Episode 56: Born Loud, with Jennifer Stevenson

Illinois native Jennifer Stevenson is a Chicago-based fantasy and romance author who mixes romantic comedy with magical realist, regional (usually Chicago-set), working-class and sex-positive storytelling. She has published both short stories and several novel series, most of them blending urban fantasy with other popular storytelling genres.

Humor is a hallmark in all of Jennifer’s books. Her fantasy series range from urban romantic fantasy (Hinky Chicago) to paranormal romance (Slacker Demons) to fantasy paired with women’s fiction (Coed Demon Sluts). She’s also penned the contemporary romantic comedy series Backstage Boys and Liars in Love, her most recent releases.

Jennifer co-founded and is a member of the publishing cooperative Book View Cafe.

Jennifer talks with host Patricia McLinn about her self-described “snarky humor,” how she fell in love with romance (despite her parents’ protest), and how she came up with such unique series.

In her own words: “I don’t try to be loud. You have to understand; I was born loud, but I don’t try to be loud.” [30:01]

You can find Jennifer at:

Her website,

Facebook

and

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers podcast

Episode 55: Plotting Ahead, with R.J. Patterson

R.J. Patterson, an award-winning writer and mystery/thriller author, grew up in a military family and spent some of his formative years living on the estate of an English baron and baroness. Upon returning to the United States, R.J. entered the field of journalism where he won numerous writing awards and was published in prestigious U.S. newspapers, including The New York Times. He later left journalism full-time to pursue writing books, starting with the sports reporter Cal Murphy series of murder mysteries. The Man From Leningrad, Book 5 of his Ed Maddux spy thriller series, came out in November. Book 16 of his popular Brady Hawk series is due to be released in February.

R.J. now resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and four children.

R.J. talks with host Patricia McLinn about plotting ahead to create continuity while maintaining the flexibility to bring back beloved characters.

In his own words: “I have a big arc that I scripted out a long time ago — this is where the story is going and where it’s going to end up. And so about 10 percent of it is that thread in all the novels … that strings them together.” [20:35]

You can find R.J. at:

His website

Facebook

and

Twitter

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

Episode 54: You Have to First Be a Reader, with J.F. Penn

British author J.F. Penn has traveled the world in her study of religion and psychology. She brings these obsessions as well as a love for thrillers and an interest in the supernatural to her writing.

Her fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as “Dan Brown meets Lara Croft.”

Joanna talks to host Patricia McLinn about using traveling at motivation for her books and how she spent many years as a reader before becoming an author.

In Joanna’s own words: “All readers are intelligent people, and they know books, they love books, and it intimidates them. And they think, ‘I could never do that.’ But the problem with being a reader is you’re reading a finished product. SO the thing that kind of changed my life as a writer was realizing that there was a first draft.” [10:06]

You can find Joanna at her:

Website

Facebook

or

Twitter

jf penn authors love readers

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

authors love readers joanna penn

 

Episode 53: Growing Into a Writer, with Rebecca Forster

California-based Rebecca Forster started writing novels on a crazy dare. Now she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of more than 35 mysteries and thrillers that have been called “Perfect … impossible to put down” by famed law professor Laurie Levenson.

After earning her MBA, Rebecca spent 14 years as a marketing executive before taking the leap to a creative career. A full-time author, speaker and teacher, Rebecca focuses on legal and political thrillers, but is known for bringing an uncommon sense of character and compassion to her work. Her most recent title, Secret Relations (Book 3, Finn O’Brien Thriller Series), released last year.

Rebecca teaches the craft of writing and the cultivation of creativity at programs that have included the acclaimed UCLA Writers Program and as a guest speaker at legal associations, writer’s conferences, women’s symposiums and philanthropic groups.

Rebecca speaks with host Patricia McLinn about how she got into writing, not only the dare but the things in life that got her to say yes and write her first novel.

In her own words [about loving books before writing them]: “I was a really avid reader, and still am, and I just always had a book in my purse [or] in my hand.” [13:50]

You can find Rebecca at her:

website

Twitter

or

Facebook

Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month — that’s only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! — by pledging at Patreon. It’s vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you!

Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.