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Introducing the Bookaholics Podcast, a safe place for reading junkies who obsess over books, authors, bookstores, book news, and book trivia. You’re invited to nerd-out with book reviews, author interviews, our habit, and other bookish things . Enjoy Interviews with those in the book business. Meet new authors. Explore curating your library with new genres and discover new authors. revisit the classics with a twist. Your host Deirdre Pippins, also known as Ms. Media Content, is a board member for her local library, content creator, copywriter, and business owner. She has traveled extensively throughout the world because of the influence of books she’s read. Remember to subscribe to the podcast, follow us Instagram @truebookaholic. You can also email us at readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com. Don’t forget to support your local library and independent bookstores. The Bookaholics Podcast ”For those who can’t get enough of that bookish stuff.”
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Wednesday Aug 16, 2023
Bret Ridgway is a 25-year veteran of the book publishing and speaking world. He is an 8-time author, including #1 bestsellers "Mistakes Authors Make" and "ABCs of Speaking." He was the founder of Speaker Fulfillment Services, a company that works behind the scenes for authors, speakers, and information marketers. He is a frequent guest on podcasts, virtual summits, and at live events such as Author 101 University, Author U, and 21st Century Book Marketing.
00:00:00 An intro to Bret Ridgway
00:00:47 Bret Ridgway’s background
00:03:43 Early days of E-commerce
00:05:35 Why you should take Bret Ridgway’s services
00:08:10 Selling book on Amazon
00:12:42 Biggest and most common mistakes that authors make
00:17:10 Short attention span
00:20:29 Spotlight Speaker Masterclass
00:24:58 What to look forward to BretRidgway.com
00:27:02 Wrapping Up
Bret Ridgway’s Links:
Website:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bretridgway/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bridgway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretridgway/
Links to The Bookaholic
Remember to subscribe to the podcast – Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Website: www.book-a-holic.com
Register to win my FREE monthly book giveaway at www.book-a-holic.com or head over to @truebookaholic on Instagram and click the link in bio.
Shop Your Books at the Bookaholic Bookstore:
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
F O L L O W M E
// YOUTUBE: youtube.com/bookaholic-DeirdrePippins
https://www.youtube.com/c/BookaholicDeirdrePippins
// INSTAGRAM: @truebookaholic
https://www.instagram.com/truebookaholic/
// FACEBOOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.facebook.com/bookaholicpodcast/
// PINTEREST: @truebookaholic
https://www.pinterest.ph/TrueBookaholic/
// TIKTOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.tiktok.com/@truebookaholic
// TWITTER: @truebookaholic1
https://twitter.com/truebookaholic1
// LINKEDIN: Deirdre Pippins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-pippins-38338a214/
// EMAIL: readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com
Bookaholic bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Join us in this highly recommended episode as we welcome a popular podcast guest, award-winning author, and keynote speaker, Margaret. With her unique perspective and inspiring journey, Margaret invites audiences to question whether they may be running tirelessly down the wrong path. She shares a simple daily process to break free from overwhelming busyness and live a life filled with joy and true purpose by surrendering their to-do lists to a higher power. Margaret's story resonates with people of all ages, professions, and walks of life, making her episodes among the most downloaded for podcast hosts.
Episode Highlights:
- Overcoming Overwhelming Busyness: Margaret, an executive in the high-tech industry and a single mother of eight, found herself buried under a mountain of responsibilities. While juggling her demanding career, providing for her family, and pursuing her education, she slept less than four hours a night and often woke up in a panic about unfinished tasks. Despite prioritizing and focusing on what seemed most important, she realized her approach wasn't working.
- Discovering the Divine Practice: In a moment of desperation, Margaret decided to surrender her to-do list to a higher power—God, the universe, her inner voice, or a higher consciousness. This shift in mindset allowed her to let go of the overwhelming burden and trust that divine guidance would lead her toward a more purposeful and joyful life.
- Experiencing Transformative Results: By releasing control and embracing the practice of turning her to-do list over to a higher power, Margaret experienced remarkable changes. She not only accomplished more but also found herself getting more sleep and experiencing less stress. Through this conversation, Margaret shares her journey of transformation and the profound impact it had on her well-being and overall fulfillment.
- A Daily Process for All: Margaret's practice of surrendering to a higher power is not limited to a particular religion or belief system. It is a spiritual approach that transcends religious boundaries, appealing to individuals from all backgrounds. She emphasizes that this practice is accessible to anyone who feels overwhelmed, struggles with time management, and seeks to live their best life.
- Inspiring Others: Margaret's story serves as an inspiration for countless individuals who find themselves caught in the perpetual cycle of endless tasks and limited time. Her ability to navigate the challenges of being a single mother, sole provider, and student while still finding peace and purpose speaks directly to those who yearn for a more balanced and fulfilling existence.
