Joy When Least Expected
Final Episode of ink & peat In this, our final episode of ink & peat , we offer a sampling of guests' recollections of joy when they least expected it. A heartfelt thank you to all our listeners.
Dec 18, 2023•27 min
ink & peat
A podcast that features indie writers, memoirs, and self-publishing. We talk with authors, editors, publishers, ghostwriters, and other free spirits drawn to writing, and the company of a cup of tea and a good book before the fire. Hosts Craig Stewart and Barb Robitaille, produce ink & peat from a cozy carriage house a short stroll from the Pacific on the wild Washington Coast.
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Episodes
Pro Audio Voices Inc ~ with Founder & CEO Becky Parker Geist
Following the advice of a mentor, Becky Parker Geist took a leap of faith and combined her love for theater, reading aloud, and books. She turned these beloved pastimes into a global business dedicated to publishing audiobooks explicitly for indie authors. Pro Audio Voices is a company that produces audiobooks for authors who want to take their work off the page and turn it into an audio experience. In ink & peat episode 48, Becky tells about how she was drawn to voice acting from an early a...
Aug 10, 2023•38 min
Love's Journey Home ~ with author Gabi Coatsworth
In her memoir, Love’s Journey Home, author Gabi Coatsworth tells the story of finding, leaving, and reuniting with the love of her life. Gabi’s candor about how their relationship worked, and then didn’t, and ultimately did, makes for a read that is both romantic and packed with the realities two people must face when confronted with difficult life choices. In episode 47, Gabi shares how she was encouraged by friends to write the memoir for herself and how – through the writing process – she was...
Jul 27, 2023•42 min
Inheriting Our Names ~ with Author C. Vargas McPherson
Cristina Vargas McPherson’s memoir is a deeply moving account of coming to terms with grief – a grief handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, brought about through unconscionable events of the Spanish Civil War. Told through imagined conversations between her grandparents, real events of Franco’s fascist regime, and vivid mystical encounters with the revered religious icon, La Macarena, Cristina weaves fact and fiction, history and mysticism into a spellbinding memoir that heals and,...
Jul 13, 2023•41 min
Between the Lines of Three Winning Memoirs
Expert book reviewer and developmental editor ~ Annie Mydla ~ joins us on ink & peat again. This time to share her vast knowledge about what has made each of three North Street Book Prize winning memoirs worthy of the awards they received and why a reader would do well to invest time and soul into these self-published authors and their books. In ink & peat episode 45, Annie talks about what makes these memoirs memorable, how each writer approached crafting her book, the pitfalls they avo...
Jun 15, 2023•48 min
Mike Evans ~ Belfast Blazers
When Mike Evans graduated from college, he moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland – ostensibly to be a Program Director for a non-profit, coaching basketball to young school kids in a visionary program called Playing for Peace, while keeping his hand in semi-pro basketball on the side. But things didn’t turn out quite as he expected, and Mike soon found himself playing out a vision of his own – coaching basketball to a mixed group of reluctant Protestant and Catholic 15-year-old boys – each side cha...
Jun 01, 2023•38 min
In the Shadow of the Apennines ~ with author Kimberly Sullivan
Enchanted by the rugged beauty of the Apennines in Italy's Abruzzo region, and drawn to the rich history and struggles of its inhabitants, Kimberly Sullivan crafted a novel that tells the stories of two women separated by a century yet connected intimately by place and circumstance. In the Shadow of the Apennines is Kimberly's third self-published novel. In ink and peat episode 43, Kimberly talks about Women's Fiction – what it is and why she is drawn to it, why self-publishing is a perfect fit ...
May 17, 2023•34 min
Modern Websites for Authors ~ with designer Emma Bates
ELB Media builds websites for authors. An unbridled love for books and reading inspired ELB Media’s Founder ~ Emma Bates ~ to apply her vast technical know-how and social media expertise to help authors. In ink&peat episode 42, Emma shares her insights on what makes author websites unique, how her life has been impacted by books and authors, and how she helps authors create personalized websites for the next chapter of their writing careers. Tiktok Facebook Instagram Website...
