Desideratum

This is a thriller. It’s the story of an FBI agent and a homicide detective working together to catch a serial killer with a chilling perspective on killing.

You'll hear narrator Erin deWard bringing all the chills and characters to life in your ear. We'll talk about why and how she does it, and you'll hear author Leanne Kale Sparks talk about how she maps out and finds the 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' in her crime stories.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media you’ll hear several tense moments from the audiobook. Dreamscape is an independent, award winning audiobook publisher. I’m honored that they support this podcast and I hope you’ll visit them at dreamscapepublishing.com where you can sign up for a weekly newsletter that has audiobook deals and giveaways.      

Thanks to The Colorado Sun for shining their light on Leanne Kale Sparks work. I listen to the Daily Sun Up podcast and on Sundays I check out the SunLit features on authors put together by editor Kevin Simpson. Check it out at coloradosun.org and look for the Daily Sun Up wherever you found this podcast.

The Wrong Woman won the Colorado book award in the thriller category. I love that Colorado Humanities celebrates storytellers in my home state. You can find the winners and finalists in all the genre categories at coloradohumanities.org. 

A big thank you to author Leanne Kale Sparks, narrator Erin deWard, audiobook Producer Erick Black and all the fine folks at Dreamscape media for bringing The Wrong Woman audiobook to life and sponsoring this episode. Dreamscape Media’s catalog includes bestselling audiobooks, children’s educational videos, prominent independent authors, and much much more.  I connected with author Leanne Kale Sparks through Kim Weiss at PR by the Book. You'll find links for all these great folks below.

As always, thank you for listening.

This is a story about a beautiful, powerful woman who captured the imagination of historical fiction author Shana Abè.

We’re talking about Arabella Huntington, the intriguing woman at the heart of An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age Inspired by the True Story of Arabella Huntington Who Became the Richest Woman in the Country.

This week we return to a favorite author of mine. Shana Abè first wowed me with her story about the 2nd Mrs Astor who was widowed by John Jacob Astor as she survived their honeymoon aboard the Titanic. In Shana’s new novel An American Beauty, she introduces us to another remarkable woman from history. The way she brings Arabella Huntington’s life into focus got me thinking about how we can all invent and reinvent ourselves.

I hope spending time with Shana Abe made you as happy as it did me. A big thanks to Shana, her publisher Kensington Press, her incredibly talented narrator Gail Shalan, Gail’s director Hilary Eurich and all the fine folks at Tantor Audio for bringing An American Beauty’s audiobook to life. 

This is a murder mystery. It's the second book in a 1920s series starring the prim, poor but clever, Annalee Spain - a fan of Sherlock Holmes - who solves murder and crime in Colorado's dangerous Klan era.

We’re talking with Colorado author Patricia Raybon about race and faith, why we love a good mystery, and how transparency is essential.

This is a real life story set in a vast land, the San Luis Valley of Colorado. It’s a huge flat prairie flanked by mountains, and it's far off the beaten path. Author Ted Conover takes us there in this Desideratum.

A desideratum is an essential thing and this story got me thinking about lots of essential things - like wide open spaces, what to do with a rattlesnake, the peace you find in silence, and the need for connection.

Ted Conover is perhaps best known for spending a year as a prison guard at the maximum security prison Sing Sing in New York. The book he wrote about that experience was called Newjack and it earned a National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction and made Ted a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. His work expands and deepens what we think of as Journalism.  He submerges himself in often uncomfortable situations and then takes readers along with him.

Today we’re talking about his latest immersive experience and book called Cheap Land Colorado. In his observation of small details side by side with his big picture perspectives, he paints a very complete picture with his own voice as narrator in your ear.

This is a story about a young woman running away and finding her home. It begins with the moment she decides to run, when she faces a painful truth about her boyfriend. 

We’re talking about A LIGHT IN THE FOREST - a Colorado Book Award Finalist - on this Desideratum.

A Desideratum is an essential thing. I’m audiobook narrator Theresa Bakken and I think this story is full of essential things.  This week we’re talking about being a work in progress with author Melissa Payne whose new novel A Light in the Forest got us talking about small towns, and pigs, and intuition.

Have you heard the story about the author who was in a grocery store, set up with a little table and a folding chair, selling his books one book at a time... when something life changing happened.

We’re talking about the crazy experience author Shawn Warner is having with his debut novel Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons Pierce Manor - how a small act of kindness from a stranger set off a ripple effect of good will for Shawn. You’re going to hear about his YA book featuring a girl and some ghosts who solve a murder mystery. You’ll hear some of his favorite scenes from the audiobook (read by me for Black Rose Writing and Podium Audio). And, Shawn talks openly and honestly about ADD, his military service, and his greatest adventure (his family!) on this Desideratum.

