Two Hearts and One Braincell: Cassidy Carson & JT Hume Amateur Hour

Cassidy Carson and JT Hume welcome poet, animal advocate, and ghostwriter Peggy Rew to the Nevada Author Network. Peggy discussed her multifaceted and prolific lifestyle as a talented wordsmith, her experiences in ghostwriting, and her mission to advocate for dogs through her writing. They discuss the nuances of being a ghostwriter versus a co-writer, the importance of understanding canine communi...

Hello from the Carson City, Nevada Headquarters for the 2025 Race to Wrigley ! Today’s podcast had more than the usual amount of caffeine and endorphins.  As usual, we opened our award-winning podcast with current events and where we are in our respective books, and we talked about our upcoming appearances: October 11, 2025 – All Day : Sierra Arts Foundation Bookfest, Sparks, Nevada. October 18, 2...

John Glionna, a former LA Times correspondent, shares insights from his career as a journalist and author with Cassidy Carson and JT Hume from the "CC & JT Amateur Hour". He discusses his book " Rebels and Outliers: Real Stories of the American West ," which features real stories from the American West, emphasizing themes of resilience and community. Glionna reflects on his...

In today’s episode of  our award-winning podcast , we discuss our emotional and financial investments in our independent writing and publishing careers (high level), and the results of our energy (low to non-existent). It's hard to spend thousands of hours to write, edit, and publish a book, only to drop it into the vast nothingness called "sales." We talk about this emotional hurdle...

For the Nevada Author Network, we interview Jade Griffin who explores the intricacies of her writing processes, the challenges of marketing, and the personal experiences that shape an author's journey. Jade shares insights into her creative process, her inspirations, and the importance of community in the literary world. The discussion also touches on the balance between writing and personal life,...

"The CC & JT Amateur Hour" welcomes northern Nevada author Angela Laverghetta who shares her journey into writing modern and historical fantasy. She discusses her books, the influence of Arthurian legend on her work and how she blended it with Carson City landmarks, and her experiences with self-publishing and marketing. The conversation delves into the challenges of book cover design, the les...

In this episode of the Nevada Author Network, we interview author Gavin Black who shares his journey from a sickly child to a successful writer and, just maybe, a Hollywood success story. Gavin discusses the influence of science fiction on his writing, his novel “The Friend Exchange,” and the transition from prose to screenwriting. He also touches on personal experiences with family and Alzheimer'...

In today's episode of our award-winning podcast , we discuss our experiences as independent authors, focusing on the challenges of book marketing, the fear of success, and the psychological factors that influence our writing journey. We share our personal stories about being recognized in public, the pressures of visibility, and the importance of finding a balance between comfort and ambition....

In this episode of the “CC and JT Amateur Hour,” we interview British writer and teacher Anthony Addis. He discusses his experiences living and teaching internationally, his writing journey, and the inspirations behind his novels. Anthony shares insights into his creative process, the challenges he faces as a writer, and the impact of personal experiences on his storytelling. He also offers advice...

In this episode of the Nevada Author Network, Cassidy Carson interviews J.T. Hume, author and Air Force veteran. They discuss Hume's background, his writing journey, and the importance of crafting strong female characters. Hume shares insights into his genre preferences, particularly his love for sci-fi and the authenticity of rural Nevada in his writing. The conversation also touches on Hume's fu...

For episode 232 of our award-winning podcast to help writers write , we talk about book signings. If you’re like me, writing and publishing a book is the easy part when compared to marketing. But sales promotion is essential to create that connection between you and your audience. That means you have to make an effort to put your voice, face, and body in the public arena. In this podcast, we talk...

Cassidy Carson and JT Hume welcome Alice Osborn to the Nevada Author Network. She outlines the intersection of poetry, songwriting, and the historical narrative of the Donner Party. She draws on her experiences of being a published poet for over twenty years with four books of poetry, and her three CDs, with her latest focusing on the women of the Donner Party. Alice shares her journey as a poet a...

We welcome Justin Eger to the "CC & JT Amateur Hour" who shares his journey from journalism to fiction writing, discussing the challenges of self-promotion and the inspiration behind his latest book, " The Witness ." He reflects on the impact of the pandemic on his writing, the thematic elements in his work, and the joys and dreads of being a writer. Justin also shares pers...

