Author Archives: beerlit

Episode #19: Sandra Lynne Reed

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Born and raised in Alaska, Sandra graduated from University of Alaska and became a travel agent. After marriage, she helped run her husband’s real estate appraisal business until their children were grown, while doing freelance writing. She and her family left Alaska in 1988 and has lived in Western Washington since 1991.
A lifelong fascination with the Middle Ages stoked her interest in historical fiction, and she traveled to Italy to research a novel set in the thirteenth century Kingdom of Naples. Her passion for family history keeps the drama of the past alive for her and sometimes inspires story ideas for novels or non-fiction.
sandralynnereed.com

Sandy’s Readings:

  • Earthquake! – 10:44
  • Fireflies in New York – 26:19
  • The Northwoods Axe Murderer – 41:38

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

  • Earthquake High Gravity Lager, City Brewing Company (paired to Earthquake!) – 8:58
  • Éphémère (Apple), Unibroue (paired to Fireflies in New York) – 24:05
  • Bomb!, Prairie Artisan Ales (paired to The Northwoods Axe Murderer) – 39:46

Interview Highlights: 

  • Deciding to write the book. The origins of the story – 17:01
  • What inspired 3 women to go on a 22,000-mile road trip with five kids in 1965?! – 20:30
  • Overcoming doubt and scoffing – 21:40
  • Showing the route around the country – 31:30
  • People’s perceptions of each other – 35:30
  • Travel and writing – 48:53
  • Why is it important to tell our stories? – 52:15

COMING NEXT MONTH: Shawn D. Brink, author of My Gypsy War Diary and the Christian apocalyptic trilogy The Space Between

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #18: Lisa Gurine

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Lisa Gurine has written newsletters and business communications professionally for more than twenty years. She comes from a long line of storytellers and for most of her life has channeled her creative energy into re-telling and embellishing her family’s history. Without Words grew from the seeds of her own ancestors’ lives as South Dakota immigrants.
Lisa Gurine resides in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with her husband of more than thirty years. Her passion for cross-cultural understanding led her to volunteer with an international high school exchange program. She and her husband have hosted six foreign exchange students at their home and have engaged with many more. Her other favorite pastimes include international travel, volunteering with her church and honing her writing skills with her Night Writers critique partners.
Lisagurinebooks.com
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Lisa’s Readings:

  • Letter to Emma – 8:56
  • The Boy from the In Between – 27:11
  • Hulda and the White Cake – 44:43

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Guinness Draught, Guinness Ltd. (paired to Letter to Emma) – 5:22
  • Mango Mango Mango, Dugges Bryggeri & Stillwater Artisanal Ales (Paired to The Boy from the In Between) – 23:32
  • Cake’d Up Celebration Cake, Mankato Brewery (Paired to Hulda and the White Cake) – 41:08

Interview Highlights:

  • The story behind Letter to Emma – 13:35
  • Turning fact into fiction – 15:42
  • Developing as a writer; exercises and writers groups – 21:40
  • Hosting exchange students – 34:20
  • Perceptions of the Land of Snow – 35:35
  • What’s the deal with cake! – 50:01
  • The importance of telling our family stories – 52:26

COMING NEXT MONTH:  Sandra Lynn Reed, author of The Drive in ’65

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology
  • Lisa Gurine will be one of three authors at a book signing, Maple Grove Lutheran Church, 9251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove, MN, Sunday, November 8, 2020, 1 – 5 pm

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #17: Ozgur K. Sahin

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Ozgur K. Sahin is an award-winning historical novelist and life coach. True Colors, the second book in his Brethren of the Spanish Main series, was released in late 2019 as a sequel to The Wrath of Brotherhood. He is currently working as a life coach while hunkered down during the Covid-19 pandemic and working on a non-fiction book on narcissism. He grew up in Minneapolis and his studies range from astrophysics and history to meditation and development studies.
ozgurksahin.com

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Ozgur’s Readings:

  • Pieter at the Prison – 14:21
  • Coya with the Golden Staff – 31:06
  • Captain Roy Toppings at the Hucia – 46:51

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Sidra Asturiana Mayador Natural Cider, Sidra Mayador (paired to Pieter at the Prison) – 9:56
  • Cowbell Cream Ale, Urban Growler Brewing Company (paired to Coya with the Golden Staff) – 26:30
  • Stout/Rum Cocktail with Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewery (paired to Captain Roy Toppings at the Hucia) – 44:29

Cocktail Recipe (from CB2):

1.5 oz Rum
1.5 oz Ginger-Jalapeño Syrup
.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
5 oz Stout-Style Beer
Preparation:
Pour the rum, syrup, and lime juice into a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake and strain the liquid into a glass half-filled with fresh ice. Top with the beer and garnish with a lime wedge.