This is a story about a woman who slips through time..  

It's the day before Casey's 40th birthday, and her acting career and personal life are a disaster. Frantic to escape her own emptiness, she hops a plane to England and heads to the countryside to hide.

That’s when a lightning strike, a skidding car and a horse that might be magical send her through a gap in time to the Dark Ages.

We’re talking to author and narrator Petrea Burchard about her historical fantasy Camelot & Vine.

This is a story about a struggling writer who gets invited to a writing retreat. She's thrilled because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity with a famous horror novelist. The retreat takes place at a remote estate, where even the house has a dark and storied past. We’re talking about the NY Times bestseller The Writing Retreat, with author, therapist and creative coach Julia Bartz.

This is a story about a family.  It is a close up look at a father and daughter, at two sisters, at a husband and wife. But, it’s also this huge story about tradition and patriarchy and freedom. It felt like poetry to me at times.. and this conversation about it was so rich. We’re talking about In the Time of our History with author Susanne Pari on this Desideratum. 

The narrator Mozhan Marnò is an Iranian-American film and television actress and a playwright. She speaks English, French, German, Farsi, and Spanish.  She is known for her roles in The Blacklist, House of Cards, and Fleishman is in Trouble.  She is also the voice of Mirabelle and Namira in the video game Elder Scrolls- Skyrim. This audiobook scene you'll hear is from the beginning of In The Time of Our History, written by Susanne Pari, and produced by Highbridge, a division of Recorded Books. 

This is a collection of 10 classic short stories written over a hundred years ago, brought together in a carefully curated anthology. Each story gives a feminine perspective on marriage - its role in society and the personal beauty and pain that can be found within its bonds. We’re talking about Marriage from the Feminine Perspective annotated, published and narrated by Christine Mascott. The anthology earned Christine an Audiofile Earphones Award and a coveted Audie Finalist in the Short Stories and Collections category. Listen to what led her to these public domain, royalty free, stories from the past in the first place and find out why she thinks they still have something to say today.

This is a story about a girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1930’s - her family suffers one tragedy after another and she decides to escape the city and head to Yosemite… 

Where she crosses paths with a real person in history - a Park Ranger named Enid Michael. 

We’re talking about the historical fiction, The View From Half Dome, with author Jill Caugherty. 

Jill shares how her storyline and characters evolved.  It always fascinates me to hear how one idea built up from the last - how one thing leads to another. I also really liked hearing Jill explain contrast and its importance to this story.

The scene you’ll hear from the audiobook is young Izzy’s first real hike in Yosemite.  She’s with Enid and Ansel and Virginia Adams. Thanks to the publisher Black Rose Writing for giving me the joy of narrating this story. And, thank you for listening. Remember when you enjoy a book in any format, please leave a review - reviews actively help with marketing and improve visibility and sales - plus it’s just nice. 

This is a story set in what looks like a perfect neighborhood -  rocking chairs on covered porches, manicured lawns and families looking out for each other.   But in this story,  the illusion of perfect families and close friendships fractures when a child goes missing.  We’re talking about the novel The Perfect Neighborhood with author Liz Alterman.  Liz made me laugh and think deeply. I loved her perspectives on rejection and serendipity.  The scene you will hear from the audiobook is from one of my favorite narrators - Gail Shalan. The novel's suspense unfolds through five key perspectives, and the audiobook features five fantastic narrators. The audiobook was produced by Dreamscape.

This is a story about a string of murders - assassinations - of media pundits. They were extreme peddlers of their party's agendas, and their murders feel politically motivated. Assigned to the case is a group of grizzled and green FBI detectives. We're talking about the crime novel Code Gray with narrator Champ Westwood on this Desideratum.

Listen as Champ reveals what he appreciates about author Benny Sims intent. He loves how Sims grain of sand becomes a pearl as the story unfolds. Champ also explains his controversial process for prepping his audiobooks. And, you'll hear how his background in musical theater shapes his approach to the very intimate performance of audiobook narration.

