Episode #32: Christine Madline Ellsworth

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Christine Madline Ellsworth, has just released her first book of poetry, published by Potter’s Wheel Publishing. Here is a collection of poems tracing the arc of transition in a contemporary woman’s life. From childhood fascinations to adult issues such as domestic violence, marriage and divorce, Ellsworth shares many relatable experiences. Ellsworth holds BA and MA degrees in English literature from Moorhead State University Moorhead and Marquette University, respectively. She is a member of the Jackpine Writer’s Bloc and her poetry has appeared in issues of The Talking Stick. Her work has also appeared in Moorhead State University’s Red Weather, and the South Dakota State Poetry Society’s Pasque Petals. She is currently working toward certification as a certified applied poetry therapy facilitator through the International Federation of Biblio-Poetry Therapy (ifbt.org). Ellsworth was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and currently lives in Wyndmere, North Dakota with her Blue Heeler and two cats. This book is available in print and Kindle versions on Amazon. The author is available for book signings and poetry events both electronic and in person.
christinemadlineellsworth.com

Christine’s Readings:

  • What to Wear While Saving France – 13:01
  • Kitchen Table – 30:21
  • Rembrandt’s Light – 43:40

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • How reading poetry can save the world – 16:34
  • Importance of poetry for mental development – 17:42
  • Transformation as the residual effect of poetry – 23:32
  • What makes a good poem? – 32:26
  • How to draw in a reader through poetry – 36:26
  • The fascinating life of Rembrandt – 47:58
  • Transformation of a person or the transformative power of art? – 50:54

COMING NEXT MONTH: Shannyn Schroeder

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #31: Sandy Hanna

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Sandy Hanna is an award-winning author for her memoir “The Ignorance of Bliss: An American Kid in Saigon,” a true coming-of-age story about growing up in Vietnam in the early 60s. She current resides in Lambertville, New Jersey. As a military BRAT (British Regiment Attached Transfer) her story reveals a turbulent time where politics and intrigue resided between plot and counterplot and where, as children, she and her siblings lived in the continuous present – perhaps the only way children can live. Ms. Hanna graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois with a BA in Interdisciplinary Programs in Science and Literature and University of Massachusetts with a MED in the Biology of Cognition. Her background is one of working with children and designing learning environment for museums, theme parks, and communities. However, she sees herself as a life-time storyteller and artist.
Sandyhanna.net

Sandy Readings:

  • Witnessing the Coup – 9:35
  • Baby Powder & Hershey Bars – 28:27
  • Brink’s Bomb – 43:44

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Harvey Weissbanger Recipe

  • 1 oz. Galliano
  • 2 oz. Orange Juice
  • 6 oz. Weissbier

Fill a collins glass with ice. Add the Galliano and orange juice. Top with Weissbier. Garnish with orange peel.

Interview Highlights:

  • Did you take it for granted you survived a shooting spree? – 15:34
  • The Dragon Lady and Colonel Sam’s Expose – 19:12
  • Did your brother’s basketball start the Vietnam War? – 23:26
  • Everything in life lies in acceptance – 35:26
  • Military kids taking control in an out-of-control world – 36:58
  • Military transport to Saigon – 51:05

COMING NEXT MONTH: Christine Madline Ellsworth, poet and 1st time novelist

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

  • Gabriel’s Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology
  • Laura will be signing books Sunday, November 7, 2 to 5 pm at Maple Grove Lutheran Church, 9251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove, MN. Several other authors from Night Writers will also be signing books.

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #30: Christine Husom

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Christine Husom is a national best-selling author from Minnesota. She pens the suspenseful Winnebago County Mysteries and the cozy, but not too cozy, Snow Globe Shop Mysteries where bad guys demonstrate not everyone is “Minnesota Nice.” She also has stories in many anthologies. Husom served with the Wright County Sheriff, is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime and is active with the Twin Cities chapter. She loves meeting readers at a variety of venues and events.
www.christinehusom.com

Christine’s Readings:

  • Death in Lionel’s Woods – 33:47
  • Secret in Whitetail Lake – 26:11
  • Frosty the Dead Man – 41:36

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • From Sheriff’s Office to Author – 16:21
  • Writing from things seen at the sheriff’s office – 18:23
  • Researching for a crime novel – 19:35
  • Character-driven vs plot driven – 34:29
  • Readers’ views of Minnesota – 36:12
  • Writing mysteries vs writing other fiction – 50:18