Conclusion: In this captivating episode, Margaret, a renowned author, and speaker, shares her personal journey of finding true purpose and joy by surrendering her to-do list to a higher power. Her insights, humor, and ability to flow with the conversation make her a great guest. By exploring the transformative power of this daily practice, Margaret offers hope and guidance to individuals seeking a way out from overwhelming busyness and towards a life filled with joy, meaning, and divine connection.
Chapters:
00:00:00 An Intro to Margaret Agard
00:00:45 Speak to unbelievers
00:02:52 In His Footsteps: How I Gave My Todo List to God and Got More Done
00:10:28 Ask God what you need to do today
00:14:36 The small voice
00:17:19 Give yourself the opportunity to talk with God
00:19:52 In His Footsteps: Sold all we had and followed as God created miracles and new hearts
00:24:31 The Third Book about: Relationship with Husband
00:29:31 Wrapping Up
Margaret Agard’s Links:
Website:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretagard/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inhisfootsteps
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhisfootstepsbooks/?hl=en
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/InHisFootstepsPage/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Links to The Bookaholic
Remember to subscribe to the podcast – Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Website: www.book-a-holic.com
Register to win my FREE monthly book giveaway at www.book-a-holic.com or head over to @truebookaholic on Instagram and click the link in bio.
Shop Your Books at the Bookaholic Bookstore:
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
F O L L O W M E
// YOUTUBE: youtube.com/bookaholic-DeirdrePippins
https://www.youtube.com/c/BookaholicDeirdrePippins
// INSTAGRAM: @truebookaholic
https://www.instagram.com/truebookaholic/
// FACEBOOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.facebook.com/bookaholicpodcast/
// PINTEREST: @truebookaholic
https://www.pinterest.ph/TrueBookaholic/
// TIKTOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.tiktok.com/@truebookaholic
// TWITTER: @truebookaholic1
https://twitter.com/truebookaholic1
// LINKEDIN: Deirdre Pippins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-pippins-38338a214/
// EMAIL: readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com
Bookaholic bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
"Inside the Warzone: A Thrilling Journey with Author Gary Edgington
Join the Bookaholic podcast as we talk to Gary Edgington author of Outside The Wire.
Here’s a breakdown of the book. A retired LA counterterrorism cop and a fearless Army doctor risk everything, including their burgeoning romance, as they battle clandestine Iranian operatives bent on the slaughter of thousands of innocents and ultimately the destruction of America. After a yearlong lull, local Iraqi insurgents launch a deadly mortar barrage at
the sprawling Camp Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. Rick Sutherland, a retired LAPD
lieutenant working as an embedded counterterrorism advisor, is wounded in the attack,
and a local interpreter is killed. Along with Major Nancy Weaver, his former doctor and
now partner, Rick embarks on an off-the-books investigation that quickly morphs into a
race to stop murderous Iranian operatives from exploding multiple dirty bombs during a
critical meeting of US and foreign heads of state. Working together, Nancy and Rick make a formidable team—but will it be enough?
Gary Edgington is a 41 year law enforcement veteran, and son of a police officer killed in the line of duty in1979. While a counterterrorism task force commander for the California Department of Justice, Gary was embedded for nine years with the Los Angeles FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Gary also served a as a counterterrorism/law enforcement advisor with
the US Army in Iraq; on the Guantanamo terrorist detainee cases; with the Long Beach Police Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism; and the US Special Operations Command. Gary has received recognition from the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, the California attorney general, and the Los Angeles Regional Office where he was named Special Agent of the Year.
Chapters:
00:00:00 An intro to Gary Edgington
00:01:07 Gary’s career background
00:04:24 The Idea of Writing
00:09:04 How Charlotte Writers Club helped
00:10:27 Outside the Wire: How it Started
00:16:51 Outside the Wire: Follow up
00:18:40 Creative space to explore
00:21:20 Wrapping Up
Gary Edgington’s Links:
Website:
https://garyedgingtonauthor.com/
Amazon book link:
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
In this episode, we are honored to have Edward Miskie, a musical theatre actor, singer, and author of the compelling memoir, "Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic Illnesses." Edward takes us on an emotional journey through his personal experiences as a cancer survivor and his mission to give back to the community that supported him.
Edward shares that his desire to support others who have been through similar struggles started during his treatment at the renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, New York. Four years after being declared cancer-free, a chance encounter with a fellow survivor ignited a spark within Edward. He felt compelled to share his story, and thus, the concept for his memoir was born.
Initially intended as a self-help book for cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones, Edward's memoir has transformed into something he describes as "the ugly truth" behind cancer. With a touch of humor that only someone who has faced cancer can understand, Edward's memoir delves into the indecencies, heartbreaks, triumphs, and shenanigans that accompany the battle against this devastating disease.
