Uncorking a Story

About P. David Ebersole: He is an award-winning independent filmmaker and television director working in both narrative and documentary. 

His credits include the documentary HIT SO HARD (2012) about drummer Patty Schemel of the seminal grunge band Hole. Along with his husband and business partner Todd Hughes, he is Executive Producer and Director of several documentaries including the new, MY NAME IS LOPEZ (2021) about trailblazing Latino rock and roller Trini Lopez. 

His debut novel, 99 Miles From LA, is a fast-paced, noir caper with a fresh twist. It has everything you want a crime story to have, including a bi-sexual love triangle and more double-crosses than Pulp Fiction!

In this episode, Mike and P. David discuss: 

• David’s background as a filmmaker and making the transition to becoming a novelist
• How winning an award can change your life
• The author's motivation for making a documentary about Patty Schemel's life
• Palm Strings as the setting of 99 Miles from L.A.

Key Takeaways: 

• Winning an award can serve as validation that someone else appreciates what you're doing and believes you'll succeed. Validation is important for storytellers of all stripes.
• Choose a life story that deals with a person's struggles and how he overcomes them, or a societal issue. These are extremely relatable to the general public and have the potential to move people's hearts and minds.
• Being a part of a community and being immersed in its system, culture, and visual elements can inspire you to choose that location as the setting for your story.

"Just do it…someone will always say something to you that will make you stop. So, the important thing is you've got to power through, you gotta get through, you got to get to the end, and then you can go back." – P. David Ebersole

Connect with P. David Ebersole

Website: http://ebersolehughes.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ebersolehughes

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ebersole-Hughes-Company/297978877676

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ebersolehughes/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Grab a copy of 99 Miles from L.A:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Kurt and Ellie: Kurt and Ellie are a father daughter combo team who have authored the book The Barrens: A novel of love and death in the canadian arctic.

In this episode, Mike, Kurt, and Ellie discuss: 

• Ellie's trip in subarctic Canada and how it inspired the book
• How they made the story come alive as being so real on the page
• What it's like working with your father in writing a story
• Learning about yourself during the writing process

Key Takeaways: 

• Your travels can be turned into a fantastic adventure story, it’s simply a matter of figuring out how to incorporate the various elements into your journey in order to create a one-of-a-kind story.
• Plotting out your journey, attempting to create dialogue and movement, incorporating your life experiences, and attempting to form something that creates a character at his core all work together to help your story feel more realistic. 
• Allow yourself to be vulnerable in front of your parents. You may feel awkward sharing your journey with them, but sharing more of yourself is essential to developing a stronger bond.
• Reflecting on your own story can be both enlightening and difficult, but it will undoubtedly teach you something.

"If you're reading what you like and reading a lot of it, that translates into your writing style." – Kurt Johnson

"Stop taking everything. If you could just keep moving forward and try to have fun sometimes, things will work out as they were meant to pretty much either way, but you might be a little bit happier at the end of it" – Ellie Johnson

Connect with Kurt Johnson:

Website: https://www.kurtjohnsonbooks.com/

Email: [email protected]

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

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

Connect with Ellie Johnson:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://instagram.com/elliej418?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Grab a copy of The Barrens:

Bookshop.org

Amazon

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Farhoud: Farhoud is an award-winning writer, director, and executive producer focused on storytelling projects that inspire mass culture change.

In this episode, Mike and Farhoud discuss: 

• Near death experiences
• Not wanting to disappoint your parents
• Knowing what you stand for
• Detaching yourself from the outcomes
• Finding meaning in the work you do

Key Takeaways: 

• A near-death experience may prompt you to evaluate your life, discover your life's purpose, and pursue your passions in order to feel fulfilled.
• Do not let the fear of disappointing your parents stop you from pursuing your dreams. You will not be disrespecting them if you follow your heart. You have control of your fate and you are capable of making decisions that you think are the best ones for you.
• The magic happens when you detach yourself from the outcome of what you want to achieve. Focus on the story, create space for the people who are there with you, and you will be able to shift hearts and minds.
• Your creativity is the ocean. Despite your negative experiences and struggles, you will be able to emerge strong and determined, willing to take risks and push yourself to your limits.

"When you get close to death, and when you get close to people that are closer to the exit than the entrance, you see all this wisdom come through and you see this detachment from the material world." – Farhoud Meybodi

Connect with Farhoud Meybodi:

 Website: https://farhoudmeybodi.com/

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhoudmeybodi/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhoudmeybodi1212

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In life, we often have to pivot to become the person we are meant to be. This insight hit me like a slap in the face when I spoke with Lauren McBrayer about her debut novel.