Interview Highlights:

  • Humor in a serious story – 21:38
  • Why 1660? Why pirates? – 22:56
  • Flawed and scarred heroines – 38:28
  • Research–history, fiction, and Ginger Plantation – 52:40
  • Writing vivid descriptions – 53:59
  • Writing on narcissism – 55:59

COMING NEXT MONTH: Lisa Gurine, Author of Without Words, the stories of South Dakota settlers

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #16: Mike Faricy

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The Dirty Lowdown called Mike Faricy America’s hottest new mystery writer. Robert Carraher referred to him as Minnesota’s Master of the Bizarre. Crime Scene referred to him as the next Carl Hiaasen. Mike Faricy writes four crime fiction series; Dev Haskell mystery series, the Corridor Man series, Jack Dillon Dublin Tales series, and the Hotshot series. Faricy’s novels are filled with the sort of oddballs we’re all curious about, but wisely prefer to keep at a distance. His characters serve not so much as an example as they do a warning to us all. None of them will be saving the world from terrorism, international banking conspiracies, or coups to take over the government. Rather, Faricy’s characters inhabit a world just below the surface of polite society. The circumstances they find themselves in are usually due to their own bad decisions, but then bad decisions make for interesting stories. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Faricy still spends part of his time in the saintly city as well as in Dublin, Ireland.
mikefaricybooks.com

Mike’s Readings:

  • Bite Me – 11:30
  • Last Shot – 26:39
  • Mr. Swirlee – 43:19

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Mas Agave, Founders Brewing Company (paired to Bite Me) – 8:35
  • Steel Reserve, Steel Brewing Company (paired to Last Shot) – 22:40
  • Dirty Bastard, Founders Brewing Company (paired to Mr. Swirlee) – 41:16

Interview Highlights:

  • Where does a womanizing private investigator like Dev Haskell come from? – 17:36
  • Mike’s history with St Paul, where most of his novels are set. – 20:57
  • Where does Mike find his characters? – 35:15
  • Why Ireland? What happened to Mike in a pub there! – 36:07
  • Why the decision to write under pen names–and why change that now? – 49:48
  • Mike’s amazing marketing–and why he can now write full time – 50:29

COMING NEXT MONTH:  Ozgur K. Sahin, author of Brethren of the Spanish Main series.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #15: Mark Connor

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Mark Connor is from St. Paul, MN. In summer 2019, he was featured in the first Gabriel’s Horn Press anthology, Surprised by Joy. A boxer since age 10, he currently trains competitive and recreational boxers, runs a training business called Fighting Chance/Boxing for Life and writes fiction, poetry, and journalism. He has written and published many articles about Boxing and Irish culture and history, as well as other features.
boxersandwritersmagazine.com

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Mark’s Readings:

  • The Perfect Metaphor – 9:26
  • Halfway Around – 29:53
  • Two Pilgrim Souls: Anam Cara – 46:14

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Veltins Pilsener, Brauerei C & A Veltins (paired to The Perfect Metaphor) – 6:03
  • Ommegang Saison Rosé, Brewery Ommegang (paired to Halfway Around) – 27:24
  • Dirt Wolf Double IPA, Victory Brewing Company (paired to Two Pilgrim Souls: Anam Cara) – 42:43

Interview Highlights:

  • Boxing and jazz improvisation – 11:41
  • Boxing and poetry – 14:48
  • Mark’s start in boxing – 17:30
  • Mark’s mentors – 21:06
  • Similarities of boxing to poetry – 24:24
  • Other boxer poets – 25:16
  • Native American medicine wheel – 37:04
  • Spontaneous writing vs re-working a poem – 39:07
  • The epic Irish poet and his muse – 48:06
  • Becoming a monstrance – 53:03

COMING NEXT MONTH: Mike Faricy, mystery author

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Episode #14: John Gaspard and Jim Cunningham

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John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as two other stand-alone novels, “The Greyhound of the Baskervilles” and “The Ripperologists.” He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films.
Those books (“Fast, Cheap and Under Control” and “Fast, Cheap and Written That Way”) are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.
elimarksmysteries.com
Free Eli Marks Short Story – The Invisible Assistant
Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/RLJQGX
Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/GGHJVS
Free Eli Marks Short Story – The Last Customer
Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/TXSQS
Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/NCPKGD