Through his raw and honest storytelling, Edward hopes to offer solace and reassurance to readers who may be grappling with their own emotions. He wants them to know that it's okay to feel the way they do and that they are not alone on their journey. Edward's memoir is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that laughter and camaraderie can be found even in the face of adversity.
Tune in to this inspiring episode as Edward Miskie opens up about his remarkable journey as a cancer survivor, his passion for musical theatre, and the profound impact of his memoir, "Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic Illnesses." Get ready to laugh, cry, and find comfort in Edward's empowering words.
Episode Highlights:
• Edward's personal experience as a cancer survivor and his motivation to give back
• The serendipitous encounter that inspired the creation of his memoir
• The evolution of Edward's book from a self-help guide to "the ugly truth" behind cancer
• Exploring the indecencies, heartbreaks, triumphs, and shenanigans of the cancer journey
• Edward's hope to provide comfort and reassurance to readers facing similar challenges
Resources:
• Edward Miskie's memoir, "Cancer, Musical Theatre, & Other Chronic Illnesses"
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (https://www.mskcc.org/)
Don't miss this heartfelt and enlightening conversation with Edward Miskie as we delve into the honest realities of cancer and the power of sharing our stories.
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
In this episode of the Bookaholic podcast, we are thrilled to welcome MariNaomi, an award-winning queer half-Japanese author and artist, born in Texas and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. MariNaomi's exceptional talent has garnered them recognition as a banned-book author and illustrator, with their work appearing in esteemed publications such as The New Yorker Daily Shouts, The Washington Post, LA Times, and more.
MariNaomi's artistic journey has taken them to illustrious institutions like the Smithsonian, the De Young Museum, and the Asian Art Museum, where their captivating artwork has graced the walls. As a true creative force, MariNaomi has contributed to over 80 publications and played a vital role in founding and maintaining databases for Cartoonists of Color, Queer Cartoonists, and Disabled Cartoonists.
During our conversation, MariNaomi shares exciting news about their upcoming tour across the United States, with stops planned in cities like Seattle, Olympia, Iowa, Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Texas, and Maryland. This tour presents an opportunity for fans and enthusiasts to experience MariNaomi's captivating storytelling firsthand.
We also delve into MariNaomi's thought-provoking podcast, AskBiGrlz, where they collaborate with author Myriam Gurba to offer insightful and empowering advice from a biracial and bisexual feminist perspective.
The highlight of our discussion centers around MariNaomi's forthcoming graphic memoir, "I Thought You Loved Me." This groundbreaking work explores a wide range of themes, including queer culture, feminism, race, class, sex work, and the complexities of memory. Told through a unique blend of prose, collage, and sequential art, MariNaomi's memoir unravels the story of a long-lost best friend, who now resides in the realm of forgotten memories but remains ever-present in their heart.
Renowned for their ability to push the boundaries of the comic medium, MariNaomi's creation of a new idiom in "I Thought You Loved Me" captivates readers with its vivid imagery and emotionally charged storytelling. The memoir has been described as a brilliant, heartbreaking, and dreamlike experience that leaves an indelible impression on its audience.
To learn more about MariNaomi and their incredible body of work, make sure to visit their website at https://marinaomi.com. You'll find additional information about their upcoming tour, their podcast, and the opportunity to explore their advanced reading copy of "I Thought You Loved Me," which is available for early access.
#queer #disability #biracial
Join us on the Bookaholic podcast as we embark on a thought-provoking journey through art, identity, and the enigmatic nature of memory with the visionary MariNaomi.
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Nathaniel A. Turner is a breath of fresh air. As one of the most entertaining and captivating Renaissance people of our day, he's sought after by organizations and individuals worldwide to share the tools, techniques, and strategies to live life in the present with joy on purpose.
The Humanitarian Propulsion Engineer, Public Intellectual, TED Speaker, and author's work includes the books: Raising Supaman, Stop the Bus, It's A Jungle Out There, Journey Forward, and The Amazing World of STEM. Nate shares an audio version of his unique style of envisioning and manifesting the best version of himself across numerous social media platforms.
00:00:00 An Intro to Nathaniel Turner
00:00:43 Living with Joy on Purpose
00:04:58 Younger Generations
00:08:14 Why Nathaniel Turner?
00:09:24 The Life Template
00:13:53 How Nathaniel will convince different people about Life Template
00:20:51 Parenting structure
00:20:23 Secretarial citizenry
00:28:12 All Lives Matters
00:33:06 Wrapping Up
Nathaniel A. Turner’s Links:
Website:
https://www.nathanielaturner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaisingSupaman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielaturner/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RaisingSupaman
Links to The Bookaholic
Remember to subscribe to the podcast – Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to
podcasts. Website: www.book-a-holic.com
Register to win my FREE monthly book giveaway at www.book-a-holic.com or head over
to @truebookaholic on Instagram and click the link in bio.
