Award-winning author and podcast host Laurel McHargue shares stories about life–real and imagined–interviews fascinating people, and narrates short stories (some from her “Dark Ebb: Grim Tales” volume). Subscribe to her podcast “Alligator Preserves” wherever you get your podcasts.
Kitty Arceneaux is a wife, mother, author, minister, life coach, book coach, MUSE for other writers, non-profit leader . . .I ask her what has she NOT yet been?
Dyani’s Adventures is about a 9-year-old girl. I ask Kitty how much of the main character is autobiographical.
Dyani wants to learn and experience outside her comfort zone . . . so many don’t! We talk about why people are hesitant to explore new traditions, foods, and languages.
Dyani visits people from Brazil, China, Mexico, Asia, Egypt, Africa, Italy, Iran, and Japan, and learns an important message from an artist, who tells her to embrace the unexpected.
I ask if Kitty was surprised by anything as she wrote this book.
Most of her books are Christian themed, but her messages in “Dyani’s Adventures” are universal: Patience, understanding, willingness to listen, and love.
My first interview of 2025 is with Wes Wells, son of (the late) author John Keith Wells, US Marine Corps. Wes shares his father’s life and stunning story.
I read from the Prologue to give readers a sense for what is to come in this first-person account of the atmosphere just before battle:
“Dim outlines began taking shape near the base of Mount Suribachi. I threw the white wool Japanese Navy blanket off my shoulders and laid my Tommy gun on top of it. The captured warm blanket that our platoon runner had literally risked his life for would be of no use in today’s battle; it would be left behind. Nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, had a meaning. Not home, not mother, not wife, not children, not girlfriend, not hometown, not cold, hot, or hungry-nothing mattered except today’s forthcoming battle, and it would commence very soon.”
Description by Wes Wells: “One of the last pictures of Easy Company together. The man in the middle with the walker is Chuck Lindberg. He was in both Flag Raising pics. The man to his right is Richard (Dick) Wheeler. Famous historical writer mainly about the civil war. He also wrote several books about Iwo Jima. He helped dad get material, names and whatever dad wanted for this book. Google him, he was a great person.”
His description of basic training and getting gear thrown at him…he uses figurative language his English teacher would have rewarded!
Why did he write this stunning history? Wes discusses his father’s goal for the book.
I mention the “Short arm” inspection, which my dad told me about years ago! The author doesn’t hold back any details.
Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest battles in WW2 Marine Corps history, and Wells has graphic depictions of battle. He was 23 years old.
Description by Wes Wells: “The tall, younger man in the dark suit is Oliver North. Dad went to go see him give a talk and when he found out that dad was there, he wanted to meet and have a picture taken with him.”
I ask about his father’s embedded shrapnel and other wounds, and if they influenced him in any way.
Wes talks about the iconic “Flag raising” photo and surrounding controversy.
Description by Wes Wells: “Mom and Dad with Laura and President Bush. They had breakfast together.”
Wes describes his father as having tremendous confidence and an honorable bearing that drew people to him. His was a great storyteller. I ask if he was “squeaky clean,” and Wes reads a humorous passage about an incident at a USO show!
Description by Wes Wells of photo above: “Me and Jimmy Chappell… Interesting story. He served in the Marines and became a school art teacher. Many years ago dad would go to Midland, Tx to do business and mom would go to craft shows. She ran across an artist that had that pic he drew of the flag raising. Did you notice it only had 48 stars????? Jimmy told me this story after dad died. Mom made the comment that her husband commanded that platoon. She did not buy the pic, but he always remembered her. When dad passed he contacted me and told me this story. He came out to dads funeral where the ex-commandant of the Marine Corp and Governor Perry performed the service. Dad got a a Marine Corp Fly-over and a 21 gun salute. His motorcade was over a mile and surrounded by the Patriot Guard Motorcycle group. In the picture frame, there is a picture of the funeral and 14 shell casings. Jimmy went after everyone left with a metal detector and found all the 14 casings. The other 7 are with the flag. He gave that picture to me and the family to have… Great guy, Great Patriot.”
The book includes historic photos, one with Pvt Robeson, who is shirtless, with Charles Lindberg . . . identical photos taken 32 years apart.
Description by Wes Wells: “Dad with the shorter man is Joe Rosenthal. He was the photographer that took that iconic photo of the second flag raising.”
John Keith Wells died days short of his 94th bday. We talk about people from “The Greatest Generation” and why we think they lived such long lives.
I ask Wes what he will remember most about his father.
Description by Wes Wells: “Me and dad in his 90’s showing him an iPad. He so loved technology.”
To learn more about John Keith Wells and the battle of Iwo Jima, buy his book HERE and consider purchasing the audio book when it comes out soon.
I thank Wes for sharing his father’s life and story.
