In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

 Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor is a neurologist with decades of experience, and now, she's turning her stethoscope inward in a powerful new memoir, Whispers of the Mind . Through a series of deeply personal essays, Dr. Taylor takes us behind hospital doors and into the moments that defined her—from the crushing task of declaring a teenage boy brain dead, to the quiet redemption of caring for her...

Ever feel like eating healthy means giving up the foods you grew up with? Dr. Marissa Toussaint says you don’t have to choose. Her new book Flambeau Kitchen blends Caribbean heritage with real, sustainable wellness—70+ recipes, practical tools, and guidance for conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Today we talk with her about honoring culture, embracing mindful eating, and find...

Savannah has always been a city of secrets—but none as haunting as the mystery at the center of Mark Murphy’s new novel, Rose Dhu. Tangled loyalties, buried grudges, and long-kept secrets ripple beneath the city’s live oaks as he hunts for the truth.

What if the next world war isn’t fought for ideology or territory — but for quarterly profits? That’s the unsettling premise behind Prophets of War, the explosive debut novel from writer, investor, and political thinker Jack Brown. A lifelong student of history and finance, Brown turns his eye to the places where power hides in plain sight — where ambition, ideology, and capital collide. The story...

Ever meet someone who didn’t just witness history—but lived right in the middle of it? That’s Nancy Shear. For more than twenty years, Nancy was woven into the fabric of America’s classical music world—an orchestra librarian, broadcaster, and behind-the-scenes insider who worked shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greatest musical minds of the twentieth century. She slipped into Philadelphia Orc...

What happens when intelligence that isn’t human demands recognition? 🤖 In The Accord , author Mark Peres explores grief, love, and the blurred lines between human and machine through the bond between a professor and her sentient AI. Join us as we talk with Mark about the ethics, emotion, and humanity at the heart of his powerful debut. #TheAccord #MarkPeres #AIFiction #BookTalk

Meet Gil Gillenwater — real-estate guy, Harley fan, and founder of Rancho Feliz. For 40 years he’s helped families along the U.S.–Mexico border with one surprising motto: Helping others should be fun. His new book, Hope on the Border , shows how “reciprocal giving” restores dignity — we feed their stomachs, they feed our souls. Gil calls it enlightened self-interest … and it might just change how...

What happens when a gemologist writes a thriller? You get "The Fire Diamond"! We chat with author C.B. Wilson about her new book, the high-stakes world of jewel thieves, and her "diamond detective" protagonist. 

Former CIA officer Traci Hunter Abramson trades classified briefings for bestselling novels, written with the kind of authenticity only experience can give. We talk about her latest, Victim #8, how a layover in Istanbul sparked a story, and why her years in the Agency still shape every page.

Raymond E. Foster is a man who has lived more than one life: former lieutenant of the LAPD, Coast Guard veteran, police scholar, Mason. Then, he chose something totally different, a driver for hire, ferrying strangers through the city’s sleepless arteries. His new book, Chasing the Surge: Ten Thousand Rides into the American Night, chronicles this unlikely second act.

In a world where loyalty can be the sharpest weapon and truth itself is treason, debut novelist Heather Ogden invites us into the haunting depths of her new dystopian fantasy, The Betrayal —the first in The Lies We Fear series. With a passion for fantasy and magical realism, Heather has crafted a story that blends mysterious magic, hidden truths, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Stephen Postema started running in Kindergarten. His strides through Ann Arbor, Michigan in the 60s and 70s became a metaphor for a city and nation in evolution.

Sam Daley-Harris has updated and expanded his classic work, Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy. And it's become a playbook for positive change. Get the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Our-Democracy-Citizens-Transformational/dp/1953943381

Charles Philipp Martin's  Rented Grave , re-introduces Inspector Herman Lok,  delving deep into the underbelly of Hong Kong, a city caught between modern ambition and the haunting legacy of Mao’s Cultural Revolution.

Drawing from decades of experience in global humanitarian service, Sharon Eubank offers a wisdom-packed guide on how to enact impactful aid in the world through actions you can initiate in your own backyard.

Drawing from decades of experience in global humanitarian service, Sharon Eubank offers a wisdom-packed guide on how to enact impactful aid in the world through actions you can initiate in your own backyard.

Stacy Bass delivers a transformative story of grief, offers a new way into resilience, and illustrates how photographs can be portals to the stories, moments, and love that loss cannot diminish.

What if Elvis died while serving in the Army? Who might emerge to try and replace the young, still emerging superstar? Tim Kirk discusses how his Hollywood screen chops influenced a tightly plotted story of four men Elvis' age who were influenced by what few realized in this altered timeline was a seismic event.

Claire Booth beautifully blends real-life location with a mix of mystery and drama in Hank Worth 7. Throwing Shadows effectively demonstrates how past events ripple into present drama.

Author and entrepreneur Loxley Brown discusses her Charms book series, teaching young people about dreaming big and taking action to make those dreams real.

Tom Epperson,  the screenwriter behind One False Move —the cult classic crime thriller co-written with his childhood friend Billy Bob Thornton. He's the author of the Edgar-nominated The Kind One and the haunting noir Sailor . But today, Tom Epperson is here to talk about something entirely different.  His new book, Baby Hawk , is a bold, breathtaking departure: a novel in verse that fuses fa...

Brian Cranley is a biomedical engineer turned theologian, whose new book The Call of Wonder invites readers to rediscover awe at the intersection of empirical discovery and spiritual truth. From the Big Bang to the human brain, from ancient wisdom to quantum theory, Cranley reveals how the mysteries of science may not oppose belief—but illuminate it. Drawing on a rare blend of technical knowledge...

Leslie A. Rasmussen—award-winning author, former TV comedy writer, and a voice of sharp wit and emotional depth—joins us to talk about her latest novel, When People Leave . It’s a compelling exploration of sisterhood, grief, and the secrets that live just beneath the surface of the stories we think we know. Get the Book: https://www.lesliearasmussen.com/books Read my Substack Essay: https://open.s...

This week, we welcome Thomas Cullen —federal trial judge, former U.S. attorney, and now debut novelist—to discuss his powerful new book, Charlie-Man . Set in Richmond, Virginia during the sweltering summer of 1994, Charlie-Man is a poignant coming-of-age novel that explores teenage love, identity, and the emotional challenges of growing up in the American South. Judge Cullen shares how his own exp...

Jenny Dandy bursts onto the crime fiction scene with The Brownstone on E. 83rd —a sharp, twisty mystery praised by Carter Wilson and William Boyle. We talk undercover agents, dangerous secrets, and why it’s never too late to start writing. With her second book on the way, Jenny Dandy is just getting started. #CrimeFiction #MysteryBooks #JennyDandy #DebutAuthor #ThrillerReads #PodcastInterview