True Fiction Project

Hello, everyone! I'm thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Laila Khan Furniturewalla to the show. Laila comes from a renowned and multitalented family, led by her father, the legendary Indian filmmaker, actor, and writer, Feroz Khan. While her roots are in film, Laila has carved her path in mixed media art, drawing inspiration from Ganesha—the beloved elephant god honored across and reve...

Welcome everyone! Today, I am joined by guest Brian Gotta, a talented author and entrepreneur based in San Diego. Brian has written four youth sports novels and has recently ventured into adult fiction with his touching new book, Him , a story about a dog that will capture the hearts of all dog lovers. In this episode, we’ll dive into Brian’s journey as an author, the inspiration behind Him, and w...

I’m thrilled to introduce the imaginative world of children's author and illustrator Erika Silverman. Through engaging storytelling, Erika explores meaningful themes like self-esteem, perseverance, and inclusivity, helping young readers navigate bullying and self-doubt. We discuss how writing serves as both a creative escape and a powerful mission for her, leading to recognition from The New Y...

Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to welcome multi-award-winning children’s book author Renée Greene Murphy to the show this week. Renée is the author of Your Heart's Voice,  one of the first children’s picture books on intuition, which she lovingly dedicated to her younger brother, who tragically passed away in 2022. In this heartfelt episode, Renée shares the inspiration behind her book, how grief s...

Welcome to season 6 of the True Fiction Project Podcast! I’m thrilled to start this season off with my dear friend Rachana Devidayal. Rachana is a graphic design artist with a profound connection to her craft and the stories she tells through her work. In this episode, she opens up about her journey—why she chose a path different from her mother’s, how her struggles are reflected in her art and th...

In this revisited episode of the True Fiction Project Podcast, we are looking back at a True Fiction Fan Favorite episode with actor, writer, and stand up comedian Shenuque Tissera.     He shares his story of how he went from a Doctor of Geography to a Stand Up Comedian. He talks about the expectations his parents had of him after immigrating to the US, and his fear of disappointing them as he fak...

Welcome to this week’s True Fiction Project Podcast! During this special episode, we are mashing up three spooky authors: one a fiction author, another a paranormal writer and the third a writer of witch fantasy from Season 5. These episodes include The Girl in the Toile Wallpaper , The Pied Piper’s Prince and Whisper’s Most Foul.   All three stories have unique plots and will make your spine ting...

Welcome to this revisited episode of the True Fiction Project. Traci DeForge, CEO and Founder of Produce Your Podcast, interviews Lynn Moon (CEO) and Shannon Peason (CFO), Co-Founders of the publisher, Indignor House, about Reenita’s new book she launched back in July of 2024! Lynn and Shannon share a bit about the type of authors they typically work with, and how they became connected to Reenita....

Hi everyone! This week, I am thrilled to introduce Doyle Glass, a former criminal prosecutor, an American historical novelist, and a sculptor who brings us the powerful story of the young men who fought in Vietnam. Doyle's journey is one of passion, perseverance, and the desire to preserve the untold stories of those who served. His book, Swift Sword , is a tribute to the Vietnam War veterans...

Hi everyone! This week, I am excited to introduce Melody Fowler, a passionate creative who brings a story to us ranging over several decades. The inspiration for this historical fiction novel comes from her husband’s grandmother, Loucindia . She died at the age of 97 but left behind a life-long trail of stories. Melody reads an excerpt from her book How We Healed which tells of Loucindia facing th...

This week, I am excited to introduce paranormal writer Gina Lynelle Schaefer. The stories she shares throughout the episode are quite fascinating and it is inspiring to learn more about her writing process and how she is inspired by real life events. She shares about her personal contributions and how she pulls them into stories, as well as her experience with capturing ghosts. Gina reads an excer...

Welcome to the True Fiction Project! From historical fiction to adult romances, Amy True is a wonderful storyteller. Amy shares the various female protagonists she showcases in her stories, and who she got the inspiration from. She explains how she creates her characters and the process of writing historical fiction. Amy then shares what led her to add adult romance to her list of books. Tune in t...

