Online For Authors Podcast

Amphibian Apocalypse: Battling the Frog Virus with Author EB Mendel

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is EB Mendel, author of the book If Frogs Could Fly. E.B. Mendel is an author in South Florida. If Frogs Could Fly is his first novel, and The Help of Angels, a historical novel, is his second. He has also recorded, produced, and published audiobooks from the same titles. He is currently getting ready to publish his 3rd novel, The Miraculous Adventures of Willy Maze.
 
In my book review, I stated If Frogs Could Fly is a contemporary fiction complete with magical realism and adventure. What I found most amazing was that the book was originally written in 2016 but mirrors our recent COVID pandemic to a great degree.
 
The story follows Ron Levine, a journalist, along with his wife and friends. Ron is invited to head to South America to find one of the lost tribes of Israel along with a crew put together by a Jewish Rabbi. Unfortunately, the crew finds more than they bargained for, including a new disease that spreads quickly throughout the world.
 
EB shows us what a world with an incurable, transmittable disease might look like. He then pairs this epidemic with a 1960s style culture of drugs, trips, and music. I have to admit that I got a little lost at times and wondered what was real and what wasn't. I suspect that was what EB hoped to have happen!
 
If you like a book that feels like a psychedelic dream, then If Frogs Could Fly might just be for you.
 
Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1
 
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author EB Mendel:
FB: @Howard J Zeger
 
Purchase If Frogs Could Fly on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/43ppiOR
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#ebmendel #iffrogscouldfly #contemporaryfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Transforming Adversity into Action: A Veteran's Journey to Advocacy with Author Tristian Smith

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Tristian Smith, author of the book Against All Odds. Tristian Smith is not just an author—he's a living testament to resilience and transformation. His powerful memoir, "Against All Odds," chronicles his harrowing journey from a turbulent foster care system—where he lived in over 25 homes and attended 13 different schools—to emerging as a United States Army Officer, foster youth advocate, and inspiring speaker. Tristian’s unique story combines firsthand experience with a deep commitment to changing the narrative for foster youth. He brings not only a compelling personal history but also actionable insights on overcoming adversity, the importance of mentorship, and the urgent need for systemic reform in foster care. Podcast hosts looking for a guest who can engage audiences on topics ranging from personal transformation and mental health to advocacy and veteran experiences will find Tristian’s story both moving and motivational. Book him to share a narrative that is as impactful as it is inspiring.
 
In my book review, I stated Against All Odds by Tristian Smith is a memoir, as well as a how-to manual for surviving in and fixing the foster care system.
 
Tristian found himself in the foster system as a young boy. Like most kids in the system, they are there through no fault of their own. These kids keep hoping to find connection and security - something that, according to Tristian, is rare to find in the current foster care system.
 
After helping readers understand his own story and how it felt to be pushed and pulled from home to home like an object rather than a person, he spends the second half of the book talking to kids in the system and people concerned with the system.
 
After reading the book, I felt an urgency to find a way to help create a better system for the kids who find themselves in need of care. I have also begun looking into being a mentor for teens as they move toward aging out of the system. And Tristian's words to kids in foster care are words for anyone who finds themself in a difficult situation.
 
His goal is to help others while shining a light on a broken system. Without a doubt, he did just that.
 
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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Tristian Smith on LinkedIn: @tristianwsmith
 
Purchase Against All Odds on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4dhpROn
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4iSo0QZ
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#tristiansmith #againstallodds #memoir #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Harmonies and Heartbreak: A Family Saga from Folk to Fury with Author Sarah Seltzer

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Sarah Seltzer, author of the book The Singer Sisters.
Sarah is writer in New York City where she lives with her family surrounded by books, records, CDs—and a lot of snacks. Her debut novel THE SINGER SISTERS, about a family of folk rock singers who express their conflicts, secrets, betrayals and love through music, was published by Flatiron Books in summer 2024 and was a USA Today Bestseller!
 
She is an editor at Lilith Magazine and has been a journalist for many big and small publications from Jezebel to the New York Times reporting on activism and culture, and writing essays, cultural criticism, and the occasional opinion piece.
 