(00:00) Introduction this is Such A Pretty Girl by T Greenwood

(02:15) Words are powerful and 1970's advertising cringe 

(04:52) Me too movement lens and two time lines give characters a reason to revisit their past 

(06:42) Child narrator storytelling give out of the mouth of babes moments

(08:27) Desire for something right out of reach and key to all stories is  

(10:51) Settings with danger children always need to be kept safe

(12:57) Anxiety and panic language and what soothes these feelings

(15:13) Photographers and taking or making an image 

(17:12) Art has context and changes over time and characters with grounded moral compass are critical to this story

(18:15) Audiobook excerpt introduction about Mara Wilson

(19:15) Audiobook excerpt narrated by Mara Wilson

(24:44) Predatory paparazzi thievery of image is allegory for losing agency over our bodies 

(27:04) Book is about complicity and women and betrayal 

(29:52) Mother Daughter relationships 

(31:43) French connection 

(32:39) Westbeth artists residence in NYC and historical fiction research serendipity and magic

(38:09) Conclusion what is essential to Tammy Greenwood 

This is a story set in NYC. It centers on a controversial photo taken of a young girl in 1977. Author Tammy (T) Greenwood tells the story through the eyes of this child model and actress who’s all grown up today with a daughter of her own. There is a striking generational mother daughter story here too, so that’s where we begin talking about the novel Such a Pretty Girl.

You'll hear an excerpt from the audiobook set in the Westbeth artist community in NY (which was a real place we’ll talk more about).  In the section of the audiobook we are featuring, you’re with the main character Ryan when she’s a child. And, your guide is narrator Mara Wilson - who herself is known for film acting rolls from her childhood. She was Natalie in Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, and she played the lead role in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda in 1996. Today she is a stage actress, a voice artist, a writer, and a playwright.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Tammy and talking about the '70's and motherhood and art as much as I did.  I hope you got lost in Mara Wilson’s narration - that hearing a few minutes of the audiobook for Such a Pretty Girl produced by Tantor left you wanting more.  

Thanks to Kensington Press for making this episode possible. 

Folly Park is a story about history, race, identity, and friendship. At its heart is a woman named Temple Preston and her old, crumbling, ancestral plantation in Virginia.  With the discovery of long hidden, disturbing family secrets, Temple gets wrapped up in exposing these family secrets as a way to save the ancestral home, until she begins to question whether it's really worth saving. 

Author Heidi Hackford talks about the character she eventually grew to like,  about the power of semantics, and about how her work at Monticello - and how people responded to it - helped shape this story. 

This is a story about a quiet, thoughtful man named Harlan Leblanc.  The story is about how and why Leblanc gets tangled up in a murder investigation. You'll hear from author James Wade about the action and the allegory he created, and about the ways he tried to mirror and balance the darkness and hope in this gritty tale.  We talk about the humor he found in indecision and inflammation.  And, how his young daughter is shifting his perspectives.  You'll feel narrator Roger Clark walking in the shoes and looking out through the eyes of the characters in an excerpt from the audiobook.  Roger has performed about a 100 audiobooks, worked in theater and film, and is best known for portraying Arthur Morgan in Rock Star games Red Dead Redemption. James thinks his reverence and grit are spot on for this story. 

Her new crime mystery 9 Days got us talking about tarot card readings and wondering if how the stars aligned at the time of our birth could shape or guide us...  That's because author Jule Selbo's new murder mystery 9 Days opens with a world famous astrologist confessing to murder.  When the astrologist's 12 year old son doesn't believe his mother is guilty, he hires Private Investigator Dee Rommel to find the truth in just 9 Days. Listen as Jule explains why being underestimated can be a good thing, where a family heirloom of hers turned up in the book, and how a fascination with superheroes worked its way into this story. 

The Deception is about life and death and the delicate veil between the two. The story spirals around an Illusionist running from her past, and a Medium whose past fame and spirit guide have abandoned her. The pliable Maud (the Medium known as the Maid of Light) and the clever Clementine (a master of tricks and illusions) join forces to find fame and fortune, but at what cost… does the end justify the means? 

Listen as author Kim Taylor Blakemore shares how she scoured history to find her own muses for this tale of authenticity and duplicity. We talk about how she delivers readers to an 1870’s New England that was romanced by spiritualism. We discuss her seductive and charming characters and rainy rainy setting with shades of gray ethics that will seep into your very bones. 

Ellen Marie Wiseman is drawn to the dark corners of history, where rumors and mystery shroud the truth. It's where she finds and develops characters who shine. Listen as she shares how her own history led her to write about hidden truths and social injustices.  We're talking about her new novel, The Lost Girls of Willowbrook, which is set in a real state run institution exposed back in 1972 for its atrocious abuses.  Ellen opens the novel with quotes from a real doctor who was there in 1972.  Dr. William Bronston's physician activism helped bring an end to the institution. He is joining Ellen for some of her book launch events.  You'll hear him describe how Ellen's storytelling takes him back in time, and you'll listen to a few minutes from the chapter of the audiobook that Dr. Bronston says affected him most profoundly. 

Author Carol Van Den Hende sought solace in writing and then committed to sharing what she learned about resilience with her readers. Her novels Goodbye Orchid and Orchid Blooming are about love, personal growth, and trauma recovery.  Listen to how she drew inspiration from combat wounded veterans. Find out why her own personal love story (how she met her husband)  influenced her characters' brushes with kismet.  Hear an excerpt of Carol narrating Goodbye Orchid,  and find out how she used her first novel's backstory to create her 2nd novel - Orchid Blooming - which launches this month. 

