The Florida Writer Podcast

Using few words to say a lot is how suspense/thriller novelist Liz Lazarus writes her kill-scenes. In one novel, it's only 5 words. Enjoy this edition of the Florida Writer Podcast as host Alison Nissen and Liz chat about leaving more to the imagination to build tension, finding mentors to help your writing journey, and using real-life stories to create villains.

Liz Lazarus graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with an engineering degree and Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management with an MBA. Liz initially ignored the calling to become a novelist until her first book wouldn't leave her alone. She has since published 3 novels, Free of Malice, drawn from Liz's own experience; Plea for Justice; and Shades of Silence.

For more information about liz, visit her website at lizlazarus.com

Before you write your book, ask yourself 2questions:

1. Who is the ONE person who needs to read this book?
2. Why do they need to read it NOW?

Dr. Cindy Childress and Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen discuss the important questions of audience, book type, and first chapters when writing non-fiction. Using her years of experience, Dr. Cindy helps clients find their voice and rhythm and superpower as authors. Unsure if you have an author superpower? Check out her simple quiz @ CindyChildress.com

Dr. Cindy, The Expert's Ghostwriter, is a ghostwriter and book editor for entrepreneurs that want to write books that make money and make an impact. Her business, Childress Business Communication, took gold in two categories with the International Business Awards 2021: Company of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year in Business or Professional Services. Her clients go on to achieve bestseller status, give TEDx Talks, win book awards, and more. She holds a Ph. D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is a foster mom for dogs and cats with Citizens for Animal Protection in Houston.

The secret to writing self-help books? Life Experience! Helping people get in touch with their emotions is song-writer turned best-selling course creator and author Mary Joye's passion. On this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and Mary chat about how you can't fake your emotions, but you can avoid burnout by checking your motives. If you are doing too much for too many, you'll risk becoming overwhelmed.

Mary Joye, a solution-focused therapist who works most often with trauma, grief, and life-changing events to help those in need process change. Discover more at https://www.winterhavencounseling.com/

Want to give a gift to a writer in your life? Give the gift of a book review. Sweet romance and non-fiction author Kerry Evelyn shares how book reviews and a journal help keep her going when she's struggling to finish that Work-in-Progress in this Florida Writer Podcast conversation with host Alison Nissen.

Kerry Evelyn is the author of the Crane's Cove series, #sweetresortromance set in Coastal Maine, a Guest Author for the Cat's Paw Cove series, and several short stories that span multiple genres. Kerry received a Bachelor of Science in Education and Sociology from Bridgewater State University in 2000. A native of the Massachusetts SouthCoast, she changed her latitude and now calls the Orlando area home. Kerry loves God, books, cats, traveling, taking selfies, sweet drinks, and escaping into her imagination. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, Facebook @KerryEvelynAuthor, Instagram @KerryEvelynAuthor, and Twitter @theKerryEvelyn. Visit KerryEvelyn.com to subscribe to her newsletter and learn more!

What happens when someone who is addicted to books decides to write a memoir? He gets naked. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and bestselling author Mark Scarbrough discuss how to make a story compelling for the audience by getting nakedly honest.

Mark Scarbrough is the author of more than 30 cookbooks, has made countless national television appearances cooking up a storm and laughs, and hosts three successful podcasts. But behind all the food, spotlights, and fun lies a deeper story told in his new memoir Bookmarked: How the Great Works of Western Literature F*ucked Up My Life. Mark has been searching for something his entire life. Whether it's his birth mother, true love, his purpose, or his sexual identity, Mark has been on a constant quest to find out who he really is, with the great Western texts as his steadfast companions. As a boy with his head constantly in a book, desperate to discover new worlds, he can hardly distinguish between their plots and his own reality.

John Chaplick's fundamental writing principle is that each story should take the reader on an intriguing journey to a new and different place with unique characters facing unexpected obstacles. In this Florida Writer Podcast, host Alison Nissen and John chat about learning to climb the metaphorical writing mountain and mastering the character arc through perseverance.

John Chaplick, BA, MBA CPA, CBA is a member of the Florida Writers Association and leader of two Tampa, Florida writing groups. John Chaplick has written four award-winning fiction adventure novels in mystery, women's fiction, and thriller/suspense genres.

Publicist turned author Katie Schnack stops by the Florida Writer Podcast to chat with host Alison Nissen about giving birth to a book and raising it from idea to market.

Katie Schnack is the author of The Gap Decade: When You're Technically An Adult But Really Don't Feel Like it Yet, a quirky and honest chronicle about the awkward realities of living in that gap between adolescence and adulthood. Katie writes because she loves making people laugh and feel less alone. KatieSchnack.com

Does each of your characters have enough motivation to be the antagonist? Take a tip of mystery novelist Shannon Work, and make sure all the characters can be found guilty...then work backward from there. In this conversation with Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen, Shannon shares her techniques to ensure the audience remains guessing whodunit throughout the entire novel.

Shannon Work grew up in Del Rio, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University, earning an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Land Economics and Real Estate. ​ Most of her working life has been spent developing real estate, earning a national Best in America Living Award for one of her developments. Shannon and her husband split their time between Houston, Texas, and Telluride, Colorado. shannonwork.com

After reaching 350 Amazon Reviews for his Devil's Bookkeeper series, Florida Writer Podcast host Alison Nissen chats with Literary Fiction and Children's author Mark Newhouse about writing about hard things, self-promotion, social media, and the Florida Writers Association Youth group.

Mark Newhouse's journey begins when he was born in Germany after his parents were freed from Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Their nightmare inspired THE DEVIL'S BOOKKEEPERS, a gripping story of love and survival in the ghetto his parents miraculously survived. Visit Mark at NewhouseCreativeGroup.com

Writing Non-Fiction is HARD! You are writing your book to share something with the world. Start with what is easy then build that muscle. You can't run a marathon on the first day of training. In this edition of The Florida Writer Podcast with host Alison Nissen and non-fiction ghostwriter & book coach Chrissy Das, Alison and Chrissy chat about non-fiction blogging, ghostwriting, and flexing a "writer's muscle."

Chrissy Das is the lead ghostwriter and founder of (i)nvisible writer, a content marketing company that services creative professionals who want to find their voice and use their words to increase their revenue to positively impact their local and global community. Chrissy brings 10 years in the publishing industry, working with indie publishers and self-published authors who have a clear message to share with the business world. Clients count on Chrissy and her team to help them create short-form content like blog posts and branded newsletters and long-form content like white papers and books.