Uncorking a Story

Uncorking a Story

By Michael CarlonComedySociety & CultureArtsBooks
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Uncorking a Story episodes

  • A Love Letter to Reading, with Heather Snodgrass

    “Whether or not money comes out of this is yet to be seen. The main thing is—does it help people? Is it spreading a good message? That’s ultimately why I’m doing this.” — Heather Snodgrass


    Actor, author, and debut novelist Heather Snodgrass joins me to talk about her first book, A Love Letter to Reading, a story that blends heart-pounding suspense with deep emotional reflection. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Heather shares how her journey from acting to screenwriting to novel writing taught her to embrace creative detours and stay rooted in gratitude. Together, we explore her unconventional protagonist, Scorpion—a pediatric oncologist who moonlights as an assassin—and how writing her story became a form of self-discovery and healing. 


    Key Takeaways:

    1. Transformation through art: Heather’s path from acting to writing shows how creative callings evolve—and how storytelling finds new forms when one door closes.
    2. A character unlike any other: Her protagonist, Scorpion, is both assassin and healer—an embodiment of duality, morality, and redemption that challenges genre conventions.
    3. Writing as therapy: Heather used self-care rituals like gardening and mindfulness to process heavy emotional material, proving that writers must protect their own well-being during intense creative work.
    4. The publishing learning curve: She opted for a hybrid publishing model to get her story into readers’ hands sooner, highlighting the importance of understanding all paths to publication.
    5. Feedback with perspective: Heather learned to balance taking constructive criticism seriously while still trusting her creative instincts—a valuable mindset for any creator.
    6. Purpose over profit: Her biggest takeaway—focus on impact, not income. Writing should be about helping others and spreading light, even if the financial rewards come later.
    7. Finding inspiration: Movies, music, and other art forms often reignite her creativity—reminding us that to get back into flow, sometimes you must step away from your own work.

      Buy A Love Letter to Reading

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

      Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798894273396


      Connect with Heather

      Website: https://www.authorheathersnodgrass.com/

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

      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heathersnodgras5


      Connect with Mike

      Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

      Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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


      If you liked 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.


      #UncorkingAStory #HeatherSnodgrass #ALoveLetterToReading #AuthorInterview #CreativeJourney #HybridPublishing #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #BookLaunch #FemaleAuthors #InspirationForWriters



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      28 min
    8. Awaken Your Sexuality: Vanessa Carlisle on Healing, Intimacy & Recovery

      “My trauma is no longer telling me what to do every day the way that it once was.” Vanessa Carlisle

      Dr. Vanessa Carlisle (they/them)—author, coach, educator, and longtime advocate for sex-working communities—joins me to explore healing after trauma, the complex overlap between sexuality and addiction recovery, and what it means to rebuild connection with self and others. We also discuss Vanessa’s end-of-life care work as a death doula, the role of grief in recovery, and their new book Awaken Your Sexuality: A Guide to Connection and Intimacy After Addiction and Trauma (co-authored with Dr. Stephanie Covington).


      Key Takeaways:

      1. Recovery & sexuality must talk to each other. Addiction treatment often sidelines sex and intimacy; Vanessa argues healing is stronger when trauma work and sobriety/harm-reduction progress together.  
      2. An inclusive roadmap. Awaken Your Sexuality centers women, non-binary, and gender-expansive people—and makes space for those with or without substance/process addictions who still carry trauma’s imprint on intimacy. 
      3. Ditch the shame, keep the choice. Critiquing beauty culture isn’t a license to stigmatize personal choices (Botox, fillers, femininity); acceptance means honoring each person’s body story without sliding into trans- or fem-phobia.  
      4. Grief is part of sexual healing. Loss—of people, time, safety, or identity—often blocks connection. Naming and working through grief opens the door to pleasure, intimacy, and self-trust.  
      5. Lessons from end-of-life care. As a death doula, Vanessa notes common patterns near death (visions of loved ones, “trip” metaphors, altered communication) and offers reassurance to families navigating those moments.  
      6. Principled boundaries + language matter. Use people’s pronouns, respect lived experience, and couple personal history with research-driven practice to reduce stigma and improve care.  
      7. Support the ecosystem. Pre-order or purchase from independent bookstores to keep vital third places alive.

