What’s Coming in March 2021
March is looking good on the podcast. We have young adult, mystery, fantasy, true crime, romance, short story, thriller, literary fiction and travel non-fiction authors and companion episodes on Patreon for deeper dives into the writing lives of the authors.
Check out the complete line-up, below:
March 2 Maureen Sherbondy Peers Into a Teenager’s Difficult Past, Present and Future in “Lucky Brilliant”
In this episode 188, we visit with Maureen Sherbondy, author of Lucky Brilliant, a poignant coming-of-age story shrouded in mystery and loss.
When her father is murdered, Lucky begins receiving psychic visions of the future, visions that help her understand the dangerous secrets of her father’s past. As she copes with the broken household her father left behind, Lucky must use these visions to prevent disaster.
Lisa Williams Kline, author of One Week of You, called Lucky Brilliant, “an intriguing coming of age tale,” and an “entrancing page-turner.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: The Importance of Realistic Fiction for Young Adults With Maureen Sherbondy
March 5 Tracy Clark’s Mystery Navigates the Dark Side of Celebrity in “What You Don’t See”
In this episode 189, we visit with Tracy Clark, the award-winning author of “What You Don’t See,” the third in the Chicago Mysteries series featuring Cass Raines, an ex-cop turned PI.
Ben Mickerson, Cass Raine’s former partner from the force, convinces her to take on a security detail for the famous Vonda Allen, a one-woman media empire and rumored diva. Vonda has been receiving angry, threatening notes and flowers, but her need for control, obsession with her brand image, and overall nasty personality prove difficult. When one of her employees is murdered, Cass Raines’ investigative mind takes over.
In a starred review, Kirkus calls the book, “a gripping relationship-based procedural that drags you in and spits you out wan but satisfied.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Writing the Kick-Ass Female African-American Detective with Tracy Clark
March 9 Casey Eanes and Seth Ervin Weave A Spectacular Fantasy World in The Keys of Candor Trilogy
In this episode 190, we visit with Casey Eanes and Seth Ervin, co-authors of the Keys of Candor Trilogy, an immersive epic fantasy series in which three strangers bound to one another through destiny must seek out the Keys of Candor to stop the dark phantoms of the past from being unleashed.
With complex worldbuilding, gripping characters, and genre-bending action, The Keys of Candor is a fantasy series that defies the conventions of the fantasy genre.
The popular review blog wegeekgirls.com calls “The Red Death,” first book in the series, “an incredible start to what I believe will be an exceptional series.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: How to Write a Trilogy with a Co-Author with Casey Eanes and Seth Ervin
March 12 William Phelps Investigates a Poisoning death in “We Thought We Knew You”
In this episode 191, we visit with M. William Phelps, the New York Times bestselling author of “We Thought We Knew You,” a gripping true crime investigation into the poisoning of Mary Yoder and the dark revenge plot behind her death.
On September 17, 2015, Mary Yoder died a suspicious death. Her husband, Bill Yoder, is a suspect. An anonymous letter also points to her son, Adam Yoder, and then evidence points to Adam’s jilted ex-girlfriend and former employee of the Yoders, Kaitlin Conley. Who killed Mary Yoder and how did they do it? Phelps expertly breaks down the events that led to Mary’s death and the investigation that followed.
Gregg Olsen, New York Times bestselling author of “Where Monsters Hide” had this to say about the book, “A nonfiction thriller of the highest literary caliber only an investigative journalist like Phelps—at the top of any true crime writer’s game—could accomplish.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Differences Between Writing and Podcasting True Crime with M. William Phelps
March 16 Amy Burle Captures the Complexities of Love and Family in “The Year of Thorns and Honey”
In this episode 192, we visit with Amy Burle, author of “The Year of Thorns and Honey,” the standalone companion to her debut, “The Lemonade Year.” This second chance romance follows photographer Nina as she navigates the messy and imperfect intricacies of the relationships in her life—her rebellious teenage daughter, her ex-husband/fiancé, her complicated family, a man she once loved, and most important of all, herself.
The reemergence of her ex-lover forces her to reflect on her past and ask some hard questions about her future. With deeply flawed characters and vivid prose, “The Year of Thorns and Honey” is an exploration of the universal desire to find your true path.