Shop Your Books at the Bookaholic Bookstore:
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
F O L L O W M E
// YOUTUBE: youtube.com/bookaholic-DeirdrePippins
https://www.youtube.com/c/BookaholicDeirdrePippins
// INSTAGRAM: @truebookaholic
https://www.instagram.com/truebookaholic/
// FACEBOOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.facebook.com/bookaholicpodcast/
// PINTEREST: @truebookaholic
https://www.pinterest.ph/TrueBookaholic/
// TIKTOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.tiktok.com/@truebookaholic
// TWITTER: @truebookaholic1
https://twitter.com/truebookaholic1
// LINKEDIN: Deirdre Pippins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-pippins-38338a214/
// EMAIL: readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com
Bookaholic bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
SUNSHINE, a young adult graphic memoir written and illustrated by National Book Award finalist Jarrett J. Krosoczka, is Jarrett’s account of being a teen counselor at Camp Sunshine in Maine, where he learned about the hope and determination that gets people through the most troubled of times. It’s the moving follow-up to his graphic memoir, Hey, Kiddo, which detailed growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents.
00:00:00 An intro to Jarrett J. Krosoczka
00:01:53 Sunshine book reading age group
00:04:35 Problem encounter with Sunshine readers
00:08:28 Jarrett started being an artist
00:11:10 Reading Comics
00:13:26 Is Sunshine a sequel to Hey, Kiddo?
00:16:01 Addiction
00:18:07 Camp Sunshine
00:22:38 Wrapping Up
Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Links:
Website:
https://www.campsunshine.org/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@studiojjk
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/studiojjk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StudioJJK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiojjk/
Links to The Bookaholic
Remember to subscribe to the podcast – Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to
podcasts. Website: www.book-a-holic.com
Register to win my FREE monthly book giveaway at www.book-a-holic.com or head over
to @truebookaholic on Instagram and click the link in bio.
Shop Your Books at the Bookaholic Bookstore:
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
F O L L O W M E
// YOUTUBE: youtube.com/bookaholic-DeirdrePippins
https://www.youtube.com/c/BookaholicDeirdrePippins
// INSTAGRAM: @truebookaholic
https://www.instagram.com/truebookaholic/
// FACEBOOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.facebook.com/bookaholicpodcast/
// PINTEREST: @truebookaholic
https://www.pinterest.ph/TrueBookaholic/
// TIKTOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.tiktok.com/@truebookaholic
// TWITTER: @truebookaholic1
https://twitter.com/truebookaholic1
// LINKEDIN: Deirdre Pippins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-pippins-38338a214/
// EMAIL: readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com
Bookaholic bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Beatrice Adenodi is a marketing guru, awareness advocate, and founder/CEO of Mirror Ink, a business consulting firm based in Minneapolis. As a first-generation Nigerian American immigrant, Beatrice had to figure everything out on her own. Over the years she built her own set of tools to overcome the challenges of life. Through her unique perspective, she has been able to help many people get out of unfortunate situations by guiding them from being reactive to reflective in their settings. A sought-after speaker, she was invited to speak on stage at Unveiled Beauty 2019 and has also been a featured guest on podcasts such as Humanship, The Eulogy, and Wild Ones.
00:00:00 An intro to Beatrice Adenodi
00:00:43 Beatrice figuring everything out
00:05:47 Mindless Behaviors
00:10:06 Recognizing Mindless Behaviors
00:13:50 Where did the Mindless Behaviors come from?
00:16:11 The Invisible Book
00:18:39 Confronting Mindless Behaviors Improve you
00:23:28 Giving clients accomplice
00:25:17 Wrapping Up
Beatrice’s Links:
Website:
https://www.mindless-behaviors.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindlessbehaviors
Links to The Bookaholic
Remember to subscribe to the podcast – Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Website: www.book-a-holic.com
Register to win my FREE monthly book giveaway at www.book-a-holic.com or head over to @truebookaholic on Instagram and click the link in bio.