Jim Cunningham is an actor, writer, producer, and director. He spent three years in Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop’s Resident Improv Company and has done numerous television commercials—including the Carsoup Guy—and voiceovers for TV and animated series.​ He hosted Mall of America, the Show, Explore Minnesota, Golf Nut for WCCO TV, “Minnesota Fun” for the Twins and Minnesota Wild, and has been the host of the Renaissance Festival’s Feast of Fantasy for almost 30 years.​ Last but not least, Jim spent three years hosting his own radio show on sports and entertainment.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

John’s Readings:

  • The Ambitious Card (Eli Marks Mysteries) – 10:11
  • Acting Can Be Murder (Como Lake Players) – 21:57
  • Greyhound of the Baskervilles – 38:10

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Schell’s Hefeweizen, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to The Ambitious Card) – 7:15
  • Triumphant Session IPA, Summit Brewing Company (paired to Acting Can Be Murder) – 19:51
  • Ellie’s Brown Ale, Avery Brewing Company, Boulder Colorado (paired to Greyhound of the Baskervilles) – 7:04

Interview Highlights:

  • Writing novels vs. writing screenplays – 15:38
  • Writing novels inspired by magic tricks – 18:08   
  • On planting clues and red herrings – 26:06
  • Murder mystery theater – 28:54
  • Making audio books – 29:56
  • Sunday Night Magic! – 32:10
  • Jim’s years doing voice-overs and narration – 47:39

COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet and boxer Mark Connor.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #13: Judith Granahan

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Fiction Author, Judith Granahan of Minnesota writes books about strong, intelligent, inventive women who get in trouble. The question is who will survive, who won’t?
Women have always been described as super human to sniveling child, intelligent to incompetent, collaborator to cut throat; it goes on and on. With such varied attributes in mind, Granahan creates novels full of compelling characters dealing with mystery, danger, thrills, romance, horror, and difficult choices. Someday she may even write science fiction, fantasy or historical novels.
www.judithgranahanbooks.com

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Judy’s Readings:

  • Rose Teaches her Sons to Hate (See That House) – 10:48
  • Hailey Goes Off the Mountain (See That House) – 23:47
  • Anna Mae Shoots Her Husband’s Grave (Dancers of the Third Age) – 41:25

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewery (paired to Rose Teaches her Sons to Hate) – 6:54
  • Zombie Dust, 3 Floyd’s Brewing Company (paired to Hailey Goes Off the Mountain) – 21:10
  • BOMB!, Prairie Artisan Ales (paired to Anna Mae Shoots Her Husband’s Grave) – 36:58

Interview Highlights:

  • Starting the Night Writers group – 12:23
  • What kind of research goes into writing about corporate financial shenanigans? – 19:16
  • How do you get inside the head of characters completely unlike yourself? – 25:26
  • Writing people who are despicable in many ways–but not two dimensional bad guys. – 31:37
  • Revenge is not the answer to evil–what is? – 34:02
  • Your characters do a lot of shooting! What’s your background with guns? – 45:46
  • What drew you to writing about an abused woman? – 47:40
  • Why do some people get the strength to leave abusive situations? – 50:54

COMING NEXT MONTH: Film maker and novelist John Gaspard.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #12: Tony Plocido

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Tony Plocido is the author of three collections of poetry. The first, Sucker Punch Wisdom, was published with two other K.C. poets (Jeremy O’Neal & William Peck). His other books are Aging and Other Side Projects (2016) and Felt This So Many Times (2018). His writing can also be found in 2019 Martin Lake Journal, Startled by Joy (2019), and 2019 Talking Stick by Jackpine Press. March 2019, he became the host/curator of the long running showcases, Poets & Pints and Writers Read.  He also is a board member for Cracked Walnut the local chapter of The League of MN Poets. You can find his work on his personal website, Mental Valley.
Poets & Pints 
Poets & Pints Facebook
Writers Read
Writers Read Facebook
Mental Valley
Mental Valley Facebook
Tony on YouTube:
Argument  
Word Hinged Desire

Events:

Tony will be leading a virtual Poets & Pints via Zoom on April 15th. Check the Facebook page for additional information.