May 02, 2023•33 min
Amuse-Bouche ~ A Taste of Melancholy with poet Dana Huneke-Stone
Dana Huneke-Stone expresses her poetry in bite-sized morsels. She recently self-published a collection of her poems and accompanying illustrations in a book entitled Amuse Bouche - A Taste of Melancholy. In ink&peat episode 41 Dana shares how she draws inspiration from living on the Oregon Coast and through taking what she calls prayer walks, how she writes poetry to express her deeply-held beliefs and experiences, and how she prefers to forgo rules and write from a place all her own. Instag...
Apr 18, 2023•34 min
The Book of She
Michelle Meyer created The Book of She as a means of celebrating, exploring, and honoring the experience of womanhood. Having lost her mother unexpectedly, Michelle – an only child – felt a deep longing to cultivate relationships with other women. Through a year-long Instagram collaboration with 51 women who interpreted Michelle’s poems and created accompanying artwork inspired by the poems, The Book of She was born. In ink & peat episode 40, Michelle talks about how writing has shaped her l...
Apr 05, 2023•38 min
A Conversation with Author Ceilidh Michelle
Inspired by the teachings of an Indian spiritual master and following a deep desire to find her way in the world, 20-year-old Ceilidh Michelle left home and a fractured family life in Canada for an ashram in Southern California. Accompanied by her acoustic guitar and a few belongings, Ceilidh found herself instead broke, but not broken, living and seeking solace on the streets of Venice Beach. In ink and peat episode 39, Ceilidh recounts how thankful she is now to her younger self who captured k...
Mar 27, 2023•33 min
Aaxel Author Services ~ with Alexa Nazzaro
These are Golden Days for Indie writers. With so many options for self-publishing, however, it can be daunting. To help emerging authors and seasoned writers maneuver through the complexities of crafting a quality finished product, Alexa Nazzaro created Aaxel Author Services. Alexa's commitment to the authors she works with is summed up aptly in their tagline "We won't let you publish crap". Alexa shares with us in ink & peat episode 38 what separates Aaxel Author Services from other self-pu...
Mar 08, 2023•30 min
14 Days in Beijing ~ Author Chancellor K. Jackson Shares His Story
Author Chancellor K. Jackson shares his story of 14 Days in Beijing – what brought him to China, the significance of 14 days, how he sought and received help from his ancestors to overcome the challenges he faced, and the lessons learned along the way. He realized in talking with family and friends after he returned home that there was a book about his experiences waiting for him to write and share. In ink & peat episode 37 Chancellor talks about his writing experience, about the ownership s...
Feb 19, 2023•36 min
Writing Tips for Winning Manuscripts ~ A Conversation with Annie Mydla
Annie Mydla knows good writing when she reads it; she is an impassioned advocate for well-written books and stories in what she refers to as the Golden Age of Literacy. Annie applies her keen sense of what makes a great book to help emerging writers craft manuscripts that transport readers. Along with offering mid-draft critiques to aspiring authors, Annie spends her days reading, reviewing, and judging manuscripts that have been submitted to Winning Writers competitions. In ink & peat episo...
Feb 06, 2023•39 min
Talking with Martina Clark About Her Unexpected Life
In 1992, at the age of 28, Martina Clark's life took an unexpected turn: she was diagnosed as HIV positive and told by doctors she had from a few months to a few years to live at best. At the time, Martina knew of no other women who were HIV positive – information and support were scarce. Through her determination, courage, and facing her situation head-on, Martina became an HIV activist, ultimately working for the United Nations and sharing her story on the global stage. In her memoir "My Unexp...