In my book review, I stated The Singer Sisters by Sarah Seltzer is a women's fiction with a dash of musical historical fiction thrown in for good measure. If you love a good family saga filled with generational expectations, family secrets, addictions, mental health issues, unplanned pregnancies, adoption, abortion, sexual orientation, and mother/daughter struggles, then this is the novel for you.
The key players are Judie and her sister Sylvia, folk singers who made a name in the 1960s and Emma, who is Judie's daughter and wants to make her own musical mark in the world- along with a great cast of secondary characters who give the book a beautiful flavor. Against the backdrop of a musical family, we soon become embroiled in family drama. As Emma begins her journey toward fame, she learns lessons about herself, her life, and her mother. And despite this story being about a famous family, it could be about you. It seems that all families have their love, secrets, shame, and problems!
I loved the nods to famous singers from the 1960s who were trying to be the next great Dylan as well as singers from the 1990s who were angry, combat boot wearing women trying to show the world how little had changed. But mostly, I loved moving along life with a family that was just trying to make it work. This is definitely a must-read!
 
 
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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Sarah Seltzer
Website: https://sarahseltzer.wordpress.com/
Social media: X: @sarahmseltzer
FB: @Sarah.Seltzer
IG: @sarahmseltzer
LinkedIn: @Sarah M Seltzer
 
Purchase The Singer Sisters on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4jiUtAo
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3FphALw
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#sarahseltzer #thesingersisters #womensfiction  #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

From Chaos to Courage: Alice's Journey on the Ill-fated Sea Venture with Author Elisabeth Carson-Williams

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Elisabeth Carson-Williams, author of the book Castaway on the Isle of Devils. Inspired by her students, and her fervent love of travel, Elisabeth hrives on meeting new people and hearing their stories. This, coupled with her own desire to understand her family’s history, led her to write historical fiction, to capture the themes and voices of those not found in a textbook. “Ricochet,” her short story in Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women anthology, is about the quiet battles women fight in order to survive, and how one person’s actions can ricochet through multiple generations. Castaway on the Isle of Devils is her first young adult novel. To learn more about Elisabeth’s publishing journey, writing process, and research trips, or sign up for her newsletter, visit: www.ecarsonwilliams.com.
 
In my book review, I stated Castaway on the Isle of Devils is a young adult historical fiction filled to the brim with travel and adventure. We meet Alice Drinkard as she and her family are about to board a ship, Sea Venture, which is setting sail from England to Jamestown.
 
Alice starts off the trip rather high and mighty. She is disdainful of her mother whom she calls Your Highness, she rarely takes advice. and she often finds herself in trouble because she chose to do things her own way with no regard to others.
 
While on the ship, she starts to discover that their trip, one she felt was simply an adventure, and one they were going on because she wanted it, is a whole lot more. However, it isn't until the Sea Venture is nearly destroyed in a hurricane and is shipwrecked on the Isle of Devils, that she begins to understand the entire story - as well as a lot about herself and what she is made of. She also begins to understand human nature and what happens when people who seek power end up in charge.
 
Elizabeth created her tale based on the true story of the Sea Venture, the shipwreck which was the inspiration for Shakespeare's The Tempest. Though William is barely a character in the book, Elizabeth did a wonderful job creating an exciting backstory to explain where Shakespeare got his idea for the play.
 
Although touted as a young adult novel, I believe it is a story for all ages. I highly recommend this book!
 