Heather Bell Adams, author of “The Good Luck Stone” had this to say about the book: “In ‘The Year of Thorns and Honey’, Amy Willoughby-Burle has crafted a warm, heartfelt story of second chances, exploring how we move forward in grace. With stunning emotional and psychological depth, the novel’s engaging characters wrestle with decisions large and small—and discover that starting over can be the most meaningful gift of all. You’ll be drawn in by Nina’s charming voice and end up falling in love with her honest vulnerability and her earnest desire to choose the best path.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Publishing Journey of the Not So Rich and Famous – With Amy Willoughby-Burle
March 19 Ellen Birkett Morris Explores the Quiet Power of Womanhood in “Lost Girls”
In this episode 193, we visit with Ellen Birkett Morris, author of “Lost Girls,” a short story collection which explores the experiences of women and girls as they confront the challenges and expectations of womanhood.
Jenny Offill, author of “Weather,” “Department of Speculation,” and “Last Things,” called this book a “dazzling collection of stories that showcases Morris’ impressive ability to hide devastating truths within seemingly small moments.”
A review of “Lost Girls” in the Southern Review of Books said: “Through vivid snapshots of female struggle, Morris demonstrates the power of women acknowledging one another — and themselves — in a world where they are continually diminished. The women and girls in these stories hold the antidote to their own erasure, and in turn give it to us: Only we can prevent each other from becoming lost girls.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Writing Across Genres and Plot With Ellen Morris
March 23 Susan Wilson Introduces Detective Colt Jessup in Steamy Thriller “Rock Bottom”
In this episode 194, we visit with Susan Wilson, author of “Rock Bottom,” the first book in the Colt Jessup series, a fast-paced and spellbinding thriller with a hint of romance.
Isabella Luca’s twin sister Brianna is dead—and Isabella refuses to accept that her sister could have died by suicide. She returns to Charlotte from New York to find out the truth, enlisting the help of Detective Colt Jessup, a vice cop who knew about Brianna’s history of addiction. As they come closer to finding the killer, Isabella finds herself in mortal danger, and only Jessup can prevent her from becoming the next victim.
Bob Rogers, author of “The Laced Chameleon,” calls the book “a superb mystery and thriller” with a “new level of action entertainment while providing insights into addiction, embezzlement, greed, and policing.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: Creating Captivating Scenes (the building blocks for plot) – with Susan Wilson
March 26 Gina Wilkinson’s “When the Apricots Bloom” Features Women Under Saddam Hussein’s Tyrannical Rule
In this episode 195, guest hosted by award-winning author Carrie Knowles, we visit with Gina Wilkinson, award-winning journalist, foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker, whose debut novel is “When the Apricots Bloom.”
Inspired by her own experiences while stationed in Baghdad during Saddam Hussein’s rule, former foreign correspondent Gina Wilkinson’s evocative debut is told through the eyes of three very different women in Iraq at the turn of the millennium. A secretary, an artist and a diplomat’s wife, each must confront the complexities of trust, friendship, and motherhood under the rule of a dictator and his ruthless secret police.
Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author, calls the book “A deeply involving and important novel by a master storyteller. Gina Wilkinson highlights the humanity at the center of a brutal conflict. She brings her lived experience to every page of this harrowing, dramatic, and ultimately hopeful book.”
Gina says that through her two decades of living in hotspots across the globe, she’s found that “while we might pray in a certain way, cover our hair or not, bake our bread flat or leavened, at heart we all want the same things—safety, peace, love. We share far more in common than that which divides us.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: The Writing Trifecta: Journalism, Narrative Non-fiction and Fiction with Gina Wilkinson
March 30 Danny Bernstein Hikes and Reveals the History and Beauty of the Land in “DuPont Forest: A History”
In this episode 196, we visit with Danny Bernstein, author of “DuPont Forest: A History,” a celebration of the natural beauty of DuPont Forest and the journey that local activists and the DuPont corporation underwent to protect it.
Filled with compelling personal interviews, interactive hiking guides, beautiful photos, and thoroughly researched history, hiker and author Danny Bernstein showcases the deep resilience and determination of Southern Appalachia.
A review in the Smoky Mountain News had this to say about the book: “At the heart of Bernstein’s book are stories. Not stories pulled from a textbook or a magazine or even from old letters and journals, but rather stories gathered one by one from personal conversations with the people who lived them.”
Plus, exclusive Patreon episode: How to Write and Promote a Book About the Outdoors With Danny Bernstein