Shop Your Books at the Bookaholic Bookstore:
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
F O L L O W M E
// YOUTUBE: youtube.com/bookaholic-DeirdrePippins
https://www.youtube.com/c/BookaholicDeirdrePippins
// INSTAGRAM: @truebookaholic
https://www.instagram.com/truebookaholic/
// FACEBOOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.facebook.com/bookaholicpodcast/
// PINTEREST: @truebookaholic
https://www.pinterest.ph/TrueBookaholic/
// TIKTOK: @truebookaholic
https://www.tiktok.com/@truebookaholic
// TWITTER: @truebookaholic1
https://twitter.com/truebookaholic1
// LINKEDIN: Deirdre Pippins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-pippins-38338a214/
// EMAIL: readingjunkie@book-a-holic.com
Bookaholic bookstore.
https://bookshop.org/shop/truebookaholic
Wednesday May 24, 2023
Wednesday May 24, 2023
[00:00:00] Introduction
Zachary Daniel, welcome to the Bookaholic Podcast. Hi. Thanks for, thanks for having me. I'm really excited to, to be on. well let, let's dive into your journey. First of all, before we go into your book and your characters and your storyline and the world that you've created, let's talk about how you got onto the road of being a writer.
[00:00:24] Writer's Journey
Everybody has such a different journey of folks that I've interviewed, and I'm always interested in how you embarked on this. So what happened to you, Zachary? Yeah. So, you know, I, I think it's probably pretty common that most people don't plan on writing a book. You know, write out the, you know, as, as something that they're gonna do.
But it kind of just, you kind of just fall into it at some point. And I, my it first started in college where I kind of. Had this idea in my head for a movie, it kind of just came to me. Mm-hmm. And I thought, oh, I really think this would make a good movie. I think I'd really like to see this come to life.
But I'm like, I can't do a movie. I can't you know, direct or have a budget or anything, but I can bring it to life through a book. So that was kind of, yeah. The impetus that, that brought the story on. And And that's kind of what started it, you know, being in college a little younger and then not having a lot of formal writing background, creative writing, background experience.
[00:01:23] I Hated English but, ......
You know, it took me a long time a lot of kind of growth as an author and a writer Right. To, to make it kind of where it is today. And I used to hate writing. I used to, yeah, I used to hate English. I, I was used to be really bad at grammar and spelling. And then my freshman year of college I was put in a class of, as the only native English speaker in a class of Chinese exchange students.
Okay. Which didn't make any sense to me, but the teacher that I had she really focused on our essays could only be 250 words or 500 words long. Okay. So she really emphasized spending, you know, as much, basically making each word mean as much as possible. Yeah. And it kind of, it kind of gave me an appreciation for writing that you could fit so much into, like, into so little.
And yeah, so that really was kind of the, the thing that turned in in my head as far as my, my views on writing. And it made, when I had the idea for the, the book, it made it all the more, Kind of, you know, motivating to do because I kind of had that, kind of, had that appreciation and curiosity for, for that.
[00:02:33] Making the Book Publishable
So yes, yes, yes, yes. Now did you, eventually, now, so did you just base your writings based on that particular education? Or did you hire a book coach or a copy editor? How did you get it to be publishable? Yeah. It started, you know, I, I kept it mostly to myself for the first few years of mm-hmm. I'm writing it, you know doing revisions and stuff and then I handed off to a couple friends and family.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And it would kind of be my motivation to like, cause you kind of run it out on yourself and then you get feedback from friends and family and it kind of res you You know, to, to make improvements and to go through another draft. Right. So after a few friend and family, I hired a freelance editor.
Mm-hmm. He went through it a couple times. You know, I'm sure your audience is probably familiar with Upwork. Yes. So, yeah, this is a great platform. I found a lot of really good really good, you know professionals on there. Yeah. So I did a couple edits through that. Someone on Upward, and then I approached a a kind of.
I would say a hybrid approach publishing company. Yes. Which we can kinda, we can kind of get into a little bit. You know, they kind of do the whole publishing process for you. Mm-hmm. But, you know, it's not, it's kind of self-publishing. It's kind of traditional publishing. Like that hybrid. Yes. And they went through it again, so the editor went through it twice and that's kind of where it got to, you know, the, where it is today, the professionally.
Published. And, and published. Yes. So yeah, it was definitely a journey. And you know, I would say from the time that I had the idea to, the time I finished the book and published was probably like six, seven years. Wow. Wow. I, you know, I've had, like I said, I've had close to, I'm getting close to a hundred.
Interviews and I've, I've talked to so many people and everybody's journey is different, but I have had some writers who've done the hybrid journey and you know, so different people have had different journeys and some people have even had their books on hold for longer than the six or seven years that you're speaking of.
I mean, you know, so, so, hey, so hey. Your first book got out pretty early. Compared to some of my other guests. But you know, it's just kind of funny though that you know, these books are your babies or people's babies and but, but it's a good thing that people. You know, just do not just throw out anything.
Everybody that I've spoken to have really taken care of their baby and made sure that it was readable and edited properly and, and went through the proper process. And so I, I like to celebrate authors who have taken that time to want to put something really good out there, something really worthy.
[00:05:22] Marketing
And, you know, and there's so many steps to having a brilliant book. You know, I do like to focus on people who. There's fine authors out there all over the place, but you know, if you keep looking at the New York Times Bestsellers list, you're gonna miss these people because the difference between a New York, New York Times bestselling author versus other authors is marketing.
