EPISODE 694 - Anna B Reardon - Wethersfield Road - A love letter to anyone who’s ever felt like they were too much Living The Next Chapter welcomes author Anna B. Reardon to dive into her debut novel, Wethersfield Road, and the deeply human journey behind it. Speaking from her home in Austin, Texas, Anna shares the vibrant backdrop of her city and how its mix of nature and creativity mirrors the many layers of her own story—a story of recovery, self-discovery, and learning to love being “too muc...
Apr 01, 2026•47 min•Ep. 694
EPISODE 693 - Lally Pia - Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor Lally Pia is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and an award-winning author. Her debut memoir, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor was published by She Writes Press in April, 2024. It received first place in the Chanticleer International Book Awards (2023), third place at the Independent Book Publisher Awards (2024) and second place at Book Fest (2024). Lally was a finalist in the natio...
Mar 30, 2026•43 min•Ep. 693
EPISODE 692 - Sandra Freels - Anneke Jans in the New World - an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life Originally from Indiana, Sandra Freels majored in Russian at Indiana University and then completed a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures at Stanford University. The author of three textbooks, for many years she headed the Russian Program at Portland State University. An interest in genealogy led Sandra to the Council Records of New Netherland and the delicious stories of the people ...
Mar 27, 2026•47 min•Ep. 692
Episode 691 - Laura L Engel - You’ll Forget This Ever Happened - Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s This intimate conversation with memoirist Laura Engel explores late blooming creativity, the cost of secrecy, and the profound impact of reunion and loss across generations. Speaking from the foothills outside San Diego, Laura reflects on beginning her first book at sixty eight, transforming decades of journals and memories into a deeply personal memoir about closed adoption in the nineteen...
Mar 25, 2026•51 min•Ep. 691
EPISODE 690 - Cindy Eastman - True Confessions of An Ambivalent Caregiver, Grief, Loss and The Next Chapter About the author Cindy Eastman is a writer and an educator. Her career has taken a wide and diverse route from introducing computer skills to elementary schoolchildren, teaching freshman English as an adjunct at a community college to facilitating a writing course for seniors for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. In her weekly essay on Substack called Silver Linings, she discusses get...
Mar 23, 2026•51 min•Ep. 690
EPISODE 689 - Matthew Neal Boedy - The Seven Mountains Mandate - Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy A movement driven by prosperity preachers, extremist politicians, and right-wing power brokers laid the groundwork for Trump’s presidency and is now advancing its agenda under his second administration. This multipronged effort against our national institutions is being led by millennial “kingmaker” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and the new face ...
Mar 20, 2026•41 min•Ep. 689
EPISODE 688 - Ruth A Milligan - The Juniper Ridge Trilogy - A Dystopian Science Fiction Thriller Series Ruth A. Milligan writes Science Fiction and Horror stories. She found her love of writing in grade school where she pounded out her stories on an old typewriter heavier than her and spent almost every day reading at the public library. When she's not writing, Ruth enjoys dance, hockey, airplanes, really strong coffee, and meeting new people. She published her first book in December 2023. https...
Mar 18, 2026•41 min•Ep. 688
EPISODE 687 - Carter Vance - A story of living, loving and growing up on Canada's Parliament Hill In this engaging episode, author Carter Vance shares his writing journey with host Dave, connecting as fellow Canadians. Originally from the small town of Cobourg, Ontario—famous for its literal Big Apple roadside sculpture and summer beach—Carter credits a high school teacher's encouragement for launching his creative path. She connected him with local cafe owners for poetry readings, sparking his ...
Mar 16, 2026•42 min•Ep. 687
EPISODE 686 - Richard Walter - DEADPAN is a funny novel about an unfunny subject - Hate speech and bigotry Richard Walter is an author of best-selling fiction and nonfiction, celebrated storytelling educator, screenwriter, script consultant, lecturer and retired professor who led the screenwriting program in the film school at UCLA for several decades. He has written scripts for the major studios and television networks; lectured on screenwriting and storytelling and conducted master classes thr...
Mar 13, 2026•58 min•Ep. 686
EPISODE 685 - Scott Hatfield - The Shadow of Cáelunárra, Semi-Clean and NO SPICE - Epic Dark Immersive Fantasy About the author Scott A. Hatfield Jr. is a lifelong storyteller, political scientist, and avid hiker who blends myth, emotion, and world-shaping prophecy into his writing. Based in the Intermountain West, Scott draws inspiration from the raw landscapes of Utah, his academic studies, and the human struggles that echo through history. He earned his Master of Public Administration from Ut...
