Category: Books

Laurel McHargue’s books and publications, fiction and nonfiction, fantasy, adventure, Grim Tales, poetry, scifi, short stories and more!

Categories
Author Interview Books Writing

Sasquatch Alert!

Award-winning author Linda (L.V.) Ditchkus has a series you’ll want to read!

Enjoy this fun video of my interview with Linda (and her Sasquatch buddy behind her)!
Audio-only version of our interview! Enjoy!
Linda Ditchkus at Salida Books event!

Show Notes with Links!

  • Author Linda (L.V.) Ditchkus tells us a bit about herself before I ask her questions about her unique 4-book Sasquatch Series!
  • She hosts the CCWE writing critique group.
  • Linda gives listeners her “elevator pitch” for the series, a brief and compelling sales pitch.
  • Her series won the CAL 1st place for science fiction!
  • She tells us how the idea of writing a sci-fi novel about Sasquatches captured her Muse and why she set the story in Salida, CO.
  • She talks about how the Sasquatch community she envisions (authors of fiction get to make their own decisions about this) differs from how most people might view them.
Linda at the 2021 FANEXPO Denver Halloween weekend! Everyone loved her banner!
  • Linda introduces us to her main characters and talks about how she was inspired to include them.
  • Her delightful settings are sometimes influenced by her world travels and adventures with her husband.
  • She talks about cultural differences one might find in a Sasquatch community, and how when an author is worldbuilding, there are many more things to consider and plan.
  • Will she continue after book 4? Listen/watch and hear her answer!
  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo author Stieg Larsson influenced her series.
  • She talks about the importance of reading a lot, and highly recommends Steel Guardian by Cameron Coral.
  • Linda is working on a new sci-fi, and she will pitch it at this year’s RMFW Conference.
  • We talk about Andy Weir‘s work and how he crafts his novels. We would welcome Andy to visit our writing group in Salida!
  • She offers some wonderful advice to budding and established authors!
  • She also has a short story published in this year’s competitive RMFW Anthology! That and all of her books are/will be available on Amazon here: L.V. Ditchkus
  • Here’s Linda’s website, where you can sign up for updates!
  • If you’re in Salida, stop by Salida Books on F Street to find Linda’s books!
Read it! You’ll love it!

Laurel Stuff:

Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series AND a children’s picture book AND recently published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Podcast

Saralyn Richard Makes Murder Mysteries FUN!

Saralyn Richard! Learn more at her website!
Visit with us here on YouTube!
Audio-only visit

Show Notes with Links:

Find all of Saralyn’s books (and follow her!) on Amazon HERE!
  • How have you / your writing process changed in the past 3 years?
  • Do you still love all aspects of the writing/publishing?
  • Character charts?
The “Door Prize”!
  • Did you know Who dun it from beginning?
  • Real people as references?
  • Great sensory details throughout
  • PLEASE READ A SECTION!
  • Any RESEARCH surprises? Police / mortician / karate!
  • “False summit” idea near end . . . we think we have the answer!

You didn’t like outlining for books…needs spontaneity, but how did you keep all of the sub-plots organized?

Saralyn with Galveston Island Elks Lodge Queen, Asta Timms!
  • Lessons for readers? Advice?
  • Next?  Shout-outs?

Check out Saralyn’s accolades!

  • First Place in SpeakUp Radio’s Firebird Awards for Mysteries 2021
  • Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers’ Favorite Award 2021
  • Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers’ Favorite Award 2019
  • Silver Medal Readers’ Favorite 2020
  • Finalist Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Best Investigator 2021
  • Finalist Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Police Procedural 2019
  • Finalist American Bookfest 2020
  • Finalist Chanticleer CLUE Award 2019

Laurel Stuff:

Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series AND a children’s picture book AND recently published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Books Laurel on Life

Wind? What Wind?

“…I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…”

and we’re not quite “over the rainbow,” either! Dorothy had a spectacular dream–something I very much relate to–after being struck on the head during a “twister,” but the crazy winds we’ve been experiencing lately are real(ly irritating)!

Steinbeck wrote of drought, dust storms, and the resultant hardships on humankind. The Dust Bowl of the ’30s should be a reminder to us all that Ma Nature doesn’t really care about us and that–yes–our misuse/misunderstanding of the land can exacerbate natural climate patterns. But this newsletter isn’t intended to remedy anything. Rather, it’s a reminder that we generally get to choose how we will respond to inconvenient circumstances. 

Will we allow the wind to make us cranky, keep us indoors, and remain incessantly vocal about how really irritating it is? Or will we consider WWSD (What Would Stoics Do)? While I’m not espousing the “keep it all bottled up inside” advice some may suggest, after we allow our natural inclinations to vent, we might then remember A Stoic Response to Complaining, and then readjust our response! 