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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Elisabeth Carson-Williams
Website: https://ecarsonwilliams.com
IG: @ecarsonwilliams
Threads: @ecarsonwilliams
FB: @ECarsonWilliamsAuthor
Pinterest: @ecarsonwilliamswrites
 
Purchase Castaway on the Isle of Devils on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4iXMkAU
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4iXMkAU
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#elisabethcarsonwilliams #castawayontheisleofdevils #ya #historicalfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Whispers in Color: Unraveling the Mysteries with Author Amy Suto

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Amy Suto, author of the book The Nomad Detective. Amy Suto began her career as a Hollywood TV writer before hitting the road and becoming a digital nomad and freelance writer, which was the subject of her nonfiction book Six-Figure Freelance Writer: A Holistic Guide on Finding Freedom in Freelance. The Nomad Detective: Volume I is Amy’s debut work of fiction, and marks the start of the book series following Detective Violet Chase. Amy runs a Substack newsletter called From the Desk of Amy Suto about how to carve your path as a working writer. When she's not writing, Amy travels the world and works remotely from cafes in Cusco, Peru—or is misplacing her AirPods in Lisbon, Portugal. You can learn more about Amy at: AmySuto.com.
 
In my book review, I stated The Nomad Detective is the first in a mystery detective series. Violet Chase became a detective after her twin disappeared in Guatemala. Her ultimate goal is to take cases that might lead her to her sister.
 
Violet isn't just any detective. After her sister's disappearance, she developed synesthesia - mixed up senses. She sees people's aura's as colors - and these colors have specific smells. She uses her synesthesia, a condition she hasn't shared with anyone, to capture the bad guys.
 
This first volume is a collection of four stories that take us into various exotic locations where Violet works to find the killer. Readers learn more and more of Violet's history and discover, though the hero of the series, that Violet has many flaws and a not-so-pretty past. The more I learned, that more I routed for Violet to solve the current mystery - and to find her sister.
 
Amy did a wonderful job with character development. She also left me wanting more. Without a doubt, I'll be ready when Volume 2 of the Nomad Detective is ready for readers!
 
Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1
 
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Amy Suto
Website: https://www.amysuto.com/
LinkedIn: @Amy Suto
IG: @sutoscience
X: @sutoscience
 
Purchase The Nomad Detective on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3F5koxe
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4m9PlRw
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#amysuto #thenomaddetective #mystery #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ten Misconceptions About Publishing You Can't Afford to Ignore with Author W. Terry Whalin

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is W. Terry Whalin, author of the book 10 Publishing Myths. W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications. A former literary agent, Terry is an Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing.
 
He has written more than 60 books through traditional publishers in a wide range of topics from children’s books to biographies to co-authored books. Several of Terry’s books have sold over 100,000 copies.
 
Terry’s most recent book is BOOK PROPOSALS THAT SELL (THE REVISED EDITION) which has over 150 Five-Star reviews. He has also written 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS, INSIGHTS EVERY AUTHOR NEEDS TO SUCCEED and BILLY GRAHAM, A BIOGRAPHY OF AMERICA’S GREATEST EVANGELIST (all from Morgan James Publishing). Also, Terry has an innovative online training course to help authors effectively connect with literary agents and editors called Write a Book Proposal.
 
Terry is a popular speaker and teacher at numerous writers’ conferences and an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. He lives in Southern California and has an active following on twitter.
 
In my book review, I stated 10 Publishing Myths by W. Terry Whalin is a great craft book helping authors understand what publishing a book entails - and what it doesn't. Many writers get started on the path to authorship without a real understanding of what comes after the book is written. Terry's book gives authors a realistic look at what to expect.
 
I loved that the book gave real-life examples, actionable tips, and even links for more information. It's a quick read but stuffed with great information - whether you are published or not. This book should be on every author's bookshelf.
 
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Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author W. Terry Whalin
Website: https://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/
X: @terrywhalin
LinkedIn: @Terry Whalin
FB: @terrywhalin
 
Purchase 10 Publishing Myths on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3ZjpHka
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3ZjpHka
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#wterrywhalin #10publishingmyths #authorcraft #writercraft #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Battleground America: A Military Thriller of Division and Defiance with Author William R Douglas

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is William R Douglas, author of the book The Sun of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0. William R. Douglas is an award-winning novelist whose debut novel, The Death and Resurrection of Baseball: Echoes from a Distant Past, was recognized by two book award contests: Readers' Favorite and the Independent Author Network. His latest novel, The Sum of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0, is a Speculative Fiction story set in 2061, a time when the nation's divisiveness and anger finally come to a boil after the inauguration of the first openly socialist President.
 