        8. Buy Awaken Your Sexuality: A Guide to Connection and Intimacy after Addiction and Trauma

        Amazon: https://amzn.to/46J3HkV

        Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781636340920

         

        Connect with Vanessa

        Website: https://www.vanessacarlisle.com/

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


        Connect with Mike

        Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

        TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

        Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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


        If you liked 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.


        #UncorkingAStory #VanessaCarlisle #AwakenYourSexuality #TraumaInformed #AddictionRecovery #SexualHealing #Intimacy #GriefAndLoss #DeathDoula #SomaticHealing #LivedExperience #BookTalk



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        39 min
      8. From Trauma to Transcendence, with Kristina Amelong

        “There really is enlightenment and awakening in the intersection between trauma and spirituality—if you go into it and don’t push it away.” — Kristina Amelong

        In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with Kristina Amelong—artist, healer, founder of Optimal Health Network, and author of the memoir What My Brother Knew. Kristina opens up about the profound loss of her brother, who eerily foresaw his own death, and the ripple effects this tragedy had on her life. Through writing, research, and deep spiritual exploration, Kristina found healing and meaning in places of grief, addiction, and transformation. Their conversation touches on mystical experiences, end-of-life insights, and the role writing plays in processing trauma and opening ourselves to the mystery of consciousness.

        Key Takeaways:

        1. From crisis to creativity: A near-death encounter in Guatemala led Kristina to contemplative writing, sparking the process that became her memoir.
        2. The uncanny story of her brother: At just 12 years old, her brother predicted his own death in chilling detail—an event that shaped her life and inspired her book.
        3. Healing through writing: Memoir became a vehicle not only for personal processing but also for connecting with others who were touched by her brother’s life.
        4. Addiction and transformation: Kristina’s journey from addiction to holistic healing reflects the resilience of choosing wellness and self-discovery.
        5. The intersection of trauma and spirituality: She embraces the paradox that deep pain can also lead to profound spiritual awakening.
        6. The ripple effect of storytelling: Sharing her memoir reconnected her with people from her past, showing how one story can spark collective healing.
        7. Life beyond the physical: Kristina’s work with near-death experiencers and hospice has deepened her belief in the continuity of consciousness.

          8. Buy What My Brother Knew

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

          Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647429089

           

          Connect with Kristina

          Website: https://www.kristinaamelong.com/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.amelong

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

          YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KrisOHC

          Connect with Mike

          Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

          TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

          Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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

          If you liked 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.

          #UncorkingAStory #KristinaAmelong #Memoir #GriefJourney #HealingThroughWriting #SpiritualAwakening #WhatMyBrotherKnew #HolisticHealing #NearDeathExperience



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          38 min
        8. War, Writing, and Redemption, with H. Lee Barnes

          Fiction is the only way I know to get to the truth of human experience.” — H. Lee Barnes

          In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with award-winning author H. Lee Barnes, whose life journey has taken him from the battlefields of Vietnam to the classrooms of Nevada, and ultimately to the pages of acclaimed novels and short stories. With his trademark candor, Lee reflects on how his military service shaped his worldview, why he turns to fiction to make sense of human complexity, and the role of writing in healing and understanding. This conversation explores the intersection of memory, trauma, and creativity — and what it means to search for truth through storytelling.

          Key Takeaways:

          1. The Writer’s Duty – For Barnes, fiction is not an escape from truth but a way to uncover it.
          2. War and Perspective – His combat experiences continue to inform his themes of resilience, morality, and human frailty.
          3. Teaching and Mentorship – Barnes believes in passing along hard-earned wisdom to the next generation of writers.
          4. The Complexity of Memory – Memory, he notes, is unreliable yet deeply powerful as fuel for creative expression.
          5. Truth in Storytelling – Even imagined narratives can illuminate realities that journalism or memoir may miss.
          6. Writing as Survival – Crafting stories became a way for him to process trauma and find meaning in chaos.
          7. Cultural Connection – His stories often bridge divides, helping readers step into perspectives far from their own.

