Living The Next Chapter: Candid Conversations with Authors and Writers for Readers Searching for a New Read

EPISODE 621 - Deborah Lee Luskin - Hunting for Your Next Great Read - Reviving Artemis - The Making of a Huntress Deborah Lee Luskin earned a PhD in English Literature from Columbia University and expected to become an academic, not a deer hunter. She moved from New York City to Vermont for the summer in 1984, fell in love with the landscape, the community, and the new doctor in town. Forty years...

EPISODE 620 - Jill MacLean - Canadian Author of a Poetry Collection, Non-fiction Historical biography, Young Reader and Young Adult Novels Jill MacLean is the Canadian author of a poetry collection, a non-fiction historical biography, three novels for young readers, two young adult novels, and The Arrows of Mercy, historical fiction for adults set in medieval England, released in 2023. The Arrows...

EPISODE 619 - Alex R. Johnson - Brooklyn Motto A coming-of-age,  New York-centric, detective noir debut ALEX R. JOHNSON Johnson’s feature film TWO STEP premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW and went on to become a New York Times Critic’s Pick, as well as remaining 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. His screenplay NORTHEAST KINGDOM was selected for the Black List. It was acquired by Paramount Pictures...

Episode 618 - Heidi Bacon - Ratliner - Fictional Stories with Roots in History, Archaeology, Genealogy  Heidi Bacon is an American novelist who uses her experience as a former Realtor, artist, filmmaker, and researcher and draws on her family history to weave historical fiction stories. When not writing, Heidi likes to paint, teach art classes and oversee The Artist Sanctuary, an arts nonprofit or...

EPISODE 617 - Elizabeth Johnstone - Loss Within Waves, a heartfelt and poignant exploration of perinatal loss, stillbirth Elizabeth Johnstone is a certified mindfulness instructor and has spent more than 15 years serving as a counselor and advocate for students struggling with mental health issues. Elizabeth’s unique blend of expertise and empathy is not only evident in her career, but also throug...

EPISODE 616 - Michael Conte - Route 80 is an honest journey through family, identity, and the cost of loyalty Michael was raised in Queens, caught between the disciplined life his mother offered and the legacy of his father—a man whose world revolved around loyalty, respect, and danger. From lavish weddings that erupt into brawls to road trips that end behind prison walls, Michael’s story unfolds...

Episode 615 - Trevor Jones - The Fantasy World of Kinthur - Created for my Dungeons and Dragons Games  Welcome, Traveler To the Official Home of the World of Kinthur I’m glad you’ve found your way here—whether by chance, curiosity, or the call of adventure. I’m Trevor Jones, fantasy author and world builder, and this is the heart of Kinthur: a realm of ancient magic, fallen kingdoms, and stories f...

Episode 614 - Jonathan Stanley - Restoring Humanity to the Workplace, A Viral Tik Tok Clip, and Selling 12 Books I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, kindness, and encouragement from every corner of the world. You inspire me every single day. To my readers, thank you. Without you, my words would have stayed quiet on the page. Your support gave this book a voice, and that voice...

Episode 613 - Dennis A. Blackledge - Working professional in the American Theatre, Writer and Short Story Creator Dennis A. Blackledge has spent a lifetime immersed in storytelling as a working professional in the American Theatre. As a writer, he has authored articles for Blue Suede News Magazine , written the script for the annual yearend radio broadcast of Rock & Roll Heaven (2005-2009), pl...

EPISODE 612 - Chris Kauzlarich - Short Story Collection, Menagerie in the Dark, And The Suspense Horror Novella, LAZARUS Chris is the author of the short story collection, Menagerie in the Dark, and the suspense horror novella, LAZARUS. He is also a member of The Authors Guild, AWP, and the Chicago Writers Association. In addition to writing and reading extensively, he enjoys hiking, playing video...

Episode 611 - Nick Peck - Award-Winning Journalist, Only Way Out, A Son and Brother That Finds His Way Nick Peck, a California native, is an award-winning journalist who has primarily covered the world of finance and law and has garnered significant recognition for his work in the industry. Before starting his journalism career, Nick earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Upper I...

Bonus - November Will Have 30 Episodes in 30 Days of Living The Next Chapter National Podcast Post Month is a November challenge every year to produce and release an episode every day - Starting Nov 1st, we will be releasing 30 episodes featuring amazing authors! If you love what we do here, please consider supporting the show financially via our Buy Me A Coffee link https://buymeacoffee.com/truem...