Jan 22, 2023•35 min
Diane Hatz Shares Rock Gods and Messy Monsters
A career in the fast-paced, cutthroat corporate music industry provided Diane Hatz with the inspiration for her first novel – Rock Gods and Messy Monsters. Diane writes with a masterful blend of satire and absurdism to create fantastical characters in bizarre scenarios that shed light on seamier sides of the star-making music machinery. Diane shares how writing helped her gain perspective on her music industry stint – the thrills as well as the inequities she experienced there. She also provides...
Dec 12, 2022•34 min
Exploring Self-publishing and The Other Side with Ghost Helper, Tina Erwin
Author of The Lightworker's Guide to Healing Grief, and seven self-published books on Amazon, Tina Erwin is known as a Ghost Helper. Ghosts, she explains, are just souls that - for any number of reasons - did not make the transition from their earthly life to the realm of the afterlife. In ink & peat episode 29, Tina shares with us her insights and enthusiasm about self-publishing, glimpses of her history and the responsibilities she feels as a Ghost Helper, and a few anecdotes about ghosts ...
Nov 22, 2022•37 min
Spontaneous Revolutions ~ A Conversation with Liza McQuade
Liza McQuade joins us on ink & peat episode 33 to talk about her book Spontaneous Revolutions – Seeing America One Pedal at a Time, a travel story about biking with her husband cross country on the spur of the moment - out of shape, lacking long haul biking experience and armed with only a basic knowledge of bike mechanics. Instead, they relied on their belief in each other, in the gifts that come with spontaneity and a healthy dose of wild hair. Liza shares with us insights she gained on th...
Nov 03, 2022•33 min
Self Publish with Author Now! ~ Talking with Erin Donley
It’s estimated that roughly 80% of us would like to write and publish a book, but most of us don’t know where to begin, or what to do to bring it to fruition. Erin Donley is the motivating force behind the book publishing service, Author Now, where she uses her skills as a ghostwriter, author, editor, and book coach to guide people through the process of self-publishing their non-fiction books. In ink & peat episode 32, Erin explains why this is the Golden Age of self-publishing for seasoned...
Aug 22, 2022•39 min
A Tale of Transformation & Hope ~ with Delila Olsson
In the depths of the global pandemic, one of her dear friends gave Delila Olsson a milkweed plant to attract Monarch butterflies to her Portland, OR garden. A keen observer, Delila noticed a tiny caterpillar had hitched a ride on the milkweed and realized she’d been given both a physical and metaphorical gift to lift her spirits. She set about creating a safe haven to support, watch and record the caterpillar’s metamorphosis. A fan club of the little caterpillar emerged through followers of Deli...
Aug 08, 2022•32 min
Stillness and Wonder ~ A Conversation with poet Caroline Holm
Poet Caroline Holm, shares in ink & peat episode 30 the sources of inspiration for her newly published book Woodland . A resident of Salem, Oregon, Caroline’s poetry, prose, and illustrations celebrate nature, miracles of being a mother, the dance between joy and suffering, and the richness of being in the present. Caroline offers glimpses into how, through embracing stillness, one is better able to observe and to receive the subtle gifts of creativity awaiting our discovery....
Mar 15, 2022•33 min
Writing Your Way with Conor Bredin, Author & Teacher
After a summer hiatus, we are pleased to start a new season of ink & peat with a lively conversation featuring author/teacher/ and podcast host Conor Bredin, whose enthusiasm for writing, reading, storytelling, and teaching runs deep. Conor shares writing tips, and talks about how a 'kick in the arse' from his beloved was the motivation he needed to come to terms with writing as more than wishful thinking. His supernatural thriller ~ The Longest Night ~ is available on Amazon and through his...
Sep 08, 2021•43 min
Living on Lamlash Street ~ A Conversation with author Jill Phillips
Fond memories of growing up in her family’s three-story home at 11B Lamlash Street in southeast London, provided the inspiration for Jill Phillips’ first memoir. In her book, she recalls the incidents surrounding a pivotal time in her beloved neighborhood when everything changed. Lamlash Street, a pocket within the cockney Elephant and Castle district, was home to Jill’s large and extended family. She recounts in ink and peat episode 27 the many ways it was an ideal community to grow up in durin...