Welcome to the Season of the Witch! This week I am joined by Emma MacDonald, a storyteller of witch fantasy. We talk about all things witches from black and white witches, to herbal witches. Emma explains how she uses witchcraft in her life, and how it is different from the outcasted witches of the past. She shares what inspired her to write her novel Whispers Most Foul about a college student who...

Hello everyone! This week, on the True Fiction Project , I am joined by screenplay writer and professor of film and media, Candace Egan. Candace shares about how she works on a variety of different genres from horror to comedy pieces. She talks about her latest piece, Second Set which is a twist on getting a second chance to do something you would never expect. Candace describes her writing and re...

I can’t wait for you to meet my guest this week, singer and songwriter, Bill Abernathy. Bill started in the music world at 19, then shifted to work in the corporate world for 40 years and has come back around to music! Many of his songs are based around sci-fi and the political world that we are experiencing today. Tune in to hear his song Save Your Drama for Your Mama and if you are a paid substa...

Hey everyone! In this episode, I’m excited to introduce two amazing storytellers and writers to the show, Jodie Anders and Eric Rosswood. This week we are discussing their collaboration writing Queer Cheer and why it was so important to them to represent the queer teen community. We discuss identity, book bans, and the difference that teens are making in the queer community. Jodie shares a “News A...

Hey everyone! Welcome to this week's episode of the True Fiction Project . Today I’m honored to talk with Sathya Saran and learn her story about rising in the editorial world in India that was typically dominated by men. Sathya shares her experience in journalism and explains how she turned around and brought success to the magazine’s Femina India and Me Magazine for the DNA, Daily News and An...

Hey everyone! Welcome to this week's True Fiction Project. India's celebrating its 78th Independence Day, and we've got a treat for you. A few years back, Shukla Lal shared her Partition story (which we have linked to below). Today, I'm excited to continue that thread with her niece and my lifelong friend, Miel Sahgal. Miel talks about growing up with her inspiring grandfather, his...

Welcome to this week's episode of the True Fiction Project ! I am honored to have author and poet, Bhakti Mathur join the show. Bhakti is the author of two children’s series titled Amma, Take Me and Amma, Tell Me , which were inspired by exploring new places with her children. Aside from writing, Bhakti is also a bibliotherapist, who helps clients explore their emotions and heal through the us...

Welcome to this week's episode of the True Fiction Project ! Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey of Mary K. Savarese, an "overnight success" who discovered her passion for writing after becoming an empty nester. In this episode, Mary shares how her life experiences have shaped her unique storytelling style, and why she loves to explore different genres and projects. Mary cap...

Welcome to Season 5 of the True Fiction Project . We are kicking off this episode with something a little different. Traci DeForge, CEO and Founder of Produce Your Podcast, interviews Lynn Moon (CEO) and Shannon Peason (CFO), Co-Founders of the publisher, Indignor House, about the new book they are launching July 15, 2024 , written by our very own Reenita Hora! Lynn and Shannon share a bit about t...

Welcome to this week’s True Fiction Project Podcast. During this episode we are highlighting guests from my homeland, India. First you will hear poetry titled Sea Link, My Place and The Kohinoor, Mughal Sequence , written and read by Anand Thakore about life and letting go. Next, you will hear an excerpt from the story Toddy Trails , written by yours truly, about the adventures of a baker who ran...

Welcome to this week’s True Fiction Project Podcast. During this special episode, we are mashing up two fantasy fiction author interviews and true fiction pieces from season 4! These episodes include Mr. Taffles Pants of Insanity and New Rock, New Role. Both stories have unique plots and are sure to make you laugh! Tune in today to hear interview snippets and full story stories from each episode!...

In this revisited episode of the True Fiction Project Podcast, actor, writer, and stand up comedian Shenuque Tissera shares his story of how he went from a Doctor of Geography to a Stand Up Comedian. He talks about the expectations his parents had of him after immigrating to the US, and his fear of disappointing them as he faked his graduation and dropped out of graduate school. We hear all about...

In this revisited episode of the True Fiction Project Podcast, Traci DeForge, Founder and CEO of Produce Your Podcast, is back on the podcast as we talk about Reenita’s book, Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mother a Life and a Man. Reenita’s publisher, Dr. Morissa Schwartz joins the conversation as well. Dr. Schwartz is the Founder and CEO of Dr. Rissy’s Writing & Marketing and GenZ Publishin...