Teddie Dahlin was born in Norway and graduated from Business School in Gothenburg, Sweden with a degree in International Marketing and Economics. She has worked as a freelance music journalist for several magazines in the UK, most notably Vive le Rock, and she’s written 5 published books.

In 2012, after a bad experience with a UK publisher, Teddie established New Haven Publishing to put out her book, A Vicious Love Story: Remembering the Real Sid Vicious, which is her account of being the 16-year-old translator for the Sex Pistols during a leg of their 1977 Scandinavian Tour. It was New Haven’s first book. 

A Vicious Love Story takes us through Teddie’s unique encounter with Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols, including a fascinating cast of characters surrounding the band, such as Neon Leon, Eileen Polk, Peter Gravelle, Kenny Gordon, and Howie Pyro. 

I’ve read A Vicious Love Story and can tell you I was thoroughly engrossed by Teddie’s description of what it was like for her at such a young age to be tossed into the middle of a fairly wild scene with such dynamic punk rockers, especially as she became quite close to Sid Vicious.

Since 2012, New Haven Publishing has grown substantially, now representing 200 authors with a catalogue of 250 books that are heavily anchored in the music and entertainment industry. New Haven also has several imprints: Phoenix Press Kids books, Viking Press Comics, Portland Press Novels, and in the United States, New Haven Publishing US. 

For the record, Teddie and I have known one another for several years as I’ve had the privilege of interviewing numerous New Haven Publishing authors, including Tim Quinn, Jimmy Ryan, Jon Kremer, and the one and only Suzi Quatro.

https://www.newhavenpublishingltd.com/

New York Times bestselling and multi-award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter, is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. Wanda’s written more than 100 books, with over 12 million copies sold, and her work has been translated into 4 languages. Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists. 

 Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are read and trusted by many Amish people, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the Amish and their customs. 

 Martha Bolton is a prolific author of 89 books, a nominee for an Emmy, Writers Guild Award, and Dove Award, and a co-author of three NY Times bestselling books. She was also Bob Hope’s first full-time female staff writer and wrote for his primetime TV specials as well as during 15 years of his personal appearances and special events, penning lines for a virtual Who’s Who in entertainment, sports, and politics. She also co-authored the award-winning Dear Bob...Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WW2.

Martha’s stage work includes writing the script for the musical “The Confession,” based on Beverly Lewis’ bestselling Confession trilogy. She also co-wrote “Half-Stitched” with director/composer Wally Nason, which is based on Wanda’s bestselling book The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club. Martha also wrote the shows Josiah for President and The Home Game for Blue Gate Musicals, both of which have accompanying novels written by Martha.

Wanda and Martha collaborated on their recently released book, The Rise and Fall of Miss Fanny’s Biscuits: A Cozy Amish Mystery, which I’ve had the pleasure to read and can tell you it’s an absolute gem of a mystery novel. If you like clever stories set in a world that I think most folks don’t know in detail, then I highly recommend Miss Fannie’s Biscuits to you.  Of note, The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits has also been adapted into a stage musical. 

Qin Sun Stubis is a newspaper columnist, poet, and author of the award-winning historical saga, Once Our Lives, the remarkable true story of four generations of Chinese women who struggled to survive war, revolution, and the eerie power of an ancient superstition that seemed to change their lives for nearly 100 years.

Born in the squalor of a Shanghai shantytown, Qin overcame poverty, starvation, and the political persecution of her family to win admission to a prestigious Chinese university and emigrate to the United States where she became a successful writer. With more than 200 published works, she strives to strengthen the bonds of understanding and humanity that connect us all. 

Qin writes beautifully and movingly about her family and their struggles to endure extraordinarily difficult conditions. I highly urge you to check out Once Our Lives.

 www.QinSunStubis.com

Animation Director Bill Kroyer was nominated for an Academy Award for his short film Technological Threat, the first film to combine 2D and CG animated characters. He’s perhaps best known for directing the popular animated film, Ferngully, The Last Rainforest, as well as working on dozens of commercials and animated feature film credit sequences. He is also known for having developing the computer generated Lightcycles in the original version of Tron.

As Senior Animation Director at Rhythm & Hues studios he directed CG characters in films that have grossed over $1 billion worldwide. In 2017, he and his wife Sue were the first couple to receive The International Animation Society's prestigious June Foray award.

In addition to serving on multiple committees at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bill also served as the head of the Digital Arts Department at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University

Recently, Bill published his autobiography, Mr. In-Between: My Life in the Middle of the Animation Revolution, which I’ve read and truly enjoyed, especially because I spent more than two decades writing screenplays in the animation industry, where Bill is a legendary creative force.  I highly recommend Mr. In-Between to you.

https://www.mrinbetween.org

The highly popular documentary filmmaker, Rick Sebak, is a native Pittsburgher, who’s worked at Pittsburgh’s PBS station WQED since 1987.

Rick’s created dozens of local TV documentaries known collectively as The Pittsburgh History Series, including: “Kennywood Memories,” “What Makes Pittsburgh Pittsburgh?” and “Right Beside The River” as well as many more. He’s also produced 15 national programs for PBS including “A Hot Dog Program,” “A Flea Market Documentary” and “A Few Good Pie Places.”