COMING NEXT MONTH: Sandy Hanna, Memoirs of military life

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #29: Nicole Burnham

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Nicole Burnham is the RITA Award-winning author of over twenty romance novels, including the popular Royal Scandals series. As an army brat, Nicole was raised moving around the world. She still travels abroad whenever she can score cheap airfare and loves that it feeds her writing. If Nicole isn’t at her keyboard, she is happiest spending time at Fenway Park or trail running.
www.nicoleburnham.com  

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Nicole’s Readings (read by Hollis McCarthy):

  • Scandal with a Prince (Megan Hears a Voice) – 12:32
  • Slow Tango with a Prince (Emily Finds Vittorio) – 26:02
  • To Kiss a King (Expert Advice) – 45:31

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

Interview Highlights: 

  • Struck by a voice – 14:10
  • What drew you to royalty? – 18:48
  • A man’s point of view vs. a woman’s point of view in romance – 30:04
  • Identical twins – 33:28
  • Law degree and writing romance – 35:35
  • Emotional focus of romance novels – 50:25
  • Fictional kingdom vs. a real kingdom – 53:02
  • Growing up military and writing – 54:58

COMING NEXT MONTH: Christine Husom, mystery author

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #28: Jeff LaFerney

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Jeff LaFerney was a full-time language arts teacher in Davison, Michigan, for 30 years. After coaching basketball for most of his career, he decided to write books instead and took on his new hobby. Now he spends his free time reading, writing, and editing books. He and his beautiful wife have two adult children. His Clay and Tanner Thomas series focuses on a father and son team who use parapsychological abilities to solve mysteries. Jumper is a time-travel science fiction adventure. Lost and Found, is a unique mystery/treasure hunt with ties to World War II history. His latest, Planer, is the sequel to Jumper, his best-selling novel. He has a blog called The Red Pen where he usually infuses humor to share about himself or to give inspiration or writing tips.
jefflaferney.blogspot.com

Jeff’s Readings:

  • Loving the Rain – 13:28
  • Lost and Found – 30:22
  • Jumper – 43:35

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

Interview Highlights: 

  • What led to the very strong disclaimer that your work is fiction! – 22:15
  • Mixing secular and faith – 23:52
  • What’s historical, what’s not – 38:19
  • Research on time travel – 49:11
  • Dropping crumbs that readers want to follow – 51:54
  • How to hook the reader – 54:30

COMING NEXT MONTH: Nicole Burnham, romance author

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #27: Ernie Brill

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Ernie Brill writes fiction and poetry about everyday people. His I Looked Over Jordan and Other Stories explores race and class among hospital workers. The actress Ruby Dee purchased, adapted, and performed the story Crazy Hattie Enters Ice Age for her and her husband’s PBS TV series “With Ruby and Ossie.” Brill won a New York State Council for The Arts Fiction Grant. He received his BA and MA in English from San Francisco State College. Brill has published widely fiction, poetry and essays in the US and Canada (River Styx, Other Voices, Z, U. of Minnesota, Prentice Hall Ontario Canada. Favorite writers include Virginia Woolf, Richard Wright, Mahmoud Darwish, Hyseoon Kim, Gwendolyn Brooks, Sterling A. Brown, Pedro Pietri, Pablo Neruda.
Active Muse

Ernie’s Readings:

  • Intake – 9:55
  • End of Faculty Meeting – 27:13
  • Longshore – 42:31

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

Interview Highlights: 

  • How a chapbook about hospitals came to be – 12:30
  • A short story on PBS “With Ossie and Ruby” – 17:50
  • Buzz words at Meetings – 29:38
  • Early advocacy for multicultural literature – 30:37
  • The value of art to society – 46:56
  • How our life’s work may hurt us – 49:20

COMING NEXT MONTH: Jeff LaFerney, YA author of time travel and sci-fi

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #26: Eugenia Fain

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Eugenia Fain is an author of poetry and prose.  She is also a songwriter and available on Amazon and Spotify.  Eugenia has forty years of experience in writing.  She is a preschool teacher and tutor.