Episode 610 - Marianne Leone - Actor in The Sopranos, Three Stooges, Author of Five Dog Epiphany, Ma Speaks Up And a First-Generation Daughter Talks Back and Jesse A Mother’s Story Marianne Leone grew up seven miles outside of Boston, in the village of Nonantum that everybody called “the Lake,” a small blue-collar enclave of a larger city, Newton. Lake dwellers were pretty evenly divided between I...

Episode 609 - Kristin Aurelia - SHE Wise Publications, illuminate, guide, and empower souls on their journey Meet Kristin Aurelia Kristin Aurelia grew up in a small town in New England and currently resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She is a Soul-Led Author, Podcaster, Public Speaker, Coach and Teacher. Additionally, she is a Certified Health Coach (CHC), NASM Certified Nutrition Co...

EPISODE 608 - Paul J.C. Edge - Mercurial Novels to Unleash Your Imagination, and a Local Bakeshop Paul J.C. Edge is a leading independent author , his works include the gritty Summer Haven and Book of Xaal Sci-Fi horror trilogies, fusing his love of space sagas, fantasy and Lovecraftian gothic horror stories. Paul studied IT at university, which included modules in Astro Physics, which built real...

Episode 607 - M C Paas - Debut novel Broken Rules of The Hunt and of the Fight- Dark romantic suspense M.C.Paas writes dark romantic suspense where happily ever after is earned through shadows, secrets, and a heartbeat of danger. Her obsession with storytelling began at fourteen with a single poem and has grown into six completed manuscripts that blend pulse pounding stakes with sinful chemistry....

EPISODE 606 - Claire Isenthal - Balancing Family and Writing, An Adventurous Duology Made to Order Claire Isenthal grew up traveling all over the world with her family. She graduated from Purdue University and went on to live in Chicago where she worked in Digital Marketing and Ad Sales for over ten years. She has since relocated her family back to her Indiana hometown, but is still an avid travel...

EPISODE 605 - Jayne Mills - BOTTOM OF THE BREATH - Seeking Answers in The Grand Canyon, Using Our Write Brain Like both my mother and my daughter, I have always loved to read. I also dreamed of writing a book someday. In fact, as a young person, I planned to be a writer by profession. Life, however, has a way of reminding us that we’re not in charge. In the book, Cyd’s aunt tells her, “Man plans a...

EPISODE 604 - Anne Louise O'Connell - Author, developmental book editor and partner publisher  About the author Author, developmental book editor and partner publisher, Anne Louise O’Connell, was a long-time expat, returning to Canada in 2016 after enjoying the sun and sand of Florida, Dubai and Thailand over a span of 23 years. Anne worked in the PR field for 17 years and then decided it was...

EPISODE 603 - Shannon Russell - Second Act Success - Leave unfulfilling careers to build joyful, purpose-driven businesses I spent over 16 years as a Television Producer overseeing multi-million dollar productions in New York City and Los Angeles working for companies like MTV, E! Entertainment, Yahoo!, Pop Sugar, A&E, TLC, etc. My second act began once I leapt into entrepreneurship and opened...

EPISODE 602 - Leslie A Rasmussen - TV Writer for Gerald McRaney, Alf, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey to Author of Books on Family Leslie A. Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, The Wild Thornberrys, and Sweet Valley High. Af...

EPISODE 601 - Cal Logan - ShadowBane - One womb, one soul, two fates. One will rise. One will fall A full-time personal trainer and competitive powerlifter, Cal started writing seriously in 2017, drawing inspiration from history, his time spent practicing mixed martial arts, and of course, books. Cal lives in Chicago with his wife, Taylor, and his dachshund, Rizzo. At the end of the day, I’ll be h...

Episode 600 - Dominick Domasky - Celebrating 600 Episodes, Tap Into Your Creativity, Go Beyond Learning, Embrace Starting Episode 600 brings the return of Dom Domasky - every one hundred episodes of Living The Next Chapter, Dom returns to celebrate a podcast idea that he gave me 600 episodes ago Dom shares publishing inside information and how we as creatives need to engage in action over informat...

Episode 599 - Gary Barnes - The Traction Coach, On a mission to empower everyone that he connects with My name is Gary Barnes, and it's my mission in life to help people find more creativity, passion, fulfillment, and, yes, wealth in their businesses. To do that, I help people just like you to learn how to get past their self-defeating behaviors. And I help business creators to: Stop running...

E598 - Imagination Wizard Jason DeGray Writes About Those Left Behind with his Typewriter - A Space Western and Weird Fiction Universe About the author Imagination Wizard Jason DeGray conjures vivid worlds of adventure, from the lawless deserts of Those Left Behind to the cosmic horrors of The Dark Goddess. A master storyteller, he crafts tales of defiance, brotherhood, and survival that grip fans...