About Lauren: Lauren McBrayer is a graduate of Yale with a law degree from UC Berkeley. A working mom of three, she is the head of business affairs for a television network in Los Angeles. Like a House on Fire is her adult debut.

In this episode, Mike and Lauren discuss: 

• Having someone in your life who will push you to be your best
• Curiosity for the characters you are writing
• Pivoting during the writing process
• The importance of love winning

Key Takeaways: 

• Having someone in your life who encourages and pushes you to do better or be your best is critical to becoming the writer you were meant to be.
• Sometimes we unknowingly become intrigued by the characters we are writing because they are, in a strange way, a part of us talking to ourselves. When we listen to this inner voice, we discover insights into ourselves.
• It's inevitable to change your mind while writing, especially when you're immersed in the characters and the plot's turning point. It is okay (and expected) to deviate from your initial outline.
• Letting love win is about finding peace, contentment, and genuine happiness by accepting and displaying your true self, even if it means letting go of the life you worked so hard to build.

"If you can write something that serves you personally, it changes the whole ballgame." - Lauren McBrayer 

Buy Like a House on Fire:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Lauren McBrayer: 

Website: http://laurenmcbrayer.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1591454627550555

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

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Carleton Eastlake: Carleton graduated from UCLA with degrees in political science and psychology and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School with a concentration in law and the social sciences. After a career in public policy and consumer protection law, being hired on Steven Spielberg's series seaQuest confirmed him as a television writer and producer.  He has shared an Edgar and Saturn Awards and is a former board member of the Writers Guild of America West and a past president of PEN Center USA and he is here today to talk about his book Monkey Business.

In this episode, Mike and Carleton discuss: 

• The importance of having people who recognize your potential
• The truth about being a television writer
• Carleton's book, Monkey Business

Key Takeaways: 

• Having a strong network of supportive people who recognize your potential helps in bringing out the best in you, which absolutely influences your success.
• Writing a novel is a lot different than writing for a TV series. The former is a very isolated process while the latter is more of a group effort.
• Working in show business is not always as glamorous as we imagine. It also has an underside, particularly when the show is run by a toxic team of producers vying for primate superiority.

"There's politics everywhere because we are noisy monkeys - we are very smart apes and we have all the dominance moves, all those impulses pushing on our consciousness to find expression." - Carleton Eastlake

Buy Monkey Business:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Carleton Eastlake:

Website: https://carletoneastlake.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carleton.eastlake

Twitter: https://twitter.com/c_eastlake

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleton-eastlake-923b396/

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Kathleen and Liz: Kathleen is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novel Girl in Pieces, How to Make friends with the dark, and You’d Be Home Now. Her books have been published in more than 24 countries.

Liz Lawson is the author of The Lucky Ones, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020.

Together, they have a book called The Agathas, a fun, young adult mystery which is a departure from the contemporary realistic fiction that both tend to write.

In this episode, Mike, Kathleen, and Liz discuss: 

• How Kathleen and Liz met and why they chose to collaborate on young adult mystery
• Writing with someone else
• Doing whatever you want
• Kathleen and Liz's book, The Agathas

Key Takeaways: 

• It's nice to recognize the works of other authors and try to contact them. Meeting them in person allows you to get to know them in a different way, build connections, and eventually collaborate with them.
• Writing with someone else not only gives you more ideas for the book and improves your relationship, but it also encourages you to share your work, which is a great way to figure out what works and what doesn't.
• You are free to do whatever you want with your story. Don't be afraid to play with your characters; make it exciting! Reality can be boring at times.
• Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and each other, no matter how unlikely your personalities are or how much people underestimate you.

"If it's really something you want to do, it's going to usually take more work than you might expect when you're starting out." - Liz Lawson

"You don't need anyone else's permission to call yourself a writer… Give yourself space and time to write when you can and don't let anyone try to stop you." - Kathleen Glasgow

Buy The Agathas:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Kathleen Glasgow:

Website: https://www.kathleenglasgowbooks.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathglasgow

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13479611.Kathleen_Glasgow

TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdqWWdtk/

Connect with Liz Lawson:

Website: https://www.lizlawsonauthor.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lzlwsn

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lzlwsn

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42104979-the-lucky-ones

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lzlwsn

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Sascha: Sascha is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter, who has written and produced lauded shows such as GLOW, The Bold Type, The Baby-Sitters Club, and The Carrie Diaries.  In 2015, she was named one of Variety's “10 TV Writers to Watch.” Rothchild has written for LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Elle, and the Miami Herald, and adapted her article, "How to Get Divorced by 30" into both a memoir and a screenplay for Universal Studios. Blood Sugar, her fiction debut, is a dark and utterly delicious noir thriller.