            8. Buy Emerald City Blues

            Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VsnzDV

            Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647792138

             

            Connect with H. Lee Barnes

            Website: https://www.hleebarnes.net/


            Connect with Mike

            Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

            TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

            Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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

            If you liked 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.

            #UncorkingAStory #HLeeBarnes #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #Storytelling #VeteranVoices #TruthInFiction



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            36 min
          8. From Classrooms to Bookstores: Christine Devane’s Journey to Elephant Beach

            “Sometimes you need someone outside of your family and friends to tell you, ‘This part doesn’t make sense,’ or ‘Try it this way.’ That honest feedback is what makes your writing stronger.” – Christine Devane 

            Christine Devane spent 13 years as a second-grade teacher, where she fell in love with story time and noticed something missing on the shelves—books that spoke directly to shy children. Drawing from her own childhood experiences as a quiet kid, Christine set out to write Elephant Beach, a debut picture book that blends her love of reading, teaching, family, and her collection of lucky elephants.

            In this episode, Christine shares how her journey from the classroom to becoming a children’s author unfolded—starting over a decade ago, taking her through critique groups and writing conferences, and eventually leading to publication in a wonderfully unexpected way. We talk about the importance of writing communities, the challenge of finding objective feedback, and the personal touch of including a red-haired main character, inspired by Christine’s own childhood (and later reflected in her daughter).

            Key Takeaways:

            1. Filling a gap for shy kids: Christine saw that children’s literature rarely centered shy personalities, inspiring her to write Elephant Beach.
            2. The long road to publication: She began the manuscript ten years ago, honing it through critique groups, conferences, and classes before it was finally picked up.
            3. The power of writing communities: Honest, constructive feedback from fellow writers gave her perspectives friends and family couldn’t.
            4. Personal touches matter: Giving her main character red hair made the story authentic—and later mirrored in her own daughter.
            5. Persistence pays off: Even after stepping away from teaching and focusing on her family, the story found its way into the world.

              Buy Elephant Beach

              Amazon: https://amzn.to/4guu6HH

              Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781662523946


              Connect with Christine

              Website: https://www.christine-devane.com/

              Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stined13/


              Connect with Mike

              Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

              TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

              Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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


              If you liked 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.


              #ChildrensBooks #ShyKids #AuthorJourney #ElephantBeach #WritingCommunity #Persistence #UncorkingAStory



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              24 min
            6. Eleanor Rigby only Flies Pan Am, With Camille Di Maio

              Two attributes of being an author are humility and perseverance. You have to push through a whole lot of no’s and believe you have something there—and have the humility to step back, receive critiques, and let your story grow.” — Camille Di Maio

              In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with bestselling historical fiction author Camille Di Maio to talk about her path from a 12-year-old bookworm seeking refuge in the library to publishing eight novels, including her latest, Come Fly With Me. Camille shares how bullying shaped her love of stories, the lessons she learned from 43 rejections, and how perseverance and humility became cornerstones of her career. We also dive into her research process, including interviews with former Pan Am stewardesses, and the unforgettable story of handing a manuscript to Paul McCartney himself.

              Key Takeaways:

              1. The Gift of Struggle – How early challenges like bullying can become fuel for creativity and resilience.
              2. Perseverance Pays Off – 43 rejections, 17 drafts, and years of revision eventually led to her first book deal .
              3. Humility in the Craft – Embracing feedback and remembering that publishing requires both art and business thinking.
              4. Research with Respect – Gaining the trust of former Pan Am stewardesses to authentically capture an era in Come Fly With Me.
              5. Following Curiosity – Asking “what if?” as the writer’s most powerful question.
              6. Moments of Magic – The role of creative “downloads” and inspiration that seem to arrive fully formed.
              7. Dream Encounters – The story of giving Paul McCartney her Eleanor Rigby–inspired manuscript and how passion creates serendipity.


                8. Buy Come Fly with Me

                Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nDlUY1

                Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781662523946


                Connect with Camille

                Website: https://www.camilledimaioauthor.com/

                Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/camilledimaio__author

                YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu9Gmzq8NP6Jf77TzpWlkvg?view_as=subscriber

                Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camilledimaio.author/

                TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@camille.dimaio.author


                Connect with Mike

                Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

                TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

                Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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


                If you liked 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.


