Uncorking a Story

Turning Inspiration into a Trilogy, with Laura Buchwald

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Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/


"The Book of Reservations is about a woman navigating a dubious gift in a world that doesn’t always believe in it." — Laura Buchwald


Author Laura Buchwald returns to discuss her latest novel, The Book of Reservations, the second installment in her Ghost Table trilogy. Laura shares how a haunted Manhattan restaurant inspired her series, what it’s like to write under contract deadlines, and why humor is essential—even when tackling heavy themes like grief and the aftermath of 9/11. If you love stories about creativity, resilience, and the supernatural, this conversation is for you.


Key Themes:

  1. The origin of the Ghost Table trilogy — How a real-life restaurant and whispers of paranormal activity sparked Laura’s imagination.
  2. From standalone to trilogy — The challenges of expanding a single novel into a multi-book series.
  3. Writing under pressure — Why Laura found publisher-imposed deadlines motivating rather than stressful.
  4. Balancing grief and humor — How levity helps navigate heavy themes without diminishing their impact.
  5. Research through experience — Laura’s approach to visiting real locations to bring authenticity to her settings.
  6. The role of belief and skepticism — Laura’s personal experiences with mediums and how they influenced her storytelling.
  7. Looking ahead — A sneak peek into book three and how early reader feedback is shaping its tone.


    8. Buy The Book of Reservations

    Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bbtcze

    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798892990776


    Connect with Laura

    Website: https://laurabuchwald.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurabuchwaldauthor/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095294176611


    Connect with Mike

    Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uncorkingastory

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory


    If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.


    #LauraBuchwald #TheBookOfReservations #GhostTableTrilogy #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #ParanormalFiction #UncorkingAStory #BookTok #Bookstagram


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    Uncorking a StoryBy Michael Carlon
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