In this episode, Mike and Sascha discuss: 

• How Sascha's writing journey began
• Differences between writing for television and writing a novel
• Sascha's fiction debut, Blood Sugar
• Receiving notes as a TV writer 

Key Takeaways: 

• Having a passion for writing is important, but it is your own will and perseverance to follow that path that will make you a great writer.
• Breaking into the world of writing for television is not easy. You must start at the bottom and be persistent, as well as work on your networking skills and try to enjoy the process until you climb the ladder and become a showrunner.
• What-ifs can be turned into great stories. All you have to do is follow your curiosity and swirl it into a plot while infusing your imagination into its structure.
• There are people who will give you notes, and they are often correct. A good writer does not become defensive when receiving notes; instead, they take them in and make it better.

"Sit down and write because everyone has an idea in the middle of the night, everyone thinks they have an idea for a movie or book. But unless you write it down, you're not a writer." - Sascha Rothchild

Buy Blood Sugar

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Sascha Rothchild:

Website: https://www.sascharothchild.com/

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sascharothchild

Instagram: https://instagram.com/saschagrothchild

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Tess: With over forty million copies sold, New York Times bestselling thriller writer Tess Gerritsen is widely known for her Rizzoli & Isles novels, which inspired the hit TNT television series that aired for seven seasons. The iconic crime-stopping duo Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles return in Gerritsen’s new novel, LISTEN TO ME which will be available on July 5.

In this episode, Mike and Tess discuss: 

• Placing your parents' wishes before your own
• Writing outside your genre
• The importance of curiosity to being a writer
• Being more adventurous

Key Takeaways: 

• It is not easy to let go of a dream or a passion, but if you truly want to do something different with your life, there is no such thing as "too late."
• Breaking out of a genre is difficult, but keep writing regardless of the outcome. Simply dedicate yourself to the journey.
• If you're curious, there's always something new to discover in your everyday life. Following your curiosity increases your creativity and prevents you from running out of ideas that will lead to success.
• Be more adventurous. Do not let your fears or anxieties get in your way of enjoying life. Take risks, you can do it.

"Trust your process, no matter how ridiculous it is." - Tess Gerritsen

 Buy Listen to Me:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Connect with Tess Gerritsen: 

Website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tessgerritsen

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

Email:  [email protected]

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About Michelle: Michelle Huneven is the author of four novels: Round Rock, Jamesland, Blame, and Off Course. Her books have been New York Times Notable Books and finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her latest book, Search, is available now wherever books are sold and has been named One the 10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022 by Kirkus.

In this episode, Mike and Michelle discuss: 

• A love of reading
• Taking constructive feedback and criticism
• Everything is a jolt

Key Takeaways: 

• Reading stimulates your creativity significantly. Being a bookworm is essential for becoming a successful writer.
• Constructive feedback and criticism is not meant to make you feel bad about yourself; rather, it's intended to inspire you to work harder and develop your craft.
• Being disturbed or pushed extremely hard gives you an unsettling feeling as a writer. However, it provides you with additional possibilities to hear people's reactions to your work, whether positive or bad.

"Write more than you did. Stop dreaming about being a writer and be a writer. Write everyday and work really hard." - Michelle Huneven

Connect with Michelle Huneven:

Website: https://www.michellehuneven.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHuneven

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

Buy Search on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LNrp2V

Buy Search on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593300053

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About RaeAnne: RaeAnne Thayne is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly's bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She graduated from college with a degree in journalism and quickly rose through the ranks of the local newspaper, becoming a reporter and then an editor. She developed a passion for romantic novels and published her debut 1995. Her stories have been described as "poignant and sweet" with "beautiful honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart."

In this episode, Mike and RaeAnne discuss: 

• Making time to write while dealing with important life events
• Writing stories with happy endings
• Benefits of having literary agents

Key Takeaways: 

• An important life event should never destroy a writer's constant and burning desire to express herself through writing and get it done. To attain work-life balance, they simply need to practice flexibility.
• There's so much need for authors to write books with happy endings especially in these trying times because happy stories give people hope and comfort, the courage to move forward, and remind  them of the significance of love and generosity at all times.
• Working with literary agents can give you peace of mind since they can assist you in finding an editor, determine whether or not your manuscripts have significant market potential, and guide you through the publishing process.

"Believe in yourself. Anybody who wants to be successful in this career can be successful, but it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take work, you're gonna have to write a lot of words." - RaeAnne Thayne

Connect with RaeAnne Thayne: 

Website: https://www.raeannethayne.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/AuthorRaeAnneThayne/?_rdc=1&_rdr

Twitter: https://twitter.com/raeannethayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/raeannethayne/

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

TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdCdSHvd/

Buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Gj6B2f

Buy on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781335936356

Connect with Mike Carlon:

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.