Novelist Spotlight

In the spotlight is Vauhini Vara — writer, journalist, editor, fiction writer, essayist and playwright. Her debut novel, The Immortal King Rao, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her story collection, This is Salvaged, was longlisted for The Story Prize and the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award. A nonfiction book, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age, was published earlier this year.

She began her journ...

In the spotlight are book publicists and Tandem Literary business partners Gretchen Koss and Meg Walker, who have more than 40 years of combined experienced in the business. They have represented authors ranging from Elmore Leonard and Terry McMillan to Suze Orman, Mary Karr and Lance Armstrong. 

We discuss: 

>> What book publicists do 

>> How to choose the right publicist 

>> What they are expected to del...

In the spotlight is Jim Gregory, who publishes under the byline Dr. James R. Gregory and has 40 years of experience in advertising and branding, and he is an expert on corporate brand management. After successfully exiting the business, he embarked on a new direction — writing fiction. He soon discovered his favorite strategy was writing short reads in the form of novellas, stories that can be enjoyed in just one sitting —...

In the spotlight is Janice Deal, the author of two novels titled THE BLUE DOOR and THE SOUND OF RABBITS, and two short story collections titled THE DECLINE OF PIGEONS, and a linked collection titled STRANGE ATTRACTORS.

THE DECLINE OF PIGEONS was a was a Flannery O’Connor Award finalist, and THE SOUND OF RABBITS was a finalist for both the Many Voices Project annual competition, and the Black Lawrence Press Big Moose Prize....

In the spotlight is Tracy Clark, a Chicago native and the author of the award-winning Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned private investigator Cassandra Raines, and the detective Harriet Foster series, featuring Harriet Foster, a homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. Two tough, smart, African American female characters working the mean streets of the Windy City. 

We discuss: 

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In the spotlight is Christine Estima — playwright, novelist, a performer. Her debut novel, “Letters to Kafka” is scheduled for release in September, and was preceded by her debut book, “The Syrian Ladies Benevolent Society,” named one of the best books of 2023 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. 

We discuss: 

>> Milena Jesenská, the Czech writer and translator of Franz Kafka novels 

>> Short stories versus novels...

In the spotlight is Hank Quense, whose latest book is titled “The Author’s AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication.” Quense’s fiction works include the Gundarland series, the Princess Moxie series, and the soon-to-be-published Zaftan series. His non-fiction books include titles such as “How to Self-Publish and Market a Book, “Book Marketing Fundamentals, “Business Basics for Authors,” and “Creating Your First Novel.”

Q...

In the spotlight is Melissa Edwards, literary agent and executive vice president at Stonesong, the New York-based literary agency. She also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting. 

We discuss: 

>> Traditional versus self-publishing 

>> Handling incoming manuscripts 

>> Importance of the query letter 

>> Standard agent/author agreements 

>> ...

In the spotlight is Ruby Peru who, studied under Kurt Vonnegut during the 1980s, and David Foster Wallace during the 1990s, and today ghostwrites memoirs, as well as offering developmental editing services. She has also written a novel titled “Bits of String too Small to Save,” among other books. 

We discuss: 

>> The distinction between memoirs and autobiographies 

>> Ruby Peru’s ghostwriting methodology 

>>...

In the spotlight is Kevin Moore, author of “The Book of Souls,” a mystical ghost story and the first in a series of books featuring protagonist Jack Kelly and his paranormal abilities. The sequel to that book is “The Book of Demons” (think Harry Potter meets The Exorcist). Moore will continue the Jack Kelly paranormal saga with a third book released later this year. His play, “Conversations from the Sports Arena,” was perf...

In the spotlight is Yasmin Angoe, the Anthony-nominated author of the critically acclaimed thriller Her Name Is Knight of the Nena Knight series, which has been optioned for a television series. Her Name Is Knight has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, OprahDaily.com, POPSUGAR, Nerd Daily, the Washington Independent Review of Books, The Guardian, and other platforms. Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation immigrant fr...

In the spotlight is award-winning political fiction writer Michael Fedor. He is the author of three published novels: “Tree of Liberty,” “What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose” and “The Senate Deception.” With more than 20 years of political organizing experience, Fedor is known for writing fast-paced and dramatic copy, underpinned by meticulous research into his subject matter. A former candidate and elected official himself...

In the spotlight is Libby Cudmore, Shamus and Black Orchid award winner and the author of the acclaimed novel The Big Rewind, as well as a novel titled Negative Girl. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, among other publications. She has also co-edited the Anthony-nominated anthology Lawyers, Guns & Money: Crime Fiction Inspired by The Music of Warren...

In the spotlight is Abigail Owen, the #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 books that range from YA epic romantasy to adult modern mythic romantasy to super-spicy adult paranormal romance. She is also the author of a Writer’s Digest article about how to get your novel off to a great start. 

We discuss: 

>> The writers’ and agents’ ocean cruise

>> Focusing on small, achievable dai...

In the spotlight is Amy Daughters, author of the books “Dear Dana” and “You Cannot Mess This Up.” She is also a keynote speaker and a “spreader of the hope.”

>> Writing letters

>> Facebook connections

>> Her appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show
>> Comedic writing

>> The Houston Astrodome

>> The Texas panhandle

>> Her time in England

>> Writing for the Bleacher Report

>>...

In the spotlight is Ran Walker, short fiction proponent and the author of more than 35 books, ranging from novellas, short stories and flash fiction to micro-fiction and poetry. Walker worked in magazine publishing and practiced law in Mississippi before fully committing himself to fiction writing. He is also at work on various short movie projects, with an eye toward films around one minute in length. Walker is also an as...

In the spotlight is Alyson Richman, a USA Today and international bestselling author of historical novels, including “The Velvet Hours,” “The Garden of Letters,” and “The Lost Wife,” which is in development as a motion picture. Alyson Richman is also an accomplished painter, and her novels combine her penchant for art, historical research and travel. Her novels have been published in 25 languages and have reached the bests...

In the spotlight is Sandra Scofield, a National Book Award finalist who made the monumental decision to move from traditional publishing to self-publishing with her ninth novel, titled “Little Ships,” which Scofield deems her best and most mature work yet. In addition to her novels, Scofield has authored a memoir, a book of essays, a book of stories, and two books on the craft of writing. She is a faculty member of the Sol...

In the spotlight, joining us from the City of Brotherly Love, is C.J. Spataro. C.J. (who also goes by the name Carla) is cofounder of the literary magazine Philadelphia Stories and director of the MFA writing program at Rosemont College, as well as director of the master’s in publishing program at the college.

Her short fiction has won numerous awards, including her short story “The Twi-Lite,” which won the Iron Horse Lite...