Mar 11, 2026•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 685
EPISODE 684 - Cyndi Brec - THE THERANS SERIES, hidden truths, the weight of untold legends, and the power of preserving the past while daring to shape the future My name is Cyndi Brec. I love writing my heroine into dangerous webs of deception while I sip French vanilla iced coffee. I'm an avid reader turned YA fantasy romance writer with a strong background in Recreational Therapy who has penned The Therans Series. I have never thought of myself as an author, more of a storyteller. During my do...
Mar 09, 2026•44 min•Ep. 684
EPISODE 683 - Anson Joaquin - Author of Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction and Epic Fantasy - The Infernal Age series Anson Joaquin joins the show from Roanoke, Virginia, a mountain town he describes with both affection and humor. While the location may have been jokingly dismissed by others, it provides the peaceful setting where Anson balances family life, a full time job, and his work as a novelist. Anson shares how his love of storytelling began early. As a child he was introduced to fantasy a...
Mar 06, 2026•48 min•Ep. 683
EPISODE 682 - Ben Schenkman - Author of The Devil You Know Series, Representation and Stories That Include All Voices Ben Schenkman likes many things in life: his 20-pound Maine coon cat, his family, his coffee, and his eclectic hobbies—not necessarily in that order. Ben also likes to play devil’s advocate in his urban fantasy books by exploring the gray areas of good and evil with questions like, “Does the end really justify the means? Or is it all simply black and white?” Ben leaves these ques...
Mar 04, 2026•47 min•Ep. 682
EPISODE 681 - Lisa Cheek - Twenty-five year career editing feature films and TV, The Big Day Lisa Cheek’s writing career began after a twenty-five year career editing feature films and TV commercials. Her first memoir, “Sit, Cinderella, Sit”, was a People Magazine pick, an Amazon Bestseller, made Zibby’s Most Anticipated Books for 2025 and was a Next Generation Indy Award finalist in Women’s Literature. She’s written for both radio and television and is published in LA Poets and Writers Collecti...
Mar 02, 2026•31 min•Ep. 681
EPISODE 680 - John Newton - Historical science fiction, a stone that heals anything, look-alikes, and time travelers losing their tools About John Newton Born in Simi Valley, California, John Newton attended twelve different schools until he finally got it right and was graduated from a high school on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The Cypriots soon realized it was in their national interest to ship John back to the United States. He meandered through college until the administration bribed...
Feb 27, 2026•44 min•Ep. 680
EPISODE 679 - Eric Nierstedt - Author of the urban fantasy series, the pantheon saga About the author Eric Nierstedt grew up in central New Jersey, raised on a healthy diet of TV, comic books, and way, way too many books. As a child, he constantly daydreamed about his favorite stories, and re-adapting them to accommodate the early characters he was creating (and really, who didn't think that Lord of the Rings could use more characters?). In high school, Eric started the early drafts of what woul...
Feb 25, 2026•45 min•Ep. 679
EPISODE 678 - Robert Howell - Canadian Author of the Gothic Horror, Blood Castle, the sequel to Blood Mansion Robert Howell has a range of skills and experiences, having studied Business Administration in college while taking courses in literature, poetry, cartography, and supernatural studies. After completing college, he joined the military to satisfy his urge to travel across Canada and various parts of Europe. Following his military service, he spent 40 years in real estate, starting as an ...
Feb 23, 2026•46 min•Ep. 678
EPISODE 677 - Peter Cotton - Tales from Frank the Snake for Children from a Doctor, Grandfather and Storyteller Peter Cotton is a retired physician living on Dewees Island in South Carolina, writing fun books for young children about Fred the lovable snake and his friends. Peter grew up in England where the first tale was conceived long ago as a bedtime story for his then young children about how (not) to cross the road. When they had their kids, they asked what happened to “Fred-Fred”. Peter te...
Feb 20, 2026•35 min•Ep. 677
EPISODE 676 - Jennifer Celeste Briggs - Watching Sarah Rise - A Journey of Thriving With Autism Jennifer Celeste Briggs has a BA in English Literature from Swarthmore college. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two daughters. Her daughter Sarah has a genetic anomaly and autism. When Sarah was four, Jenny decided to run a Son-Rise Program for her, calling it Sarah-Rise, and training at the Autism Treatment Center of America. The Son-Rise Program is a loving child-centered approach t...
Feb 18, 2026•49 min•Ep. 676
Episode 675 - David Niemitz - Writer and Teacher - Guild Mage, a serial fantasy novel Writer and teacher David Niemitz joins the show from Connecticut to talk about his dual life in the classroom and on the page, and how both worlds feed each other. He shares how teaching “film as literature” to high school seniors, using stories like Star Wars, The Matrix, Moana and The Princess Bride to explore the Hero’s Journey, keeps him immersed in narrative structure, character arcs, and mythic storytelli...