She is published here and abroad; she is considered an international author.  Eugenia is featured in several anthologies.  She is published online, in print, ebook, and audiobook form.  She has no children of her own; but she resides in Columbia, SC with her husband, Ivan, and tabby cat, Buddy. 
Allpoetry.com  

Eugenia’s Readings:

  • Immortality, a glose poem – 13:12
  • A Song of Despair, a viator poem – 29:29
  • Dancing, a masnavi poem – 43:22

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • Glose poems: which comes first, the poem or the idea? – 17:35
  • Published in Norton’s Anthology at 11 – 24:17
  • Being positive vs admitting difficulty – 33:09
  • The complexity of forms – 36:56
  • Why love? – 45:05
  • Where do you hope your work is 100 years from now? – 50:29

COMING NEXT MONTH: Ernie Brill, poet

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #25: Melonie Johnson

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USA Today bestselling author Melonie Johnson―aka #thewritinglush―enjoys cheap wine, expensive beer, and sipping cocktails that start with the letter m. Declared a “writer to watch” by Kirkus and a “fizzy, engrossing new voice” by Entertainment Weekly, her smart funny contemporary romances include Too Good to Be Real and her award-winning Sometimes in Love debut series: Getting Hot with the Scot, Smitten by the Brit, and Once Upon a Bad Boy. A former high school English and Theatre teacher, she spends her days in her Star Wars office, dreaming up meet-cutes. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, their two redhead daughters, and one very large dog.
Meloniejohnson.com

Melonie’s Readings:

  • Too Good to be Real – 13:52
  • Getting Hot with the Scot – 27:05
  • Smitten by the Brit – 44:44

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Beer Americano Recipe

  • 1.5 oz. Campari
  • 1.5 oz. Sweet Vermouth
  • 3 oz. Lager Beer

Fill a collins glass with ice. Add the Campari and vermouth. Froth the beer using an Aerolatteor immersion blender and pour into the glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

Interview Highlights:

  • Easter Eggs vs Tropes – 21:20
  • Boozy Book Broads – 22:42
  • Winks & Nods – 36:34
  • The author in the characters – 52:54

COMING NEXT MONTH: Eugenia Fain, poet

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #24: Philip Watling

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Philip Watling lives in Milton Keynes, England with his American wife and their amazing cats, Spirit and Shadow. Unable to work, he still manages to do some… a zero-hour contract job that he can dip in and out of when he feels up to it! When not doing that, much of his week is spent at the gym, swimming and talking to everyone – socializing with people in the city center, seeing friends at various church-sponsored lunch clubs and chatting to lots of people – on line and off – trying to help as many as he can. His remaining time is spent playing with the cats, caring for his wife and volunteering at a local community fridge.
philipwatling
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Philip’s Readings (Read by Chris Powel):

  • Intro – 11:55
  • Hit by a Bus – 24:52
  • Falling out of bed – 43:25

Michael’s Beer Pairings:

Interview Highlights:

  • The coincidence that saved a life – 13:29
  • The dream job with horses – 16:05
  • How long can a person be dead? – 18:37
  • Reassessing values – 30:11
  • Goal in writing this book – 54:37

COMING NEXT MONTH: Freida Kilmari, fantasy author

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Episode #23: Cynthia Kraack and Joseph Tachovsky

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Cynthia Kraack is an author of fiction, short stories and nonfiction. 40 Thieves on Saipan was released by Regnery History in 2020 and received Best Book in Military History from the American Book Festival. The High Cost of Flowers won two 2014 Midwest Book Awards taking first in Literary Fiction and Contemporary Fiction. Her debut work, Minnesota Cold, won the 2009 Northeastern Minnesota Book Award for Fiction. She also wrote the Ashwood trilogy, a speculative fiction family saga. The Saturday Evening Post, Glimmer Train, Big Muddy Literary Journal and the Hal Prize competition have published or recognized her short stories. She has an MFA from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast Program in Creative Writing. She is a founding board member of Write On, Door County.
Cynthiakraack.com
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Joseph Tachovsky is the son of Lieutenant Frank Tachovsky, commanding officer of the 40 Thieves. Tachovsky knew nothing of his father’s heroic past beyond that he was a Marine in the Pacific until his father’s funeral in 2011. A eulogy was given in which a man recounted a story a wherein Lieutenant Tachovsky “saved every man in our unit” from a Japanese tank. This set him on a journey to discover everything he could about his father and the 40 Thieves. Tachovsky is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and currently resides in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
40thievessaipan.com
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Cynthia and Joseph’s Readings:

  • Four Woodpeckers – 13:48
  • Arello and Duley – 29:48
  • Pacts & Premonitions – 41:59

Michael’s Beer Pairings: 

Interview Highlights: 

  • The hardest part of writing such a book – 23:09
  • Why does it matter to tell the story of the 40 Thieves? – 24:52
  • Origins of the name “40 Thieves” – 35:18
  • Rivalry and stereotypes among the branches – 36:30
  • The Thieves as old men – 38:00
  • Do you believe in premonitions? – 47:42
  • What gives a 21-year-old the courage to face death? – 50:27
  • Lingering impacts of war – 52:58

COMING NEXT MONTH: Philip Watling: The car hit me….I died….

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

Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.