Book Crew

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely sit down with bestselling author and legal thriller legend William Bernhardt for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, creator rights, perseverance, and the realities of building a writing career. Bernhardt dives deep into his newest book, The Superman Wars, a gripping narrative […] The post William Bernhardt...

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Beth A. Freely and Dirk Hooper tackle the rapidly changing world of indie publishing, from Draft2Digital’s new account and maintenance fees to Barnes & Noble Press limiting accounts to 100 titles. They discuss how AI-generated “slop books” are reshaping the industry, why indie authors must start thinking like […] The post Self Publishing in Crisis? AI,...

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew Podcast, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely welcome science fiction romance author Kathleen Osborne. Kathleen shares the story of finally pursuing her lifelong dream of writing after retiring from multiple careers, how she turned one chaotic first manuscript into multiple novels, and why short fiction anthologies helped her […] The post Writing Science Fiction...

Blurb In this episode of Book Crew, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely dive deep into one of the biggest questions writers face: should you plot your book or write by the seat of your pants? Dirk reveals his evolving plotting system, complete with notebooks, note cards, character arcs, and beat sheets, while Beth explains […] The post The Novel Plotting Process: From Brainstorming to Beat Sheets...

Blurb After a long break, Book Crew is back, and this catch-up episode is packed with real-life challenges, creative momentum, and exciting plans for the future. Dirk Hooper shares his journey through a health scare and a complete tech overhaul that derailed everything, while Beth A. Freely reveals just how prolific she’s been, dropping books, […] The post Writing Through Chaos – Real Talk f...

Blurb This episode of Book Crew dives deep into the art of historical storytelling, as Beth A. Freely delivers a powerful breakdown of how to balance research, imagination, and emotional truth in fiction. From samurai armor to pirate footwear, and even the hidden pitfalls of “presentism,” this conversation explores what truly brings a story to […] The post How to Turn Research Into Storytell...

Blurb In this high-energy episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely sit down with powerhouse indie author Vic Leigh, who has written 22 books in just five years. From building a publishing company to champion indie authors, Vic shares her fast-paced writing process, the secrets behind her productivity, and how she’s […] The post 22 Books, 5 Years: The Power of Consistent Wri...

Blurb This episode of Book Crew dives into the traditional publishing journey with author Veronica Leigh, who shares how writing nearly 50 short stories, and enduring countless rejections, helped her break into the industry. Hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely explore the power of persistence, the craft of short fiction, and the realities of […] The post From Rejections to 3-Book Deal, Inte...

Blurb On this episode of Book Crew, Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely dive deep into the world of “The City of Magicians” with author Peter Gribble, exploring pacifism, power, and the moral cost of complacency in the face of invasion. The conversation ranges from the incredible impact of the Book Fest on indie authors […] The post Interview with Author Peter Gribble first appeared o...

Blurb In this inspiring and deeply human episode of Book Crew, hosts Dirk Hooper and Beth A. Freely welcome author and activist Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, whose powerful novel Saving KC imagines an alternate fate for the late Karen Carpenter. With heartfelt honesty, Buzz shares how the pandemic, a YouTube rabbit hole, and his own personal […] The post Interview with Author Grinnell “Buzz” D...