After obtaining a Journalism Degree in 1980, his career turned down the road of Information Technology, working for well-known companies: Mindscape Software, Moore Business Forms, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), IBM, Sears, Walgreens, DELL, and currently The Boeing Company. He could still enjoy writing in his career, whether it was technical documentation, websites, newsletters, or other material.
 
He lives an hour northwest of Chicago in the small town of McHenry, Illinois (population 27 thousand), with his wife Laurie and cat Peaches. They enjoy spending time with six kids and nine grandkids and are active in their local church.
 
In my book review, I stated The Sum of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0 by William R Douglas is realistic domestic military thriller set about forty years in the future. This book was amazing. Horrifying. Thought-provoking. Disturbing. Anxiety-producing. And a must-read.
 
The Civil War is something we should never want to repeat in the United States, but with political parties who refuse to work together, name-calling, and "dig in our heels" ideologies, many fear this could be on the horizon. The Sum of All Our Anger looks at the United States in 2061 and shows readers a worst case scenario that includes states seceding from the Union, martial law, and the removal of the founding documents of our country.
 
Quite frankly, I had to put the book down several times and swallow hard before I could continue. Why? Because I could imagine this scenario playing out. And the results of a second Civil War would be beyond devastating. I hope you read this book, contemplate what you see, and do your part to effect change - regardless of which side of the aisle holds your vote.
 
Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1
 
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author William R Douglas
Website: https://www.authorwilliamrdouglas.com/
FB: @Author William R Douglas
X:authorwilliamr
IG: @williamrdouglas59
 
Purchase The Sun of All Our Anger: Civil War 2.0 on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Zv8LGO
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4kzrysR
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#williamrdouglas #thesumofallouranger #thriller #militarythriller #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Lessons from Mom: A Lifelong Journey of Learning Together with Author Robert W Norris

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Robert W Norris, author of the book The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise. Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California. In 1969, he entered the Air Force, subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and served time in a military prison for refusing to fight in the war. In his twenties, he roamed across the United States, went to Europe twice, and made one journey around the world. In 1983, he landed in Japan, where he eventually became a professor at a private university, spent two years as the dean of students, and retired in 2016 as a professor emeritus.
 
Norris is the author of Looking for the Summer, a novel about a former Vietnam War conscientious objector’s adventures and search for identity in Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and India in 1977; Toraware, a novel about the obsessive relationship of three misfits from different cultural backgrounds in 1980s Kobe, Japan; Autumn Shadows in August, an hallucinogenic mid-life crisis/adventure, and homage to Malcolm Lowry and Hermann Hesse; The Many Roads to Japan, a novella used as an English textbook in Japanese universities; and The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me, a memoir and tribute to his mother. He has also written several articles on teaching English as a foreign language. He and his wife live near Fukuoka, Japan.
 
In my book review, I stated The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise is a wonderful memoir about Robert's mother, Kay, as well as his own interesting life. This memoir spans 90+ years and gives readers a glimpse into the lives of two people who never quite followed the "rules" as set out by society.
 
Kay, twice divorced, spoke her mind, even when others thought she should keep quiet - just ask the Catholic priest who refused to give her communion. She raised her children with the same spirit - to know who they were and what they stood for along with a willingness to act. Kay was a lifelong learner, taking on getting a pilot's license, going back to school to become a legal secretary, writing poetry, drawing nature, and studying the Japanese language. She loved to travel and she loved her family.
 
I really enjoyed reading Robert's account of his own life and how his mother fit into the picture. I appreciated his candor - he didn't seem to have the need to paint himself in the perfect light, which means the reader gets to see his struggles and pains as well as his triumphs. Although Robert and I have very different opinions about life, I admire how he found his truth and then found a way to live that truth.
 
This is a fascinating memoir about a boy and his mom through the years. I think you'll enjoy it.
 
Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1
 
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Robert W Norris
Website: https://robertwnorris.com/
FB: @bob.norris.374
 
Purchase The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3XNTS1L
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4i1hXZZ
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#robertwnorris #thegoodlordwillingandthecreekdontrise #memoir #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Flickering Shadows: The Candlemaker's Journey to Freedom with Author Marj Charlier

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Marj Charlier, author of the book The Candlemaker's Woman. Marj Charlier is the author of eleven novels and three novellas. The Rebel Nun (Blackstone 2021), based on the true story of a nun who led a rebellion in the sixth century, won first place in both fiction and historical fiction from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association awards in 2023. The Candlemaker’s Woman was published by Sunacumen Press in 2024. She has taught memoir and fiction writing workshops at libraries, book festivals and OLLI programs, and has been a board member of several local writers’ guilds, and enjoyed residencies at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony and the Vashon Island Artist Residency. Marj began her writing career at daily and mid-size newspapers before joining the Wall Street Journal as a staff reporter in 1984. After twenty years in journalism, she began a second career in corporate finance before retiring to write novels. 
 
In her book review, Carole O’Neill stated:
“The Candlemaker’s Woman takes place during the period of the barbarian migrations into the late Roman Empire. Not a period I read a lot about. My history lesson kept interfering with the memoir of a young girl sold into slavery by her mother for safe passage into Gaul. She promises to find her daughter as soon as they are able to cross the Rhine.
 
“As Melia waits for her mother’s return, life with her new family consists of near starvation as she learns how to stretch scraps of food to avoid starvation. She even finds ways to live through the brutal sexual assaults during the nightly visits by her new master. Her only relief seems to come in learning how to make candles. She becomes an expert at the craft and uses her knowledge to her advantage when the soldiers come looking for slaves.
 
“Throughout the book Melia shows the character of a much older woman, learning to become strong while enduring the life of a slave. I found myself rooting for her as she ran through town searching for help in delivering her friend’s baby.
 
“Marj’s character descriptions are vivid and real. Her research is notable. Putting it down was harder than I thought. Waiting for a sequel might be asking too much.”
 
Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1
 
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290
 
You can follow Author Marj Charlier
Website: www.marjcharlier.com
FB: @MarjCharlierAuthor
IG: @marjcharlier
X: @AuthorMarj
LinkedIn: @Marj Charlier
 
Purchase The Candlemaker's Woman on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4jkXu3s
Ebook: https://amzn.to/3FZ3aSr
 
Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com
FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor
IG: @terimbrown_author
X: @terimbrown1
 
Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors
 
#marjcharlier #thecandlemakerswoman #historicalfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Enchanted Land of Perpetual Autumn: Feline Guardians and Dream Mysteries with Author Megan Mary

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Megan Mary, author of the book The Dream Haunters. Megan Mary is an award-winning international bestselling metaphysical author, dreamworker and host of the Women's Dream Enlightenment podcast. She founded Inner Realms Publishing to provide book marketing services such as websites and bestseller campaigns to women authors.
 
In addition to a career spanning over twenty-five years creating and marketing websites, she holds an MA and BA in English Literature, is pursuing her PhD in Metaphysical Sciences and is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams and the Independent Book Publishers Association. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two cats.
 
Blending the genres of mystery, fantasy and speculative fiction, her debut series, Witches of Maple Hollow, launched in 2024 with The Dream Haunters. Book 2: The Dream Mirrors & Book 3 will both be released in 2025.
 
In my book review, I stated Dream Haunters by Megan Mary is an enchanting cozy mystery set in Maple Hollow. It's a perfect book for those who love fall, Halloween, and all things magic.
 
Hannah Skye heads to Maple Hollow when she learns her Aunt Jewelia, her last remaining relative, is missing. While there, she begins to recognize that her family has a lot of secrets - and these secrets have a direct impact on her.
 
Will she figure out what she is supposed to learn from the residents of Maple Hollow? Will she rightfully take her place in the family line? Will she be able to save her aunt from the dream haunters? More importantly, will she be able to save the world?
 
Megan creates a wonderful scene and cast of characters. You won't want to miss this cozy mystery.
 
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Paperback: https://amzn.to/3QSwuw0
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4caaoyZ
 
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