December Lineup
The month of December is an exciting mix of book and craft talks. On the book front, we have a non-fiction book that explores the faith of three towering figures, a suspenseful thriller set on the US-Mexico border, and host Landis Wade’s forthcoming Deadly Declarations mystery where an unlikely trio of retirees try to solve the 250-year-old mystery of the controversial First American Declaration of Independence. On the craft side, we have four talented authors discussing: (1) true crime writing; (2) writing with strength and clarity; (3) humor writing; and (4) book marketing. We wrap the podcast year up with two final episodes with the Storied Charlotte book blogger and a national book influencer who talk about their favorite books of the year.
Here’s the December line-up:
December 3 Craft Talk with Cathy Pickens: Writing True Crime
In this episode 267, host Landis Wade has a craft talk with Cathy Pickens, an award-winning mystery and true crime writer about writing true crime. She talks about what draws people to true crime and shares techniques for how to gather and write your own true crime stories.
December 7 Janet Sarjeant’s “Deep Calls Unto Deep” Is a Faith Journey by Three Men
In this episode 268, we visit with Janet Sarjeant, author of “Deep Calls Unto Deep,” which draws its title from Psalm 42:7: “Deep calls unto deep at the thunder of thy cataracts.”
The book explores how three men, Fred Buechner the minister, Tony Abbott the poet and teacher, and Louis Patrick the writer and theologian, shared a commonality of thought and purpose in their lives and in their writings, and how they became friends along the way.
Rev. Dr. Baron Mullis, Senior Pastor of The First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, and author of “Like An Overflowing Stream” has this to say about the book: “It is a warm and familial tribute to three towering figures in their respective fields who, in life’s wonderful providence, found one another.”
December 10 Craft Talk with Amber Smith: Writing with Strength and Clarity
In this episode 269, host Landis Wade has a craft talk with New York Times bestselling author, Amber Smith, where she shares what she’s learned from other authors and in her own writing journey about how to write with strength and clarity.
Amber offers 5 tips any author can implement right now that she has learned from other authors, along with 5 personal tips as to how to get emotion on the page. She also shares best craft books she has found helpful in her writing journey. For her bonus tip, Amber encourages us to replace the old adage “write what you know” with “write what you feel.”
December 14 Jane Rosenthal’s “Del Rio,” is a Suspenseful Thriller set on the U.S.-Mexico Border
In this episode 270, we visit with Jane Rosenthal, author of “Del Rio,” where the once thriving town set on the U.S.-Mexico border for which the book is named, is now run-down, a place the locals call Cartel Country.
When the dismembered body of a migrant teen is found in one of Del Rio’s surrounding citrus groves, local district attorney Callie McCall faces a career make-or-break case that takes her on a dangerous journey down the violent west coast of Mexico, to a tropical paradise hiding a terrible secret, and finally back home again, where her determination to find the killer pits her against the wealthiest, most politically connected, most ruthless farming family in California: her own.
Debra Thomas, author of the award-winning novel, LUZ, had this to say about the book: “A page-turner, its final chapters will keep you up until dawn.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: How Place, Character, and Voice Drive a Story
December 17 Craft Talk with Tracy Lee Curtis: Humor Writing
In this episode 271, host Landis Wade has a craft talk with Tracy Lee Curtis, an award-winning author and former syndicated humor columnist for The McClatchy Company, nationwide, about the craft of writing humor. Tracy wrote over 500 columns for the Charlotte Observer, and published a Humor Me trilogy of gift books, collections of her columns from the last decade about the imperfection of motherhood. Tracy says you can find the funny in almost anything if you look hard enough.
December 21 Landis Wade’s “Deadly Declarations” is a Mystery Rooted in North Carolina History
In this episode 272, guest host Cathy Pickens, interviews regular host Landis Wade about his mystery novel, “Deadly Declarations,” forthcoming in spring 2022.
The novel focuses on an unlikely trio of retirees who try to solve the 250-year-old mystery of the controversial First American Declaration of Independence, actions which–if successful–will change US history. That is, if they don’t die trying.
Frye Gaillard, American historian and author of A Hard Rain: America in the 1960s, says: “This is a novel rooted in history and mystery and imagination–a crackling good book” and Clyde Edgerton, author of Walking Across Egypt and Raney calls it: “Delicious, Funny, Suspenseful.” Cathy Pickens, our guest host, had this to say: “Humor, a good puzzle, a peek inside some artful legal maneuvering, engaging characters—all the absolutely perfect ingredients for a mystery.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: All the Marketing We Did Not Know
December 24 Craft Talk with Danielle Stewart: Book Marketing 101
In this episode 273, host Landis Wade has a craft talk with Danielle Stewart, a prolific USA Today bestselling Indie author about tactics she’s learned and used to market her books.
Danielle talks with Landis about the 10 go-to methods for marketing her books, which have helped turn her writing into a viable business. She shares the pros and cons of each method and Landis plays the student and asks questions about the secrets to her success.
December 28 Mark West’s Top Ten Charlotte Books of the Year
In this episode 274, we visit with Mark West, a professor, author and blogger on all things books and writing in Charlotte with his weekly Storied Charlotte blog.
You won’t want to miss this episode. Mark brings his top ten suggestions for books of the year by Charlotte authors or books about Charlotte.
Mark is a Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he has been teaching courses on children’s and young adult literature since 1984. He also holds the title of Bonnie E. Cone Professor in Civic Engagement. He has written or edited sixteen books. He is a book lover who enjoys writing and talking about books.
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Stories from Storied Charlotte about Writers and Writing
December 31 Cindy Burnett’s Top Ten Books of the Year and the Year-End Podcast Recap
In this episode 275, our 2021 end-of-year episode, we visit with Cindy Burnett, book influencer and host of the Thoughts from a Page Podcast headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Cindy brings to this episode her recommendations for the top ten book reads of the year. You won’t want to miss this episode for Cindy’s suggestions.
As an avid reader and book reviewer, Cindy loves to talk about books wherever she can. She actively talks about books on social media and writes two book columns. She is co-creator of Conversations from a Page, a Houston author event series that brings authors and readers together in a relaxed setting to discuss books, and she is a SheReads.com contributor, where she writes “best of” book articles in the genres of historical fiction, non-fiction, and mysteries.
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: What Readers Love About Historical Fiction and Mysteries