The April 200th Episode Month Line-Up
In the month of April–our 200th episode month on Charlotte Readers Podcast–we have nine exciting episodes, including with New York Times bestselling authors Paolo Bacigalupi, John Hart and David Baldacci.
We have a murder mystery, a non-fiction look at marriage chaos and connections, a climate change thriller, a literary thriller with our 200th episode guest, literary fiction with a historical twist, psychological suspense, the book on how to make perfect pan pizza, a memoir on faith and identity, and a private eye thriller. Included are three guest hosted episodes, two by family members of host Landis Wade, his wife Janet and his daughter Jordan, and one guest hosted episode by award-winning author, Cathy Pickens.
Also available are Patreon episodes on the craft and business of writing.
April 2 Tara Lush Brews Up A Deadly Coffee Competition in Cozy Mystery “Grounds for Murder”
In this episode 197, we visit with award-winning writer Tara Lush, author of “Grounds for Murder,” the first in a new series of cozy coffee shop mysteries.
After Lana Lewis’ talented, but arrogant, Milanese barista quits abruptly before the Sunshine State Barista Championship, her café’s chances of winning the contest are tamped down. After a public argument with Fabrizio “Fab” Bellucci, her former barista is found dead behind her shop, and she is the primary suspect.
Elaine Viets, the award-winning author of the Dead-End Job mysteries, had this to say about the book, “Tara Lush brews a fun Florida mystery, topped with a sweet frothy romance. Enjoy this blend of sunshine and quirky characters.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Breaking Down the Differences Between Romance and Mystery with Tara Lush
April 6 Find the Secrets to a Good Marriage with Marriage Counselor Lori Epting in “From Chaos to Connection”
In this episode 198, we visit with Lori Epting, author of “From Chaos to Connection: A Marriage Counselor’s Candid Guide for the Modern Couple.” Lori is an experienced marriage counselor who has guided thousands of couples through the myriad of challenges and obstacles in a marriage.
Using blunt, honest lessons and real-life anecdotes, From Chaos to Connection is a path for disconnected couples to navigate the ups and downs of life and find true happiness in their marriage.
Gary Chapman, author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The 5 Love Languages” had this to say about the book: ““Whatever the present state of your marriage, it can always be better: more supportive, connected, loving, and caring. Reading From Chaos to Connection is like sitting down with a seasoned counselor who under- stands the dynamics of building a healthy marriage. The book stimulates the ‘Yes, we can make things better’ attitude. It is a hope-filled book for all who want a growing marriage.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: How to Market Your Business Through Your Writing With Marriage Counselor Lori Epting
April 9 Paolo Bacigalupi Explores Climate Change and Corruption in Near-Future Sci-Fi, “The Water Knife”
In this episode 199, we visit with New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist Paolo Bacigalupi, author of “The Water Knife.”
In a world where water is scarce, Angel Velasquez is an assassin known as a “water knife,” in which he sabotages the water supply of his employer’s competitors. After his paths cross with climate refugee, Maria Villarosa, and award-winning journalist, Lucy Monroe, his loyalty is tested.
The Los Angeles Times wrote, “The book’s nervous energy recalls William Gibson at his cyberpunk best . . . But this is no pastiche; Bacigalupi weaves an engrossing tale all his own, crackling with edgy style.”
Paolo Bacigalupi is an internationally bestselling author of speculative fiction. He has won numerous awards. His work often focuses on questions of sustainability and the environment, most notably the impacts of climate change. In The Water Knife, he imagines a future without water that may not be that far off.
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Writing the Dystopian Thriller With Paolo Bacigalupi
April 13 200th Episode with John Hart
John Hart’s “The Unwilling” Combines Crime, Suspense and Searing Glimpses into the Human Mind and Soul
In this 200th episode of Charlotte Readers Podcast, we celebrate with special guest and six-time New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, John Hart, whose latest book, “The Unwilling,” is the subject of this episode.
In his very first historical novel, John Hart returns to the South. The book is set in Charlotte, during the height of the Vietnam War. It’s a novel inspired by the courage and sacrifice shown by soldiers who fought in that conflict.
Booklist calls the book “another scorcher.” Mystery and Suspense Magazine describes the book as “a very enjoyable, twisty ride.” AARP uses the words “unforgettable and propulsive.” Several New York Times bestselling authors say the book “is crime fiction at its absolute best,” “richly complex,” and “somehow, raw, tender, brutal and exquisite–all at the same time. Exceptional.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Writing with John Hart
April 16 Bob Deans’ “The Bicycle Man” Sees 1968 Through the Eyes of a Young Paperboy
In this episode 201, guest hosted by lawyer turned 5th grade school teacher turned 18th Century docent, Janet Wade, who happens to be married to host Landis Wade, we visit with Bob Deans, author of “The Bicycle Man,” a novel that allows the reader to experience the emotional and turbulent headlines of 1968 as seen through the eyes of a young paperboy.