(John) Keith Wells and wife Kathryn Wells
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Laurel Stuff:
Me (standing right corner) with my West Point Company D-1 classmates.
Have a new book? Want me to help you market it? Let me know!
Bestselling and Highly Acclaimed Author of Romance and Women’s Fiction!
Beverly Jenkins was a keynote speaker at the 2024 RMFW Colorado Gold Writers Conference! Visit with us here on YouTube.
Podcast (audio only) version
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.
Beverly’s RMFW Keynote speech was inspiring and–like her–funny!
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 19th 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!
Sooooo good!
It’s 3rd 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!
If only! She showed me what she had hidden under her top just before her keynote speech!
She provides wonderful advice to authors and those who hope to be authors.
He talks about the title of his debut novel and provides an elevator pitch.
He tells us how he decided to write fiction after being a nonfiction author.
Author Jeff Giles
We discuss our thoughts about what lies beyond this mortal realm .
Reviewers across the board have indicated their delight in Jeff’s unique perspective on the afterlife.
His character Frank is wonderful, so we talk about him.
I ask about some fun allusions [Cyrus tells Langley, “We’re all counting on you,” an Airplane reference? And secret decoder ring, Christmas Story? Jeff includes many cultural tidbits from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s.
I ask about the idea of the SPINE of the universe.
Meat pudding, Steven the mockingbird, a literal windbag. “With the sound of a fart…” Jeff peppers his narrative with delightfully humorous phrases and characters.
We discuss looking at formative experiences from a different perspective when we’re grown.
His characters address the Yin/yang balance in everything.
We get a little political about Cyrus’s perspective.
I ask what he has learned about himself now that he has completed and launched this novel.
Jeff provides some great advice to those contemplating trying their hand at novel writing.
I met Sam at this year’s RMFW Colorado Gold Conference in Denver where he kicked off the weekend by entertaining a room filled with mostly beige people!
He talks about the “bit” he does with paint sample cards and we share our true colors!
His book IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME . . . is a fascinating historical record of many, many, MANY sporting events. He talks about how he remembers them all, and we talk about a great quote from Ken Griffey Jr. The book is peppered with great quotes: “Lessons Learned From Listening To The Greats.”
Sam’s comedic voice comes through. “To this day, I am a notorious name-dropper when I am around friends.”
His golf score always higher than his bowling score . . .
He climbed a building to see Sugar Ray Leonard!
He talks about the first time he remembers making someone laugh.
Her MC, Dani, flees to a tiny town in Colorado that feels completely real.
Characters in this novel…as in all…are real and wonderful. I ask if any are based on people she knows. “CAREFUL, OR YOU’LL END UP IN MY NOVEL” (the sign in my guest bathroom!)
We discuss her characters and how they made it into her work (Irma and her dog Elmer, Jess the wounded former Marine, that beeotch Polly)!
How has your ballroom dancing influenced Helen’s writing?
Photos below show Helen dancing with her teacher, Isaac Lynn, at Arthur Murray Studio in Boulder
The CRIME STOPPERS broadcast also adds lots of tension!
Helen talks about how she captured the idea of trust so well, and how it adds to the tension between Dani and Jess.
“Undercurrents of romance”…that tension…Helen takes us through her process of putting this novel together.
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.
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.”
Another thing Peter enjoys while not writing!
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.
Peter (center) with Paonia river friends Sascha Steinway (left) and Landis Arnold (right)
“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!
Paonia home.
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 29th in Edwards, CO!
Peter in his element…outdoors!
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Laurel Stuff:
Me in my Smith College days, before I joined the Army!
Have a new book? Want me to help you market it? Let me know!
Susan and Barbara talk about how they met and became collaborators on this project…and we discuss high altitude baking (with tips)!
I tell them how I heard about their project from Barbara’s son (Chuck), who is my West Point classmate.
The book is dedicated “To all our greats and grands”! We learn how many they have, and we talk about being grandmothers (and grandmother names)!
The littlest fan of “From Zero to Hero,” Barbara’s great-granddaughter Olivia Levine!
Susan talks about the book’s message for the main character: TO DISCOVER HER TALENT AND WORTH. She explains the story’s journey, how is started, and how it evolved over time.
I ask if Dr. Seuss inspired the rhyming cadence of the story.
Susan’s granddaughter Natalie enjoys the book with her grandfather (who also seems to be enjoying the story!)
Number 7 is a rapper! I ask Susan to rap that section (and she does!)
We laugh about Zero leaving her purse with number 7.
Number 8 gives the best encouragement (I think!)
Some numbers are a bit snarky with her, (starting with Numero Uno) and full of themselves…like some real characters children might meet.
Barbara talks about her artwork and a scare she had while illustrating the book using Sketchbook on an old computer!
Barbara’s granddaughter Alexa Levine reads to her 4-month-old baby Olivia!
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