannot tour, he brings on his estranged daughter, Christine. As they sing together and heal their relationship, The Fever tours to national acclaim—and Christine becomes a star. Meanwhile, in Italy, Tom’s long-lost “love child,” Annalisa, views a Fever concert streamcast and must decide whether to reach out to a man she thought dead. Voicesis a father-daughter-daughter relationship journey set against a half-century of rock and roll, where love and healing are always possible and music speaks louder than words.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "The Divorce Recovery Ladder" Susan Shofer at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Susan Shofer is your trusted ally for navigating divorce. Her first-hand experience has given her knowledge in the areas of divorce process, custody battles, parental alienation and working with attorneys. Her professional experience as a Licensed Private Investigator makes her uniquely qualified to instruct people how to gather evidence and courtroom etiquette. Susan's early career in finance lends to her ability to teach people how to maintain strong financial health throughout what can be a financially draining experience.
Susan is the author of several books, including a unique and comprehensive workbook called "The Divorce Recovery Ladder" that offers a pragmatic approach to the many facets of divorce. She is the author of several educational webinars on divorce related subjects.
She is nearing the publication of a workbook to help those dealing with Parental Alienation more effectively navigate their battle. In the fall of 2019, Susan has a book coming out that captures Susan’s journey with and triumph over severe Parental Alienation.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "The Engine Woman's Light" Laurel Anne Hill at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Laurel Anne Hill grew up in San Francisco, California, with more dreams of adventure than good sense or money. Her close brushes with death, love of family, respect for honor and belief in a higher power continue to influence her writing and her life. She has authored two award-winning novels: The Engine Woman’s Light(Sand Hill Review Press), a gripping spirits-meet-steampunk tale, and Heroes Arise(KOMENAR Publishing). Laurel’s published short stories and nonfiction pieces total over forty. She’s the Literary Stage Manager for the annual San Mateo County Fair, a speaker, writing contest judge, and editor. For more about her, go to http://www.laurelannehill.com.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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I spoke with author of "Straight Outta Tombstone, Coyote" Naomi Brett Rourke at the LA Times Festival of Books.
Naomi Brett Rourke is the pen name for the author, teacher, and theatre director living near the beach in Southern California's South Bay. She has a wonderful husband, three wonderful children, three wonderful step-children, seven wonderful grandchildren, a wonderful cat, dog, and tortoise. Verily, life is pretty good.
When not writing, she can be found with a book in her hand, very often reading two or three at a time, with murder mysteries, crime, and horror being her favorites. Naomi loves all kinds of books, and her favorite authors are:Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Stewart, Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier, William Shakespeare, Harper Lee, and, just recently, Delia Owen and her lovely novel Where the Crawdad Sings.
As an author, Naomi has stories published in magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, London's Morpheus Tales, The Mature Years, the Young Adult journal Refractions, and the online magazines www.TriggerWarningShortStories.com, CulturedVultures.com, and Frontiertales.com. She has stories in multiple anthologies including Straight OuttaTombstone, a best-selling Weird West anthology, the Native American anthology Life on the Rez: Science Fiction and Fantasy Inspired by Life on America's Indian Reservations, Brewed Awakenings 2, and Enter the Apocalypse. She is currently finished with one novel, working on two more, writing more short stories, and has a finished screenplay. You can sometime see her on TV, movies, and alsosee her in short films as the mother in FAMILY PHOTO (happy holidays!) and in the Halloween promo of helpyourselftv.com, which she also co-wrote. Her short screenplay for CryptTV, Evil Twin was suggested by her grandson, but he can't watch it until he's older.
For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com
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Help us spread the word. Please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seated-at-writers-table-podcast/id980801767?mt=2 Tell us what insights you took from this episode
The podcast currently has 100 episodes available.