Catwalk at Bishop Castle (go ahead and experience how it sways in the wind…I dare you!) 

As spring slides into summer, let’s stay aware of local conditions as a way of preventing unnecessary disasters. Dry winds (and personal negligence) cause horrific fires, and it looks like we’ll have many “red flag days” in our future. Let’s do what we can to spare our first responders this year . . . while still finding ways to enjoy the great outdoors. 

Stay well, my friends, and take breaks from news and social media (except my newsletters!) every once in a while! 

Nothing stops the mighty Bagel from enjoying his hikes!
:)

Laurel Stuff:

Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series AND a children’s picture book AND recently published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Writing

Let’s Remain Hopeful!

Nadine Collier and I (and photographer Sarah Collier!) at the Van Gogh Alive exhibit in Denver, August 2021

By now we all should understand that the novel coronavirus and its persistent variants will be with us for the foreseeable–and unforeseeable– future. When Nadine and I created our award-winning book Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle!, we did not anticipate the political strife the pandemic would create. We did not assign the virus responses to tribes: Red vs. Blue.

Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle!

We did, however, intend to help those struggling with every kind of “normal” challenge life throws at us, and our book is as relevant today as it was when we launched it into the uncertain world.

We are honored by The Colorado Sun’s SunLit Interview about how we came together to create our inspirational and humorous book, and we hope you might find reasons in it to be encouraged about our shared future despite the ongoing and often changing reality of this troubling pandemic.

Let’s remain hopeful and do what we can to return to living life in a sensible and less stressful way while remaining vigilant against the virus and protecting those most vulnerable.

Our book is available everywhere in paperback and ebook versions. Hope you’ll consider taking a gander!

Laurel Stuff:

Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Podcast Writing

Meet Award-Winning Author/Editor MK (Molly) Sturdevant!

A fascinating multi-genre Doctor of Philosophy writing about an old-time miners strike in Colorado!

Visit with us in this YouTube video!
Listen to the “audio-only” version here!
Molly spends time in COLD Leadville researching the historical archives and environs.

Show Notes with Links:

  • Molly tells us a little about herself.
  • She answers the question, “How does someone with a PhD in Philosophy end up researching the 1896 mining strike by the Cloud City Miners Union (Local 33) in Colorado? That happened 126 years ago!”
  • Why does she present this nonfiction event as fiction?
  • Molly talks about some of the characters she created.
  • The many surprises from her research.
  • Research has taken her several places. She talks about those, and if she has found any ancestors of the miners.
  • She is a Writer in Residence at Elsewhere Studios in Paonia, CO for the month of January 2022.
  • Molly discusses how the pandemic has affected her work.
  • Her book–“The Sleepers”–is almost finished!
Shaft and tunnel map of the famous Robert Emmet mine, not far from the Matchless Mine in Leadville. 
Molly in front of Leadville’s historic 1879 Saloon! (All about the research!)

Laurel Stuff:

Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Podcast

Meet Author and All-Around Fun Guy TH (Todd) Leatherman

Rollicking Space Opera Sci-Fi Author and Humorist

TH Leatherman at 2021 FANEXPO Denver!
Enjoy our visit on YouTube!
“Audio-only” version of our visit!

Show Notes with Links:

  • Introducing TH (the H is not for Horatio!) Leatherman
  • We discuss names and how his humor evolved into a book
  • 1001 Puns, Dad Jokes, and One-Liners (many groan-worthy!)
  • We discuss his inspiration for and development of his Burning Son Series and his character development
  • TH tells us about his writing style
  • I have never found him to be intimidating!
With TH Leatherman at FANEXO Denver, Halloween weekend 2021. Yes, he is TALL!
  • Marketing tips (social media and in-person events)
  • I ask him about his two Pomsky dogs, Jasmine and Willow
Jasmine (L) and Willow (R)
  • He provides a book review service! Here’s his Policy.
  • Lots more! Listen to or watch the full interview above!
  • Shout-outs to his wife and sons and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW)
  • All the places to Connect with TH Leatherman!
  • TH Leatherman and I would love it if you would post positive reviews of our work on Amazon! Thank you!
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Writing

Author Kathy Taylor

Tree Whisperer!

Kathy Taylor, author of Trees and Other Witnesses
Audio-only version
https://youtu.be/9zkwZEZwBHM
Visit with us on YouTube! (https://youtu.be/9zkwZEZwBHM) (please click the link if you cannot see the embedded link with photo)

Show Notes with Links:

  • Kathy talks about how growing up in a Quaker community in Pennsylvania informed her life and work.
  • Visit with us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9zkwZEZwBHM
  • We met at a Chaffee County Writers Exchange event and I took a “look inside” her book on Amazon…and immediately bought it!
  • We discuss our favorite trees (not that there could be just one!)
  • Why 13 stories?
One of Michele Wayland’s illustrations in “Trees and other Witnesses”
  • I share many glorious figurative language excerpts from her book.
  • Kathy reads a passage from her book.
The Amate Tree!
  • We talks about how figurative language “happens” (it’s my opinion that Kathy is a master!)
  • Autobiographical elements in her writing, and discussion of different languages.
Woman with Burro, Ocotal, Nicaragua
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Podcast

Awesome Aussie Author Adam Jones!