You know, and can you, can you get out there now? Not to take away from the James Patterson's and David Balducci and Colleen Hoover and all these people, not to take away anything away from them, but they've got lots of marketing behind them, you know? So, but I love bringing people who have gotten fine books written and we wanna get those books out to the wall as well.
Yeah. No, that's, that's awesome. And yes. It's a good cause because I, I do agree. I, I didn't really know anything about the book publishing process until I, you know, started to get into it. And I mean, you're exactly right. It, it is about marketing. It's about marketing. And if you don't know how to market, you know, or if you're not willing to market, if you're just like, I'm a writer, well, you're, you're.
Baby, your book is not going to go anywhere. Yeah. Unless you embrace marketing, you know, so that's another thing that I wanna get out to the audience. You know, if you're, you're an avid reader who is chomping at the bit to write something you write it and people are not just going to come because you wrote it.
You have to put it out there, and you have to be happy of what you're putting out there. Yeah, you, you have to be proud of it. And yes, because yeah, it's out there. It's out there forever and it's out there forever. It's there forever. There's no taking aback and exactly, exactly. The marketing, the marketing's big.
And that's kind of partially why I went the hybrid. I'm like, you know, You know, I wanted to give, you know, I spent so much time on the book, like you said, it's your baby and mm-hmm. You just wanna give it the best chance possible to succeed. You know, whether, you know, you hit what you think is succeeding or not, but you just, you just wanna leave it all out on the table cuz it's, it's such a big, you know, time, commitment, and accomplishment.
Unless you're turning out books like, you know, every six months, like some authors, but you know, to to, to most of us, you know, it takes years and. And you just wanted do it the best he can? Well, those who are turning books out every six months have a writing machine. I mean, you know, James Patterson can throw out probably about four books a year, but he does again, he's got that marketing machine behind him and he does a lot of co-writing with other authors.
You know, he even wrote a book with Dolly Parton, so, so, you know, you know, if you got, if you got all that going for you, of course you can throw out four books a year, but Exactly. But let's dive into the book now, and now you've, you've got one of my favorite genre genres that you've written, a mystery thriller, and the name of your book is, again, manifest Destiny.
[00:08:34] Diving Into The Book
Correct. Correct? Yes. Okay. Okay. Now I often say to people, I judge books by their covers, definitely. And yours is the cover is a watch and the watch is cracked. And so we're gonna see why we have that visual once we understand what the book is about. So give us a, give us a background of the book.
What's going on in this book. Yeah, so it's you know, if I'm just put setting it's East Coast in the nineties, mm-hmm. You know, the main, the main character Nick, he's in his early thirties, mid thirties, and his father was, was murdered when he was a teenager. His father was, was everything to him, his idol, who he wanted to be his best friend.
And, you know, he was taken away from him in an apparent robbery. There was no. No one was ever found. No one was ever charged. They had a couple suspects, but nothing really materialized. Wow. You know, fast forward to the present and Nick has carried that, you know, anger and grief and, and, and all that into his adulthood, and he's let it affect a lot of different aspects of his life.
Wow. And he's, he's had a couple of events in his past that kind of he releases that anger in, in kind of unhealthy ways. So I would think of like, you know, I wouldn't say like a vigilante or like somewhat you know, somewhat Dexter ish. Okay. As far as like, you know, how he releases that and he does that on his father's anniversary.
So you know, the progression of the book is a lot. A good amount of first, third or half can be kind of put in flashbacks of those kind of events, but Gotcha. He, he's basically letting control a lot of his life. And he has a best friend who's a police officer who also lost his father at the same time.
Oh. Now he, he lost his father to a heart attack. So it was, you know, no one's fault or, you know, no one, you know. It's perpetrated that. Right. And he's, he's definitely had peace with that. So him and Nick are, you know, kind of catching up over dinner and his best friends, you know, talks about, you know, I wish I could.
Have you move on from this. Like you need to move on from this. This has been a drag in your life for too long. You know, you're living in the past, all this, and Nick's like, I just want closure. You know, you had closure, your father, and, and so Nick basically asked his friend to re-look into his father's murder.
Okay. Tried to, tried to gain closure and Right. You know, his father was murdered in the seventies. DNA technology is just coming out in the nineties. So that's kind of the impetus of, oh, being able to maybe crack this case because now DNA technology's out. Got you. Got. And so there's kind of the underlying, you know, the underlying investigation kind of is, is the theme driving the, under the, under the plot.