Tony’s Readings:

  • The Loose Loop in My Sweater – 13:04
  • Expense – 28:33
  • Awakened – 43:11

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Samuel Adams Utopias, Boston Beer Company (paired to The Loose Loop in My Sweater) – 9:16
  • Salted Nut Roll Cream Ale, Tin Whiskers Brewing Company (paired to Expense) – 24:13
  • Aspall Dry English Cider, Aspall Cider (paired to Awakened) – 40:41

Interview Highlights:

  • Poetry as reflection on life lived and yet to be lived – 17:15
  • Writing on the fly, borrowing from others, writing from life – 30:22
  • Being a Generation X poet – 32:53
  • Performance poetry – 36:26
  • Self-affirmation – 55:55
  • Becoming active in the poetry scene – 48:38
  • Tony’s performance poetry workshop – 51:18

COMING NEXT MONTH: Judith Granahan

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Covid 19 Shelter In Place Edition
Books & Brews via Skype

Episode 11: Timothy Young

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Timothy Young has published four books and three chapbooks of poetry. He has recorded four CDs of poetry with various musicians; produced poetry and cultural videos; organized readings, cultural events, festivals and concerts; and for five years he co-hosted The Northland Literary Review on KFAI radio. His work has been chosen for The Writers Almanac, The Best American Poetry of 1999, college textbooks, many magazines and has been the inspiration for award-winning musical compositions performed in Jazz at Lincoln Center, the University of Texas-Arlington, St. Olaf College and many other venues. He has been a cattle inspector, a police and fire dispatcher in Alaska, a handy-man at an Indigenous People’s clinic in Mexico, an inner-city newspaper editor, an organizer for Robert Bly’s Men’s Conferences, and has taught storytelling, anger management and moral judgment to at-risk youth at the Red Wing Correctional Facility.
Facebook: Timothy Young
Facebook: To the Palace of Kings
You Tube: Timtwoboots

Upcoming Events:

Tim will be performing at the 10th Annual Blues Night as part of his House Concert Series on March 6 & 7. More information can be found on the To the Palace of Kings Facebook page.

Tim’s Readings:

  • Gramps and the Skunk – 10:00
  • 1998 Calendar of Pierre-August Renoir’s Paintings – 26:32
  • Joy Soup – 42:59

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

  • Heineken, Heineken International (paired to Gramps and the Skunk) – 7:10
  • Biere de Garde, Finnegans (paired to 1998 Calendar…) – 24:00
  • Lonely Blond, Fulton Beer (paired to Joy Soup) – 41:05

Interview Highlights:

  • What is the draw we have to the stories of our ancestors? – 12:14
  • Tim’s start in poetry – 15:29
  • Who is Robert Bly? – 21:00
  • Artists inspiring other artists and other art forms – 29:46
  • About poetry and Andrew Wyeth’s paintings – 31:38
  • Meeting Robert Bly – 35:58
  • Robert Bly’s place in poetry and his influence on Tim – 37:11
  • Having poems read at Jazz at Lincoln Center – 49:50

COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet Tony Plocido

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #10: Douglas VanDyke

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Douglas was born Nov 28th, 1971. He got the chance to live in many different places while growing up, courtesy of the assignments the US Army offered his father. Quiet and shy, he dreamed of other worlds and places…and desired to write about them. He got into fantasy role-playing games in his mid-teens. To this day he regularly meets friends in tabletop role-playing games and online adventures. Many of his characters evolved in games, and developed their own personality.
Having to rely on self-publishing for his novels, Douglas was surprised at the amount of good reviews and publicity they received. The Earthrin Stones trilogy sold more copies than expected. The Widow Brigade started its reception earning eleven straight 5-star reviews, including a recent widow who said it helped with her healing process.
Douglas lives with his wife and two sons in Minnesota. He works in health care, serving people’s needs in medical imaging. Most people see him wearing scrubs.
dhealoral.com  
Facebook: @Dhea-Loral
Twitter: @ThaminDheaLoral

Upcoming events:

Douglas will be at Con of the North, Feb 14-16, Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Dr, Plymouth, Mn – A popular gaming convention featuring just about every type of gaming you can imagine.
He will be at Marscon, Feb 28-Mar 2, Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, 3800 American Blvd E, Bloomington, Mn – A Sci-fi based convention near Mall of America, which also includes some fantasy and steampunk.

Douglas’s Readings:

  • The Widow Brigade – 12:56
  • Sword and Path – 30:16
  • Boxer Earns his Wings – 44:13

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

  • Stjørdal, Hammerheart Brewing (paired to The Widow Brigade) – 9:28
  • Saison Dupont, Brasserie Dupont sprl (paired to Sword and Path) – 27:02
  • Budweiser Copper Lager, ABInBev (paired to Boxer Earns his Wings) – 41:46

Interview Highlights:

  • Expanding the emotional world of dwarves – 19:57
  • Douglas’s background as a writer – 22:34
  • What sparked Dhea Loral and the dwarf widow Duli? – 23:18
  • Male writer creating female characters – 25:54
  • World-building – 39:40
  • The steampunk world of ‘Boxer’ – 50:47
  • How does growing up in the military affect us as writers? – 53:53

COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet Tim Young

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.