I’ve seen a number of Rick’s documentaries and have always been delighted by the way they’re put together and especially by the uplifting, wonderfully human stories Rick’s work delivers each and every time.

Rick has been honored with several regional Emmy Awards and two national Emmy nominations. One Pittsburgh bar even named a drink after him. In 2018, Pittsburgh Magazine named Rick one of the 50 Greatest Pittsburghers Of All Time.  There’s even a street named for him in Pittsburgh’s Somerset at Frick Park neighborhood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Sebak

https://www.wqed.org/history-documentaries-pittsburgh-history-series/

https://www.pbs.org/show/the-rick-sebak-collection/

David Arnoff’s career kicked off with the photos for the Cramps’ Songs the Lord Taught Us album. Since then, he has contributed to dozens of releases by artists including the Dream Syndicate, X, Ramones and the Gun Club.

A collection of his work, Shot in the Dark, has been published in the U.S., U.K. and Spain. He has had solo exhibits in Berlin, London, Tokyo, Den Hague and Los Angeles, as well as group shows across the States and Paris.

David’s photos are in the collections of the Grammy Museum in LA, the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas and MOMA in NY.

He has never photographed bands he doesn’t like. David is the oldest angry young man in Chiswick, West London.

Ed Driscoll is joining me for the second time on StoryBeat. Ed’s an Emmy Award-winning comedian, writer and producer who’s worked with some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry including: Billy Crystal, Joan Rivers, Michael Bublé, and Dennis Miller to name just a few! Ed’s produced material for variety shows, sitcoms, movies, and live theater. And he’s been a stand-up comedian for over 25 years. 

Ed’s authored five critically acclaimed books: Spilled Gravy, Looking To Click, Laugh, Dammit!, Unmoved Chess Pieces, and Cracking Up.  I recently read Cracking Up and can tell you it’s a laugh out loud compendium of stories from Ed’s highly memorable show biz career. If you like hilarious real-life Hollywood stories, I highly recommend Cracking Up to you.

https://www.eddriscollcomedy.com

https://twitter.com/theeddriscoll 

https://www.facebook.com/theeddriscoll

https://instagram.com/theeddriscoll

Lady Dhyana Ziegler is currently President and CEO of Z/Creators, LLC and Professor Emerita of Florida A&M University. She’s worked in the field of higher education and technology for more than 35 years as a professor and administrator. 

Dr. Ziegler is the author of four books, more than 60 scholarly publications - including book chapters - and has produced more than 100 videos and other multimedia works. She most recently published “Midnight Train From Georgia,” which chronicles and celebrates the extraordinary life of William Franklin Guest, one of the founding members of the famed singing group, Gladys Knight and the Pips. I’ve read Midnight Train From Georgia and can tell you it’s a fascinating study of an artist working inside the rough and tumble world of show business at the highest level.

For those listeners who may not know, Gladys Knight and the Pips released numerous, popular, smash hit songs like: Midnight Train to Georgia, I’ve Got to Use My Imagination, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, and many more.

Lady Dhyana is also a multimedia writer, digital content producer, and songwriter. 

https://dhyanaziegler.ampbk.com/

Samuel A. Simon started his career in Washington, DC as a lawyer for Ralph Nader’s first advocacy group, becoming part of the infamous Nader’s Raiders. He then spent 25 years as the head of a public affairs firm. In that work, he was often in the news, appearing on Face The Nation, The Phil Donahue Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, and many more. 

Sam subsequently became a playwright and calls his playwriting and theatre work his 4th Age. His first play, The Actual Dance, Love’s Ultimate Journey Through Breast Cancer, was later turned into an award-winning memoir.

In 2021, Sam was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite the enormous challenges of this diagnosis, Sam has become “Dementia Man,” a powerful advocate through theater, using his own experience as inspiration to reshape the narrative surrounding cognitive decline. In his newest play, “Dementia Man, An Existential Journey,” Sam defies stereotypes and inspires audiences.

Sam is joined in this episode by his wife, Susan, who acts as his cognitive navigator.

www.dementiaman.com

Marcia Peck is an award-winning writer and accomplished musician, celebrating over 50 years as a cellist with the Minnesota Orchestra. 

Inspired by the rhythms and sounds of music echoed in language, her debut novel, Water Music: A Cape Cod Story, combines all her passions – music, writing, and Cape Cod. The book has received critical acclaim and numerous book awards, including Literary Titan Gold, National Indie Excellence, New England Book Festival Regional Lit, and the Feathered Quill Reviewers Choice Awards. 

I’ve read Water Music and can tell you it’s a phenomenal exploration of the tribulations of a young girl on the verge of becoming a teenager, growing up in and around an emotionally challenging family, all while working to discover herself within that stressful mix.

Marcia's many articles have appeared in a variety of magazines. And her short story writing has received multiple awards from various groups far and wide. 

A cellist with the Minnesota Orchestra for her entire musical career, she’s inspired by the rhythms and sounds of music echoed in language. 

For more information, please see: www.marciapeck.com.