And then Nick's also kind of just. Healing and then kind of rediscovering life, reconnecting with his family, his, his mm-hmm. Niece, his nephew his mom, kind of dealing with the, the demons that he's been living so long with and mm-hmm. You know, as the investigation kind of unearths more and it kind of gets more know tangled it kind of all culminates together as past and present ah, in kind of a way that.
Well, I, I, I, you know, of course don't spoil any ending, but No, no, don't, yeah, yeah. But it yeah, they definitely come together in an explosive way and the investigation takes attorneys and think, and. Yeah, it gets, it gets, it gets pretty wild. Okay. And it gets pretty, pretty intense at the end. Oh, wow.
[00:12:20] Who Would Play These Roles In A Movie?
Okay. All right. So, and as you said, you, you first formulated this as a movie. Mm-hmm. And now you've written the book, and so now it could have the possibility of a movie or a TV show. So who would you envision the stars today, a celebrity today to play those two roles, the main roles in your book? Oh, that's a good question.
Probably the main character, mm-hmm. A younger Edward Norton. Oh, okay. I think that, you know I think a younger Edward nor would fit, and then the, the best friend would be probably like Jonathan Majors. Okay. Okay. Or yeah, probably Jonathan Majors is the one that comes to mind. Okay. Okay. That, that gives you, you know, some insight a little bit to the, you know, as well, characters that you would hope to play.
These two in your book now, I noticed that you. The father was killed in the seventies, and the DNA n the majority of the book takes place in the nineties when the d n A technology comes out. So you had to create a world in this book that flashed back, I suppose, to the seventies, but an even greater flashback for you writing to the nineties Now.
[00:13:46] Research
I'm gonna ask you, what do you really know about the seventies and nineties? I know you dunno anything about the seventies at all. Yeah, no. In the nineties. Maybe you were born in the nineties. I'm not sure. Yeah, no, I was born in 95, which is. When the book takes place. Well, that's, that's when I got married.
I got married in 95. And you were born in 95. Yeah. So, so, so, but it's always curious as to ask a person, how did you research the world of the nineties and the seventies for your book? Yeah. Luckily I, you know, the fla, you know, the flashbacks of seventies is really only. Hands gentle. There's not really much context in there.
Okay. But a lot of nineties stuff. You know, I, I was careful to avoid my, I would say my, my, one of my best friends is engineer and he's like very detail oriented. So when he read the book, he was like, I'm looking for all the, you know, Non congruent mistakes. He's like looking up all the different places that I say, or you know, I have a baseball game in there and I made sure that the baseball game was the, you know, you know, the right baseball game on the right day.
Yeah, the general feel for the, you know, the nineties and some of the flashbacks I kind of avoided, I kind of avoided dating it. You know, putting in too many references that, that date it to the nineties. Yeah. With, you know, it could trip you up with certain, like, clothing styles or you know, I do use a couple like phone references, but it's all, you know, there's no cell phones obviously, or I think I do, I think I do have one cell phone in there, but obviously it's like the huge big box phone and a Yes.
Made sure that it was the right type of, you know Nokia. That's right. That's right. All my, all the references I have in the nineties, I made sure to, to do correct and date properly, but I didn't have a lot of certain clothes or. Certain style of, you know, interior design or anything that kind of Right.
Dates it into the nineties. Right, right, right. So, well, if, if it becomes a movie, you'll have all types of creative consultants. True, true. Bring all of that in. Oh, very true. Yeah. The next, next thing to write is the, the screenplay. Oh, yes, yes, yes. So I I actually, it was, it was, I did a book signing, the only in-person book signing I did back at my local library.
And it was probably the highlight of the whole me writing the book, like even better than publishing it because I had, I, you know, did my local library. My mom was so excited. She put up like flyers around town. Oh my gosh. And it was, it was really, and there was like 50. Probably like 50 people that showed up.
Well, hey and old, that's good Old teachers from elementary school that I hadn't seen in in 20 years. Showed up and it was just, it was just really awesome. Wow. That's a great feeling. That's definitely a great feeling. Now, how did you come about the cover of your book? Like again, to go back, I judge books by the cover and if it looks cheap, if it looks like it doesn't match what the book it's supposed to be.
[00:17:06] Book Design
I don't pick it up. And so I like, I like your cover. So why, why the watch? Because we're now, it ticks away at his future. I gotcha. He dwelled on his past. Now it takes away his future. Got it, got it, got it. But very nice cover. So how did you get it designed? So I, the publishing company did the designing.
Okay. You know, I had, something I also liked about the hybrid approach is I had a lot of creative freedom. And that exactly. I, whatever, at the end of the day, whatever I say goes and which I kind of liked, but obviously they were kind of driving the process, but Right, right. I gave 'em some covers that I liked.