What He Has Learned from BOOKS!

Visit with Adam Jones in this entertaining YouTube interview! What You Will Learn…

Learn more about Adam “Jonesy” Jones on their “About Us” page!
Here’s the Audio-only version of our visit!

SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS:

  • Adam Jones shares his early morning routine.
  • Jonesy tell us how the podcast “What You Will Learn” started!
  • His first impactful book: How to Win Friends and Influence People.
  • How their episodes improved.
  • Decisions about the title of their book The Sh*T They Never Taught You: What You Can Learn from Books.
  • He talks about how he has improved his retention (layers!)
  • He discusses initial goals (overcoming verbal tics, comfort zone, etc.)
  • Discussion about the Stoics and Stoic philosophy.
  • How this book is different from others.
  • Who’s “the boss”?!
  • How they select the next book to assess.
  • I suggest the book Ordinary Magic: A Father-Son Journey on the Colorado Trail by Todd Fahnestock.
  • Salida Book Store owner John Cameron suggests the books Braiding Sweetgrass and Midnight in Chernobyl.
  • What was his most challenging interview?
  • Has any interview changed his opinion about a book?
  • How has the pandemic affected him?
  • Was creating this book (as Daniel Kahneman confessed) “torture”?
  • How has creating this book changed him?
  • Which section was the most enjoyable to research?
  • Vices! How he quit smoking and other vices (and I confess to my chocoholism)! Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking.
  • What’s next, and Jonesy delivers a final message/suggestion!
Learn more about co-author podcast hosts Adam Ashton and Adam Jones HERE!
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books

Todd Fahnestock’s Epic Adventures!

You’re going to want to travel with him!

Visit with us on YouTube!
Todd and his son–Dash–at the 400-mile point on the Colorado Trail!
Audio-only version of our visit

SHOW NOTES with LINKS:

  • I first met Todd Fahnestock at the Georgetown “Book Nook” Christmas Market! Pretty sure it will happen this year!
  • Our mutual friend, author/podcast host/all-around-wonderful-person Jerry Fabyanic hosts the Book Nook!
  • We discuss FANEXPO Denver, where Todd and I will have tables this year at the Convention Center Halloween Weekend!
  • Todd talks about his many books, why he wrote “Charlie Fiction,” when he knew he was going to start writing, his early epic fantasy inspirations, and how he always wanted MORE action!
  • I ask about his many accolades, and we discuss how external motivation (as opposed to internal) can be a negative thing!
  • We discuss “Summer of the Fetch” and he reads chapter 1 of “Ordinary Magic”
  • He gets personal about stories involving his wife’s horrific accident and his son’s growth arc throughout their father/son journey on the Colorado Trail
  • I suggest he send his “Altra Olympus 4” electric blue shoes to the company for replacement! (Have you done it yet, Todd?!)
  • He talks about his growth arc as an author and what will come next!
  • Find his books on Amazon or on his website or at any bookstore!
Evening of “The Great Fart”…you’ve got to read Ordinary Magic!
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and just published my first coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Author Interview Books Writing

Scott Thomas Knows HORROR!

Meet him in this fascinating interview!

Visit with us in the YouTube video above!

Show Notes with Links:

  • Scott Thomas, award-winning author of horror–“Kill Creek,” “Violet,”(and other things!) and screen writer for TV Movies and teleplays for networks including Netflix, SyFy, MTV, VH1, the CW, Disney,Nickelodeon, ABC . . .
  • We talk about Kill Creek and decisions Scott made and changed during its creation.
Award-winning Kill Creek
  • He talks about the difference between plot and story.
  • He tells us what scared him as a child . . . and now, and why he thinks some people enjoy horror.
  • He discusses his planning vs. “pantsing” and the “Save the Cat” format.
  • He talks about the expectation of horror and if anything is taboo.
His second book Violet
  • How does he answer the “Kill, Marry, Sleep with” question?!
  • Find his books on Amazon, B&N, Inkshares, or any bookstore, and contact him on Facebook and Twitter (@ninjawhenever)
Audio-only version of Scott Thomas Interview (above)
Thank you, Scott Thomas! There’s nothing “boring” about you!
Meanwhile, I’m working on a new science fiction series and coloring book for the Waterwight series!
(Photo Credit: Elise Sunday)

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!