Laurel McHargue -- Author/Podcaster/Public Speaker

Bestselling and Highly Acclaimed Author of Romance and Women’s Fiction!

Show Notes with Links:

• Chosen USA TODAY’s best-selling author of Romance and Women’s Fiction, today’s guest is the highly acclaimed author Beverly Jenkins.
• We met at this year’s RMFW Colorado Gold Writers Conference, where Beverly was the keynote speaker. I brag about her accomplishments and kudos.
• She was one of the Black Readers Conference’s keynote speakers in 2021at which time she was THE most read author in the Canon with 6 books, followed by Toni Morrison, Octavia Butler, and Tiffany D. Jackson, with 4 books each.

• She talks about being the editor of her elementary school’s newspaper in the 4th grade – The Myra Jones Elementary School COMET – but had no dreams of being a writer. Her dream job was to work in a library, which she eventually did. I ask how her library work inspired her storytelling, and she talks about her family of readers…and how her parents weren’t even allowed to check out books from their segregated library.
• I ask when she first developed confidence in her ability to tell a story.
• Avon Books called in June 1993 to say they wanted to buy her first book—Night Song. After it was published in the summer of 1994, Avon kept sending her contracts and she kept sending back books.
• Al Roker says Beverly’s storytelling is “uplifting and engaging and proves it really does take a village.” Beverly discusses adopted and foster children (she adopted her son when he was five).
• In a Goodreads interview December 2020, she talked about her author platform and said, “there’s enough light for everybody, and if I can shine my light on somebody who’s just coming out, or somebody who’s struggling, or somebody who just needs a little slight push to the center of the stage, why wouldn’t I do that? It doesn’t take anything away from me. I still got the light, I’ve still got my platform, so it’s much better to be kind than be a bitch.”
• Speaking of being a bitch, I ask her to tell the story about the “Literary Fiction” author on the bus.
• Many of her books are about African-American life in the 19^th Century.
• We talk about To Catch a Raven: Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Romance! With historical details, espionage, a heist, suspense, a prophetic child, multiple cons, fabulous characters, FUN, a strong, smart woman lead and the steamy Braxton Steele . . . OOOOH!

• It’s 3^rd in the Women Who Dare series, and each book is a stand-alone read.
• p. 271:   Raven wonders “if the country would ever value the men of the race the way their loved ones did.” We discuss this, and Beverly talks about how her writing is also a tribute to Black men.
• What’s in the works? Beverly is a fantasy reader and plans to write a story with a black woman riding a dragon!

• She provides wonderful advice to authors and those who hope to be authors.
• Where to follow Beverly:
  – https://www.beverlyjenkins.net/
  – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Beverly-Jenkins/author/B000APIFDO
  – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverlyJenkins
  – https://www.facebook.com/groups/63081476277 (fans of Beverly Jenkins Facebook group)

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Laurel Stuff:

Find my other work here!

• Laurel’s Amazon Author page
• https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
• https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
• My YouTube Channel
• https://soundcloud.com/laurelmchargue (my podcast)

A Debut Novel

Show Notes with Links:

• Amber Herbert’s debut novel is Lipstick Covered Magnet, a “genre-bending debut that weaves the intricacies of healing with delusion and suspense.”
• She gives us an elevator pitch for this novel geared toward college-age readers.
• Amber discusses her inspiration for writing a book about stalking as her debut nove.
• Lyrics from the song “Lipstick Covered Magnet” by the group The Front Bottoms were in line with her story.
• We talk about delusional characters, how she got into Connor’s mind (the stalker), and how she interwove the story line between the two main characters.
• We talk about participation in NaNoWriMo

• She talks about visiting London, her love of Shakespeare, and her tendency toward being an Anglophile.
• We talk about the allusions to books and films Amber has read/viewed.
• We both discuss our dark Muses!
• I read a section about catfishing and the dangers of Facebook and revealing too much about ourselves.
• We discuss counselling, healing, and telling our stories of horror and trauma.
• A cautionary tale, Lipstick Covered Magnet is a book men should read.
• Amber discusses her other novels, surprises in writing, and lucid dreaming!
• Amber provides some advice to new writers.
• As the technology chairperson for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW), she is also coordinating speakers and workshops for this year’s Colorado Gold Writers Conference. Registration is still open!

Find out more about Amber Herbert at her website: amberherbert.com and contact her at amber@amberherbert.com

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Laurel Stuff:

Find my other work here!

• Laurel’s Amazon Author page
• https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
• https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
• My YouTube Channel
• https://soundcloud.com/laurelmchargue (my podcast)

Multi-Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author Peter Heller Discusses His New Release (and lots more)!

Show Notes with Links:

• As a NYT and National Best-Selling Author, we discuss his accolades, and I ask Peter who he is today.
• Peter gives us the elevator pitch for BURN.
• In previous interviews, Peter likens writing a novel to kayaking a new river…you never know what might be around the next bend, something frightening, awe-inspiring, a ferocious animal, someone with a rifle…he likes surprises! I ask what surprised him while writing “BURN.”

• Peter’s books are dark but with hope, and I ask if we all have both angels and devils on our shoulders.
• He talks about the music of the language, and I ask about the Tang Dynasty Poets
• I read a couple of gorgeous passages from “BURN.”
• We discuss the OED! At age 12, Peter read the dictionary!
• I ask if he’s had a friendship as close as Jess has with Storey.

• “Love is attention” . . . discuss!
• We talk a bit about the current state of world affairs.
• I mention Peter’s expertise in presenting places and emotions. He hits all the feels: love, loyalty, betrayal, anger, horror, suspense, surprise, longing, shame, confusion, AWE …
• Paolo Bacigalupi taught him, “Your job is just to make sure it doesn’t suck”…well, he succeeded!

• Jess’s gradual character arc is credible and incredible!
• I ask about AI in publishing.
• He talks about living off-grid.
• I ask about his full launch marketing schedule and how he maintains his enthusiasm. Find him in your neck-of-the-woods on his BOOK TOUR schedule!
• 3 rapid-fire questions: Favorite color / thing he’s most likely to consume first thing each day (and then we discussed vegetarianism) / YES or NO: Cats are people too and should be allowed to vote! Listen to his answer!!!
• ORDER BURN NOW! August 13 release! I ask Peter to save me 2 front row seats Aug 29^th in Edwards, CO!

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Laurel Stuff:

Find my other work here!

• Laurel’s Amazon Author page
• https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
• https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
• My YouTube Channel
• https://soundcloud.com/laurelmchargue (my podcast)