With a cast of many characters, telling the story from more than a dozen vantage points - Johnnie Bernhard takes readers on a journey with a widow and a sojourner in her new novel Hannah and Ariela.  Johnnie's connection to the land, the people, and the history of Texas shine through, but listen to how writing from all these different points of view challenged her and made her "put her ego in her back pocket". We talk about the layers of miracle and faith and we dig deeper into the real life tragedy of human trafficking at the heart of this harrowing fiction. 

She comes from a long line of resilient, resourceful, and quirky Colorado women, and she loves finding obscure historical facts to write about.  But, while Randi Samuelson Brown's new novel is rooted in the past, it's action and suspense are current and contemporary.  We're talking about book one in her new series featuring a Brand Inspector in Colorado cattle country.  It's called Brand Chaser and it's layered with history, mystery, danger, suspense and even a little romance.  We begin with what made Randi jump from writing about Colorado's colorful past to this modern take on the wild west. 

When was the last time you read a middle grade fiction? This week's featured author Heather Mateus Sappenfield will convince you it's time with her new novel The River Between Hearts. It’s an adventure with an almost-11 year old girl named Rill. It’s a story about friendship and compassion - and loss and longing.  You'll spend a few minutes with her main character Rill and her friend Perla in a reading that hints at the loss they both are struggling with. We also chat about why Heather creates characters with dyslexia and we find out how a former student's real life experiences informed the character Perla.

Welcome to Episode 50! We’re talking to author Elayne Audrey Becker about her novel Forestborn - a fantasy story about human frailty, self doubt, and the dangers of othering - all examined through a magical lens. We begin with Elayne sharing why she made her main character Rora a shapeshifter. 

You will hear a scene from Chapter 1 when Rora is working as a spy for the king - tracking cases of a deadly disease. The scene takes place in a forest where you can hear the vivid nature Elayne creates. You’ll also hear the skill of the narrator - Sofia Zervudachi - who Audiofile Magazine says "strikes just the right tone as Rora - introspective but self assured". 

In our conversation with Jeffrey Blount, we talk about foundations, race relations, thunderstorms, banana seat bicycles, and parenting. His novel The Emancipation of Evan Walls centers on the childhood of a boy in the late 1960’s who decides he wants to be somebody.  Jeffrey's characters frustrate, illuminate, foster empathy and inspire. The novel is not an audiobook yet, so I asked my friend and fellow narrator Earl Sewell to read for us. Earl is an author, narrator, and audio drama podcaster - and as he does with every project - he brought a lot of heart to this reading.

James Wade’s writing washed over me. I felt and heard the rhythm and tone he gave his novel River Sing Out. You’re going to hear some of the audiobook from his narrator Roger Clark - who has voiced about a hundred audiobooks, worked in theater and film, and is perhaps best known for portraying Arthur Morgan in Rock Star Games’ Red Dead Redemption.  But first, listen to James explain why his characters have vivid dreams -  why it’s so hard for him to give his characters names - and why he began this story with the origin of the Neches River.

I want to thank Lauren Maturo at Blackstone Publishing and Isabella Nugent at Blackstone Audio for connecting me with James and his work.

Tom Young's novel Red Burning Sky is told through characters with a lot of heart.  They don't accept impossible. This little known WWII story based on the daring Operation Halyard will have you holding your breath and hearing the music of the slipstream.  

Tom's answer to the question 'what's most essential to you?' was one of my favorites. The excerpt you'll hear from the Red Burning Sky audiobook was produced by Recorded Books, and is performed by Pete Bradbury - an actor of stage and screen and an accomplished narrator.

What it feels like to be there - that's what Tom Young delivers in his historical fiction Red Burning Sky.  It is a thrilling aviation rescue story - and so much more. In this sneak peak at this week's Desideratum Podcast episode, Tom shares how a scholar of Russian Literature worked his way into this story. Hear more about the impossible that became possible in the secretive and dangerous WWII mission called Operation Halyard. #redburningsky #DesideratumPodcast #WWII #OperationHalyard #RecordedBooks #audiobooks #aviationrescue 

Listen as thriller writer John Gilstrap tells us why his new heart pounding book Blue Fire has so much heart and why his storytelling often includes teenage characters. You'll hear a few minutes of the first chapter of Blue Fire's audiobook produced by Recorded Books and read by narrator Kate Forbes. 

We begin with Blue Fire's real life jumping off point - the truth that there was a secure government location where our leaders would go if our country was ever in imminent danger.