Bob Deans started out in the news business when he was ten years old, delivering his hometown paper, the “Richmond Times-Dispatch.” He spent three decades as a reporter for “The Post & Courier” of Charleston, S.C., and “The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,” including four years as Chief Asia Correspondent, based in Tokyo, and eight years covering the White House and he’s a former president of the White House Correspondents’ Association
Major Garrett, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News, says of the book: “Lyrical, lustrous and tender. Deans is a craftsman, and the words here flow with certainty, truth and ache, taking us into the promise, discovery and heart of a boy as the world outside both marches forward and encroaches on his own. A beautiful and captivating story.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Symbolism in Literary Fiction with Journalist Turned Novelist Bob Deans
April 20 Bonné Bartron Explores America’s Darkest Urban Legend in “Whispers”
In this episode 202, we visit with Bonné Bartron, noted filmmaker and author of “Whispers,” the #1 bestselling debut novel in Amazon’s new release charts in Sociology of Abuse, a spine-tingling political thriller is full of dark twists, political conspiracies, and legends that predate the American Constitution.
During a trip to Disney World with her two sisters, Stacey Cooper’s 8-year-old niece goes missing. After finding a clue that points to an urban legend, the sisters embroil themselves in an investigation that spans centuries.
Scott Harnett called “Whispers” a “fast-paced, well thought out journey that is gripping and keeps you guessing from the first to the last page. Bartron has created a trio of strong lead characters and a plot that is full of twists and turns. With themes that range from political and social corruption, corporate media monopolies, and racial inequality, ‘Whispers’ is an entertaining and intelligent read.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Differences in Writing Screenplays and Books, Plus Marketing, Too, With Screenwriter, Author Bonne Bartron
April 23 Chef Peter Reinhart Makes It Fun to Cook and Eat With “Perfect Pan Pizza”
In this episode 203, guest hosted by award-winning author Cathy Pickens, we visit with chef Peter Reinhart, author of the book “Perfect Pan Pizza,” a book with 35 new recipes for pizzas baked in pans, in such varieties as Sicilian, Detroit-style, Roman-style, and the author’s signature “embedded cheese technique” for making game-changing pizza crusts.
Peter is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on bread. He is the author of twelve books, including the James Beard Award and IACP award-winning The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, as well as American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza. He appears regularly on television and radio and is a full-time baking instructor at Johnson and Wales University, a culinary and keynote presenter at conferences around the world, and the founder and host of the popular video website PizzaQuest.com.
With unique recipes, plenty of informative, frequently asked questions for beginners, and a permissive and inspiring tone, “Perfect Pan Pizza” will appeal to both experienced bread bakers and novice home pizza makers alike.
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Writing and Publishing Books About Food with Peter Reinhart
April 27 Mirinda Kossoff Explores Identity and a Father’s Legacy in “The Rope of Life”
In this episode 204, guest hosted by Jordan Wade, who has a Masters in American Studies, a commitment to social justice and an interest in the topics of identity and religion, we visit with Mirinda Kossoff, author of “The Rope of Life,” a poignant memoir about the faith, identity, loss, and the bond between fathers and their daughters.
Fueled by the memory of a flight in her father’s airplane, Mirinda dives into her father’s legacy to understand his sudden death and his struggle with identity.
Kim Church, author of “Byrd,” had this to say about the book, “Mirinda Kossoff’s father was a shape-shifter, a Jewish turned-Southern Baptist dentist-pilot-farmer who never managed to escape the stigma of otherness or the pain of unbelonging. In this memoir, full of heart and heartbreak, Kossoff reflects on her father’s legacy and her own journey of self-invention and reinvention. A frank, moving, timely story.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Ideas for Creative Living with Mirinda Kossoff
April 30 David Baldacci’s “A Gambling Man” Is a 1950s Private Eye Thriller Full of Secrets and Corruption
In this episode 205, we visit with New Your Times bestselling author David Baldacci and discuss his recent book, “A Gambling Man,” an Aloysius Archer thriller.
This is the next book in the Archer Thriller series, a follow-up to the Nero Award-winning thriller “One Good Deed.” Set in the1950s, the protagonist has been to war, to prison and wants to learn how to be a private investigator, so he hops a bus to Californian to learn from the best, a legendary private eye and former FBI agent named Willie Dash.
He lands the job and immediately finds himself in the thick of a potential scandal: a blackmail case involving a wealthy well-connected politician running for mayor that soon spins into something even more sinister. As bodies begin falling, Archer and Dash must infiltrate the world of brothels, gambling dens, drug operations, and long-hidden secrets, descending into the rotten bones of a corrupt town that is selling itself as the promised land—but might actually be the road to perdition, and Archer’s final resting place.