Cassidy Carson and JT Hume from the Nevada Author Network interview Jade Griffin, a multifaceted creator known for her horror adventure novels and contributions to tabletop role-playing games. They explore her creative process, the development of her characters, particularly Lacey Moore, and the unique challenges of merging writing with visual art. Jade shares insights into her inspirations, the i...

For episode 231 of our award-winning podcast , it's our "July Wrap-Up" show with a return to our podcast's basic mission statement. CC published " #passionrestored " on July 24, and she did a media blitz that included a live interview on KOLO8 in Reno, Nevada. Release Week was a roller coaster. Here's that interview . We posted writer interviews in July through the...

For the Nevada Author Network, Cassidy Carson and JT Hume interview Dr. Danny Nielsen, a postdoctoral researcher and author of “Straight Flossin' and Other Stories of the American West.” Dr. Nielsen discusses his background in ecology and conservation biology, his writing journey, the challenges of memoir writing, and the profound influence of Nevada's landscapes on his work. He shares insights on...

We welcome Joel C. Flanagan-Grannemann to the “CC and JT Amateur Hour.” Joel is an award-winning fantasy author known for his series “Servants of the Moon and Sun.” He shares the inspiration behind his books, his journey back to writing after a break, and the collaborative process with his wife and editor, Jay-Jay Flanagan-Grannemann. Joel also discusses the joys and challenges of writing, the inf...

For the Nevada Author Network , Cassidy Carson discusses her new book ' #passionrestored ', a paranormal romance featuring later-in-life characters. She shares insights into her writing journey, the innovative research techniques she employed, and the challenges faced during the cover design process, including navigating the use of AI. The discussion also touches on her collaborative writi...

For episode 230 (not 229) of our award-winning podcast to help writers write, we’re giving ourselves a pep talk. We are rapidly approaching another book release, and as CC says, we’re on a rollercoaster of emotions. We try to answer the Big Question: why do we keep doing this to ourselves?  Bottom Line: If you’re a writer, don’t minimize publishing a book. It’s a fantastic achievement. We’ve kept...

Cassidy Carson and JT Hume from the Nevada Author Network welcome spicy romance author and theater major Lynda Bailey to discuss her journey in writing, the appeal of small-town settings, and the importance of happily-ever-after (HEAs) in romance. They explore common misconceptions about romance writers, the balance of language in spicy romance, and the value of expert coaching in writing. Lynda s...

"The CC & JT Amateur Hour" is honored and humbled to host Dr. Deborah Derrickson Kossmann who discusses her memoir 'Lost Found Kept,' which explores her complex relationship with her mother and the impact of hoarding on their family dynamics. The discussion delves into the themes of loss, discovery, and the emotional journey of writing a memoir. Dr. Kossmann shares insights o...

In this episode of the Nevada Author Network podcast, we are joined by Jacci Turner, a prominent figure in the Northern Nevada writing community. We discuss Jacci's journey as an author, her experiences with writing for different age groups, and the influence of her background as a marriage and family therapist on her work. The conversation also delves into the themes present in her books, inc...

For episode 229 of our award-winning podcast⁠ , we had a great June with so much fun. Starting off, CC finally got to do our title and cover reveal of #Passionrestored , years in the making. She received love for the cover, and the book is getting preorders on Amazon . We’ll get it up on the other platforms this week. On the same day of the reveals. June 26, we went to Virginia City--the setting o...

In this week's engaging podcast episode for the Nevada Author Network, JT Hume, Cassidy Carson, and Suzanne Morgan Williams delve into Suzanne's writing journey, including her notable works "Bull Rider" and "Sierra Blue." From the time Suzanne wrote her first book, "Made in China, Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China," to the present, her work has taken her into classrooms to connect with stude...

It Is not an understatement to label Rich Moreno as a “Nevada history legend.” The former publisher of Nevada Magazine based in Carson City, he is the author of fourteen books, including Frontier Fake News: Nevada’s Sagebrush Hoaxsters and Humorists for the University of Nevada Press and The Roadside History of Nevada for Mountain Press. His other works include A Short History of Reno , Nevada Cur...