May 21, 2021•41 min
Growing Up Black in Nova Scotia with Leonard Paris
In his memoir, Leonard Paris recounts the struggles of growing up a black male in rural Nova Scotia, Canada during the 1950’s and 60’s. Leonard began writing Jim Crow Also Lived Here in response to lying awake nights, replaying childhood memories ~ both good and bad ~ and reflecting on how racism and generational poverty had impacted his life. He felt called to turn his memories into a book in order to share his story with younger generations of black people, as well as to shed light on the last...
Apr 07, 2021•35 min
Adventures with Rachel Nolan ~ On Cycling, Gratitude, Whiskey, and Freedom
Rachel Nolan knew as a young girl that being outside is where she feels most free. This has translated for her into a lifetime of adventure ~ cycling, kayaking, climbing, running, and team endurance challenges ~ around the world. She created Rachel’s Irish Adventures in her hometown of Ballina, County Mayo, to share her love of being outside in the wild West of Ireland. Rachel talks with us in ink and peat episode 25 about becoming the first woman to win the Transatlantic Way cycling race, maint...
Mar 26, 2021•36 min
Never a Dull Moment with George Plawski
George Plawski has lived a life brimming with adventure -- in the sky, before the stage, and with his beloved wife, Rita. His memoir Never a Dull Moment; Memoirs of Canadian Naval Aviation, Firebombing and Theatre , captures on the page a collection of stories, and lively anecdotes. In ink & peat episode 24, George recounts the choices he’s made, his writing process, the role of luck, and finding the ultimate joy where ~ and when ~ he least expected it.
Mar 21, 2021•53 min
A Sense of Place with Liamy Mac Nally
Liamy Mac Nally talks with us in ink and peat episode 23 about the Irish “sense of place”. A native of Westport, County Mayo, Liamy’s rich sense of place is built upon tradition, local stories, the Irish language, and walking the familiar landscape of his childhood. He was a featured BBC Three Counties Radio and Mayo West radio personality, is a regular columnist with the Mayo News, co-founded a book publishing company, and is a driving force in the Mayo folk music scene. Liamy is a Bob Dylan fa...
Mar 15, 2021•54 min
The Butcher Shop Girl: A Memoir for Misfits & Mavericks, Carmen Kissel-Verrier
Carmen Kissel-Verrier grew up on a ranch in Alberta, tagged by her schoolmates the Butcher Shop Girl. In her striking memoir, Carmen talks about ranch life, working in her mom’s slaughterhouse, and striking out on her own to follow the allure of big money -- first in the oil fields and then as an exotic entertainer. In ink and peat episode 22, Carmen shares how writing her memoir helped her heal and work through secrets she’s kept for decades. She offers her life story as an example of possibili...
Mar 04, 2021•39 min
RecreateNow ~ Making Things Better; A Chat with Mike Arseneault
Mike Arseneault believes beauty is all around us and has stories to tell -- if we choose to see it. Mike uses his gift for bringing stories to life through marketing, musical theater, photography, foodie groups, and community organizing -- wherever he lands. From working successfully as a major creative in global sportswear giant Nike, to building community through food celebrations and restoring historic landmarks on the Oregon Coast, Mike dedicates himself to uncovering and bringing to life st...
Feb 23, 2021•33 min•Ep. 21
FoodCorps From the Ground Up ~ a Conversation with Curt Ellis
The path to becoming co-founder and CEO of FoodCorps led Curt Ellis through his father’s tomato patch, the streets of Brooklyn with a pickup bed full of soil, the commons of a prestigious university not known for its ag program, Iowa cornfields, and documentary film cutting room floors. Through these experiences and his boundless enthusiasm for food issues, Curt was well suited to find himself in the right place at the right time with the right people to bring his dream to fruition. In ink and p...
Feb 12, 2021•33 min
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