They basically gave me a bunch of designs and then I started picking and narrowing what I wanted. I was really impressed that they picked out the watch because if there's one symbol throughout the entire book that you could have on the cover, it would be the watch. Oh, okay. Okay. So I was really impressed with that because whoever was the designer obviously had gone through the book at least and relatively carefully and, and kind of deduced that that was the one thing.
Mm-hmm. It, the watch is an important object in the book. Okay. His dad wears that watch and then Nick wears the same watch. Gotcha. It's, it's an important piece of. Piece of the story. And then the brokenness is just because basically, you know, when his father's murdered, it's like time, you know, time froze and he's living in the past and Right.
Kind of a, a play on that. Exactly. Exactly. Wow. Yeah. So the, yeah, the Manifest Destiny, the title itself comes from, you know, that old, what was that old historical term where, you know, you couldn't hold Colonial the united, colonial United States, east of the Mississippi, it was inevitably gonna span ocean.
Ocean. You know, it was a manifest destiny that we were gonna Oh, conquer the, conquer the continent, basically. Yes. Yes. And so it was a play on that in the, in the main character's anger and grief and sorrow that he's holding onto it. It's manifest destiny that's gonna release and you know, kinda. You know that that's, it's kind of a play on that, so, okay.
Lots, lots of themes going on in, in the Well, I appreciate that. You, you, you like it so much. I, I love it. I love it too, so, yes, yes, yes. And people have to watch that, you know, they really have to watch that with these book covers because it's really a crucial, it's, you could have the greatest novel in the world that the world's ever.
Had on the inside pages, but if your cover is not approachable, it won't get read. And that, you know, it just won't. So so definitely that, that's, that's one of the more, more important pieces in the book process is your book cover. It's very important. Well, what's next for Zachary? We got another book coming out or working on another book, or do we have a sequel to this book?
That's a good question. I, I do know what I would do for the sequel. Okay. It, now the book doesn't set up a sequel. Okay. You know, it's a very much complete book. Okay. But, so, you know, don't think I'm gonna leave like a cliffhanger or anything. It's gonna be pretty wrapped up and Okay. But I have thought about what I would do for the sequel and it would, it would tie into this book without kind of undoing anything.
So it just, it's just more of like a mental, like, okay, here we go. You know, kind of getting the. Mental gymnastics or time to put towards writing a second book. Yeah. Cause it was a lot to get the first one done. Yeah. And so I thought either a sequel involving this or a kind of a financial thriller.
So my background, my background is I'm an investment advisor and specialize in digital assets like Bitcoin. Yes. So a kind of financial thriller involving. Digital assets or Bitcoin. I think I could write, I think I could write well, because that's my life and I know right about, about that world. Yes, I could, could make it really interesting to the, the casual reader without, you know, and then, you know, without boring them with all this.
Right. Being jargon. Right. And I also don't think there's really any many, if any, books in that category. Cause it's such a new, it's such a new asset that Exactly. You know, there aren't like financial thriller books with digital assets. It just, I. My, my buddy kind of suggested that. He's like, no, you should write a book.
[00:21:47] Next Book?
You know, your next book should be Digital asset. Like a thriller. Like a financial thriller. Like, yeah, I think that's a, a bad, a great idea. I think that's a great idea. And see now, That you've gone through all of this and you have a hybrid publisher, you wouldn't have to have as long of a timeframe. It wouldn't have to be six or seven years.
[00:22:08] Wrap Up
Yeah, yeah. So, you know, and you feel more comfortable and all of these things. So yeah. So I, I think you can do it in that, and if you do it, Feel free to come back to the Bookaholic podcast and, and let us know all about it. We'd be more than happy to have you back again. And as in saying that, we're gonna have all of your contact information in the podcast show notes as well as in the video description box on my YouTube channel.
Zachary Daniel, thank you for coming on today and we will shout out to everyone. Purchase your copy of Manifest Destiny. Well, thank you. It was awesome to be on, so well, we were glad to have you and thank you so much.
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Josh Kelley is a traditionally published author, novelist, and ghostwriter/collaborative author with 17 books. After 15 years as a pastor, he became a bartender to focus on writing. When COVID put him out of work, he transitioned into full-time writing (but still occasionally moonlights at a speakeasy for fun). Josh excels at seeing the big picture, drawing material out of his clients, telling stories, and writing engaging and insightful books. He holds a bachelor's in Biblical Studies from Life Pacific College and lives in northwest Washington with his wife and two daughters.
00:00:00 An Intro to Josh Kelly
00:00:44 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
00:04:05 Dyslexia symptoms
00:06:41 How Josh Works with Clients
00:11:57 What is your goal?
00:14:22 Being a full-time ghostwriter
00:20:54 Working hours with Josh Kelly
00:24:37 Wrapping Up
Josh Kelley’s Links:
Website: https://www.joshkelley.ink/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshkelley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-kelley/
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