Legendary race caller Tom Durkin joins The Speaking of Writers Podcast to discuss his memoir, A Life's Calling: The Voice Behind the World's Greatest Horse Races. This is episode 2 of our special Keeneland Library Lecture Series.

Durkin reflects on his journey from small Midwestern tracks to becoming the iconic voice of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Preakness, Breeders' Cup, and NYRA racing. Hear stories from behind the scenes, memorable horses, career-defining calls, and the passion that fueled one of the greatest broadcasting careers in sports.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

#TomDurkin #ALifesCalling #HorseRacing #SportsBroadcasting #SpeakingOfWriters #AuthorInterview #KentuckyDerby #BreedersCup #BelmontStakes #PreaknessStakes #NYRA #PaulVolponi #LennyShulman #Audiobook #PodcastInterview #SportsBooks

America 250 series episode 1.Historian Robert P. Watson joins The Speaking of Writers Podcast for our special America 250 Series to discuss Declaration: The Story of American Independence — uncovering the untold stories, debates, and drama behind America’s founding document. #America250 #Declaration #RobertPWatson #SpeakingofWriters #authorpodcast #authorinterview #author

Mike Vaccaro joins The Speaking of Writers Podcast  to discuss The Bosses of the Bronx, an entertaining and insightful look at the Steinbrenner family's fifty-plus years running the New York Yankees. From championships and controversies to family dynamics and baseball history, Vaccaro explores the endless drama behind one of sports' greatest dynasties.

#SpeakingOfWriters #MikeVaccaro #TheBossesOfTheBronx #Yankees #BaseballHistory #MLB #SportsBooks #AuthorInterview #GeorgeSteinbrenner #HalSteinbrenner #BaseballPodcast #BookTalk #SportsWriting #NewYorkYankees

New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor is back with a dynamic political thriller featuring Pike Logan as he goes head-to-head with an old enemy—and renowned assassin.Brad Taylor was born on Okinawa, Japan, but grew up on 40-acres in rural Texas. Graduating from the University of Texas, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. Brad served for more than 21 years, retiring as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During that time he held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He has conducted operations in support of US national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations.His final assignment was as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He holds a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, with a concentration in Irregular Warfare. In 2011, Brad published his debut novel, One Rough Man, which was an immediate success and launched the Pike Logan series. Now with 20 installments and more than 4 million copies sold, the series has consistently hit the New York Times bestseller list. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, SC with his wife.

#BradTaylor #ShadowStrike #PikeLogan #SpeakingOfWriters #ThrillerBooks #PoliticalThriller #EspionageThriller #BookPodcast #MilitaryThriller #AuthorInterview

From National Treasure: Book of Secrets to his debut novel A Thousand Cuts, Gregory Poirier talks storytelling, creating Max Starkey, and bringing cinematic suspense to the page on Speaking of Writers.#MaxStarkey #GregoryPoirier #ThrillerAuthor #SpeakingOfWriters #BookLovers #WritersLife #NewBooks

Did Marilyn Monroe really die in 1962… or did she escape?Bestselling author Lois Cahall joins Speaking of Writers to discuss her powerful new novel Maybe Marilyn, a fictional reimagining of Marilyn Monroe’s life if she survived and disappeared to finally live the life she always wanted.Steve Richards and Lois discuss Marilyn’s legacy, historical research, conspiracy theories, fame, reinvention, and why readers still long for a happier ending for one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars.Maybe Marilyn is available now wherever books are sold.#LoisCahall #MaybeMarilyn #MarilynMonroe #SpeakingOfWriters #AuthorInterview #HistoricalFiction #Hollywood #BookTube #BooksAndAuthors #SteveRichards #MarilynLives #Literature #ClassicHollywood

On Episode 1 of the Keeneland Library Lecture Series, Steve Richards talks with author Paul Halloran about CODY’S WISH — the unforgettable true story of Cody Dorman and the champion racehorse who became his best friend. A moving conversation about resilience, hope, and the bond between humans and horses.
#SpeakingOfWriters #CodysWish #PaulHalloran #HorseRacing #Keeneland #BreedersCup #MakeAWish #Books #AuthorInterview #Podcast

Ron LeFlore was serving 5-15 years for armed robbery when he played his first organized baseball game—in a prison yard. Three years later, he was starting in center field for the Detroit Tigers.His story became a bestselling book and a TV movie starring LeVar Burton. Then it all fell apart.Adam Henig (@adamhenig) joins us to discuss BASEBALL'S OUTCAST, his deeply researched biography that goes beyond the rise-and-fall narrative to explore the segregated Detroit that shaped LeFlore, the criminal justice system he navigated, and the childhood trauma that followed him from the prison cage to the batting cage.#speakingofwriterspodcast #authorpodcast #authorinterview #detroittigers #ronleflore#baseballbook #baseball

From suppressed anger to unleashed power — Sam Beckbessinger dives into the themes behind FEMME FERAL, one of 2026’s most anticipated horror debuts, on Speaking of Writers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Beckbessinger teaches creative writing at Bath Spa University, writes kids' TV and picture books, and once wrote for Marvel. She grew up on a farm near Durban, South Africa, but now lives in London.

#AuthorInterview #SamBeckbessinger #Bookstagram #HorrorCommunity #PodcastInterview #FeministHorror #NewBooks

ELEGY IN BLUE is an unforgettable tale of love, loss, and remembrance set in Brooklyn.Mark Helprin is the internationally acclaimed, bestselling author of Paris in the Present Tense, Winter’s Tale, In Sunlight and in Shadow, A Soldier of the Great War, Freddy and Fredericka, The Pacific, Swan Lake, Ellis Island, Memoir from Antproof Case, and numerous other works. #authorpodcast #markhelprin #bookpodcast #booklovers #speakingofwriterspodcast #podcast