Feb 16, 2026•54 min•Ep. 675
EPISODE 674 - Hope Cole - Fantasy Author and Health Writer - Daughter of the Void About the author H.R. Cole is a Pennsylvania native who completed her first (handwritten) fantasy novel at the age of twelve. She’s remained an avid writer and has one published middle grade novel and a successful health journalism career. Cole lives with her husband, dogs, and cats in mountainous Upstate New York. Book: Daughter of the Void: Chains of Fate Trilogy: Book One Her power holds the promise of unravelin...
Feb 13, 2026•43 min•Ep. 674
EPISODE 673 - Mary Alice Stephens - UNCORKED - Getting sober is one thing, staying sober another Mary Alice Stephens is a creative nonfiction storyteller. As a television writer-producer for HGTV, Food Network, and other media outlets, she shared others’ stories on everything from outdoor adventures to home improvement. Now, in her debut book, Uncorked -- an Amazon #1 New Release in both Alcoholism Recovery and Midlife Self-Help -- Mary shares her own powerful story of alcoholism, recovery, and ...
Feb 11, 2026•41 min•Ep. 673
EPISODE 672 - Karin K Jensen - The Strength of Water - An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir The Sibylline Press edition of The Strength of Water, An Asian American Coming of Age Memoir, is scheduled for release on November 7, 2025! It is available for review on NetGalley and Booksprout. Pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold. In 1920s Detroit, King Ying stands on a box to iron clothes in her parents’ laundry business, endures taunts of Ching-Ching Chinaman on the pl...
Feb 09, 2026•40 min•Ep. 672
EPISODE 671 - David Wolfson - The underbelly of Wall Street - The story of a young idealistic college graduate starting out on Wall Street What is the name of your book or books and where can it/they be found or purchased? Financial Syndicate: Some Job Opportunities Go Too Far; Found on Amazon What do you want readers to know about your book/s? The reader will see a likable character with whom he or she can identify, along with identifying on how a small-town kid gets caught up in corporate intr...
Feb 06, 2026•49 min•Ep. 671
EPISODE 670 - Barbara Viniar - Little bird is the story of a girl who finds the courage to forge her own path to womanhood in 1910 I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, but once I left for college at 17, I never went back. With the benefit of having lived in many other places in the U.S. and abroad, I now look back fondly on my neighborhood, a place where people knew and cared about each other. But as a teenager I couldn’t wait to escape. I wanted to meet new people and explore New York City, ...
Feb 04, 2026•37 min•Ep. 6710
EPISODE 669 - Leonard D. Hilley II - epic fantasy series, sci-fi suspense, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and young adult novels Leonard D. Hilley II grew up in Fort Payne, AL, where his never-ending curiosity introduced him to the world of biology and books. During his youth he was an avid insect collector and reared butterflies and moths. His love for science eventually merged with his writing. He currently resides in Marietta, Ohio, where he writes science fiction thrillers, epic high fan...
Feb 02, 2026•47 min•Ep. 669
EPISODE 668 - Jan Kotouč - Czech Republic Author, science fiction, alternate history and space operas My name is Jan Kotouč, I write science fiction, alternate history and good old action adventure. I’m based in Czech Republic and my books have come out in English and Czech. Apart from writing, I also teach at a university and I’m a frequent guests at many conventions. Here you’ll find some samples of my work, my complete biography, bibliography, information about English translations and also a...
Jan 30, 2026•57 min•Ep. 668
EPISODE 667 - Leslie R Schover - Fission - A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project After retiring from her academic and clinical career as a psychologist, Leslie Schover has returned to her early love of writing fiction. She brings her knowledge of people, relationships, and sexuality to her novels. She grew up in Highland Park, in the suburbs of Chicago, and minored in creative writing at Brown University before receiving her PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA. Her mot...
Jan 28, 2026•47 min•Ep. 667
EPISODE 666 - Darlene Oakley - Canadian freelance writer, editor, and transcriptionist - Inner Sanctum - Remnant About the author Darlene Oakley is a freelance writer, editor, and transcriptionist based in Canada’s Niagara Region. She has written for the dental, healthcare, and parenting audiences and now specializes in scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED). She has over 200 articles published online to date. She has held various roles within the publishing industry for th...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 666
EPISODE 665 - Jennifer D Torseth - Author of ADELE WOLF THE PACK, THE EMERGENCE SAM and THE EMERGENCE SERA THE EMERGENCE SAM is almost fully published! I submitted my story to KDP and am awaiting approval for release! I am looking for ARCs! If you would like to be an ARC I have an application out that will run until June 3rd! Also in Writing news! I jumped back on my next book ADELE WOLF THE PACK!!! It is the sequel to ADELE WOLF! Right now I’m in the first edit stage but I hope to have it ready...
Jan 23, 2026•37 min•Ep. 665