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

                37 min
              8. A Dictionary of the Lost, with Jude Berman

                “The stories aren’t about violence—they’re about the preciousness of life. Each one is a reminder that this could happen to anyone.” — Jude Berman

                Jude Berman grew up surrounded by books and cultural diversity, thanks to her refugee parents. After a career in academic research and running independent presses, she turned her attention to her own writing. In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Jude rejoins me to discuss her latest work, Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost, a collection of 26 short stories exploring the human toll of gun violence. Together, we explore her unique publishing journey, the role of age and experience in writing, and the power of fiction to build empathy and spark conversation.  

                Key Themes

                • Writing vs. Publishing Journeys: Jude explains the difference between building a life as a writer and actually getting published. Many of her books began in a drawer before finally seeing the light of day.
                • Age as a Strength: Jude emphasizes that writers often improve with age, bringing lived experience, wisdom, and deeper perspective to their work.
                • Breaking the Catch-22: The publishing industry favors young, “malleable” voices, but often at the expense of stronger writing that emerges later in life.
                • The Making of Shot: The 26 stories, one for each letter of the alphabet, “came through” her almost like a download, highlighting the role of intuition and channeling in the creative process.
                • On Gun Violence: While tackling a heavy topic, Jude frames her stories as celebrations of life, not gratuitous violence. Her goal: to remind readers that gun violence can touch anyone, anywhere.
                • The Empathy Factor: Fiction can serve as a powerful tool for building empathy, allowing readers to experience perspectives without having to live them firsthand.
                • The Twist Ending: Without spoilers, Jude shares that the final story in Shot points toward hope and change, setting it apart from the rest of the collection. 

                  Buy Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost

                  Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mhLS28

                  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647429287

                  Connect with Jude

                  Website: https://judeberman.com/

                  Substack: https://judeberman.substack.com/

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

                  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jude.berman/

                  BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/judeberman.bsky.social

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

                  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jude.berman

                  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@judeberman

                  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@judeberman-author


                  Connect with Mike

                  Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

                  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

                  Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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

                  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.


                  #WritingCommunity, #AmWriting, #AuthorLife, #WritersOfInstagram, #Storytelling, #BookLovers, #ReadersOfInstagram, #Bookstagram, #IndieAuthor#NewRelease #GunViolenceAwareness, #EmpathyThroughFiction, #LifeExperienceMatters, #WritingAtAnyAge, #VoicesThatMatter. #PodcastInterview, #AuthorInterview, #ListenAndLearn, #PodcastersOfInstagram



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                  33 min
                • From Law to Literature: Melanie Anagnos on Finding Her Voice

                  “Don’t look around—just run your own race. That’s what I’d tell my younger self about writing.”-Melanie Anagnos

                  Melanie Anagnos has worn many hats—waitress, attorney, stay-at-home mom—but her true calling emerged when she pursued her MFA at Sarah Lawrence College. Now, she’s making waves in the crime fiction world with her novel Night Swimming, a police procedural set in her hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. In this conversation, Melanie shares what draws her to 1970s crime fiction, the social upheaval that inspires her stories, and how she finally found her voice as a writer.


                  Key Takeaways:

                  1. Roots in Patterson, NJ: Melanie’s novels draw inspiration from her hometown, which also serves as the backdrop for Night Swimming.
                  2. Journey to Writing: After a career in law, Melanie embraced creative writing later in life, proving it’s never too late to start.
                  3. The 1970s as Creative Muse: Social upheaval, shifting gender roles, and cultural tensions of the decade fuel her storytelling.
                  4. The Allure of Police Procedurals: She loves the pacing, character focus, and slower-burn suspense of classic crime fiction.
                  5. Finding Her Voice: Melanie stresses the importance of writing authentically, not trying to “sound like a writer.”
                  6. On MFA Programs: While her Sarah Lawrence MFA was valuable, she believes what you put in matters more than the credential itself.
                  7. Recognition and Validation: A New York Times review affirmed her efforts to go deeper with her storytelling 

                    8. Buy Nightswimming

                    Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JLav9P

                    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781962931151

                     

                    Connect with Melanie

                    Website: https://melanieanagnos.com/

                    Substack: ​​melanieanagnos.substack.com

                    Connect with Mike

                    Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

                    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

                    Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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

                    If you liked 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.

                    #UncorkingAStory #MelanieAnagnos #NightSwimming #CrimeFiction #WritersJourney #PoliceProcedural #AuthorInterview #1970sCrime



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                    29 min
                  8. From Commune to Courage: Deborah Rudell on Memoir, Healing, and Sailing Across the Pacific

                    “Being disillusioned is a very hard place to be in… but I realized my master’s job was to set me free. In the end, that heartbreak gave me the freedom to discover my own truth.” — Deborah Rudell

                    In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Deborah Rudell, author of Grit and Grace, to explore her extraordinary life. From growing up on the road in a converted school bus, to living on a controversial commune in Oregon, to rebuilding a schooner once owned by Crosby, Stills & Nash and sailing it across the Pacific, Deborah’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and reflection. Along the way, she discovered not only the truth about her spiritual journey, but also the healing power of writing memoir.

                    Key Takeaways:

                    1. The power of disillusionment. Deborah explains how betrayal by a spiritual leader forced her to find her own truth and independence.
                    2. Healing through introspection. Long hours sanding and varnishing a boat paralleled the process of stripping down her own life story to its bones.
                    3. From boat project to memoir. What began as a picture book about restoring a schooner evolved into a deeply personal memoir about faith, freedom, and forgiveness.
                    4. Writing as transformation. Feedback from her writing group helped Deborah uncover the real story she needed to tell.
                    5. Facing fear and finding freedom. Sailing across the Pacific with her family and a novice crew taught her resilience and trust in the unknown.
                    6. Lessons from publishing. Deborah shares the steep learning curve of writing, editing, and promoting her first book, including recording her own audiobook.
                    7. The bigger picture. Her story reminds us that every utopia has shadows, but freedom comes when we learn to see clearly and tell our truth.

                      Buy Grit & Grace

                      Amazon: https://amzn.to/41TqKrJ

                      Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798885281096

                       

                      Connect with Deborah

                      Website: https://www.deborahrudell.com/

                      YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/@DeborahRudellAuthor

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

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


                      Connect with Mike

                      Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

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

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

                      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

                      Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

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

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

                      If you liked 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.


                      #UncorkingAStory #DeborahRudell #MemoirWriting #CultSurvivor #GritAndGrace #AuthorInterview #SpiritualJourney #WritingForHealing #SailingLife



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                      46 min
                    8. On Craft and Character, with Jackie Thomas-Kennedy

                      “When it goes well, writing feels the way it did when I was eight years old—immersed in the story, not thinking about outcome, just the pure joy of language.” – Jackie Thomas Kennedy

                      Jackie Thomas Kennedy, author of The Other Wife, joins Uncorking a Story to explore the craft of fiction, the role of memory, and the tension between who we are and who we imagine we could be. A Stegner Fellow and widely published short story writer, Jackie shares insights into writing without fixation on outcome, the importance of character-driven storytelling, and how nostalgia can shift from comfort to affliction.

                      Key Takeaways:

                      1. Writing for joy before outcome—rediscovering the childlike immersion in storytelling.
                      2. Time as a central theme: how our perception of it shifts across stages of life.
                      3. Nostalgia as both comfort and affliction in The Other Wife.
                      4. Allowing characters to make mistakes and create the story’s mess.
                      5. The surprising creative power of text messages in fiction.
                      6. Reading beyond your comfort zone to enrich voice and style.
                      7. Collaboration with agents and editors in shaping a final manuscript.

                        8. Buy The Other Wife

                        Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fV6M5W

                        Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593851609

                         

                        Connect with Jackie

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


                        Connect with Mike

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                        31 min

                      About Uncorking a Story

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Listen in to Uncorking a Story, where we pop the cork on hidden narratives and delve deep into the brilliant minds of your favorite authors. Get ready to unlock the magic behind your favorite books,…