Citywide Blackout

Heerraa returns for a one-year catchup

It was last fall when international singer-songwriter Heerraa and I met on this show and she is back with a lot to share.

 

To start with, a slew of awards and honors, including the ICon Award, Female Single of the Year from ISSA, and Entertainer of the Year from the Rampage Music Awards. We look at how that influences her future work and the example she's setting for the next generation. She's also been doing work with Harvard as the Director of Communications at Harvard Extension Student Association.

 

Over the last year Heerraa's released a number of new singles, including “Peter Pan,” which she wrote at 15 and we talk about what inspired her to release it and if anything was changed. She also partnered with Autumn Helene for “Morning Light” and we dive into how the two meshed as artists.

 

Following this, enjoy “Across The Universe,” released as part of Harvard's Undergraduate Songwriters Collective latest album.

 

What’s that sound? Explore the haunted house of “Something Stirs”

If you're the type to wonder if that creaking sound is a restless soul, best to skip this episode. For all you horror fans, welcome! Author Thomas Smith joins me to talk about his book, “Something Stirs,” out on Oct. 13 through our friends at Cemetery Dance Publications. Here's a look at what lies within these pages:

 

Ben Chalmers is a successful novelist. His wife, Rachel, is a fledgling artist with a promising career, and their daughter Stacy is the joy of their life. His novels have made enough money for him to provide a dream home for his family. But there is a force at work in their lives. A dark, chilling, ruthless force that has become part of the very fabric of their new home.

 

A malevolent entity becomes trapped in the wood and stone of the house and it will do whatever it takes, to find a way to complete its bloody transference to our world.

 

Local Sheriff Elizabeth Cantrell, and former pastor-turned-cabinetmaker Jim Perry are drawn into the family's life as the entity manipulates the house with devastating results. And it won't stop until it gets what it wants. Even if it costs them their faith, their sanity, and their lives.

 

This is actually a re-release, since the book was originally published in 2011 through a different company. Thomas and I talk about what readers can expect in this updated version, as well as how he came work with the fine folks at CDP.

 

We dive deep into the story behind the book and how Thomas created the menacing presence within the Chalmers' home. This is a Christian horror novel, and if that's a new term for you, you're not alone. We look into what that genre is all about and what can—and cannot—be done in this kind of book.

 

With her debut EP, Dani Teveluwe shares her life in a diversity of sounds

After hearing “Into The Deep,” the debut EP from Dani Teveluwe, I knew right then that she'd be a grat guest for the show, and here we are! In this interview, we talk about Dani's decision to go from primary school teacher to musician and how that change has gone. Dani shares the doubts she experienced as well as how the experience has changed her.

 

Along with the EP, Dani has a music video out for “Double Shot,” a song centered on a person who's hurt so badly that they wind up hurting others. The video is filmed in a school setting with a group of children, an unexpected frame for the story and Dani shares what led her to go in this direction.

 

And this conversation wouldn't be complete without us talking about the cover art, done by Tamara Armstrong. It's simply amazing and we go into how the two met and worked together.

 

Following the interview, enjoy two songs from the EP, “Double Shot,” followed by “Sweet Summer Nights.”

Lisa Sherman explores memory and identity in debut thriller

What if you showed up one day and couldn't remember a thing about you, but knew that the life you led wasn't your true one? It's an interesting premise, and the one explored in Lisa Sherman's debut book, “Forget Me.” Here's a look at what's in store:

 

Who’s that girl? After being fished out of a river in small-town Wisconsin, Wanda Dellas is lucky to be alive – yet, she can’t help but feel like something’s wrong. Wanda is living someone else’s life: that’s the sense she’s had since an accident robbed her of her long-term memory. Barely scraping by, Wanda cleans offices at night in order to support her young daughter. She tells herself that anyone would believe they’re meant for a different existence. Yet she can’t shake the sense that she’s missing something—and that the past she’s been told belongs to her is not the whole story.

 

Claire Stanbrick’s photo is all over the news. A missing businesswoman who’s presumed dead, Claire bears a striking resemblance to Wanda. After learning that Claire went missing around the same time as her accident, Wanda embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about her past. Yet with each additional clue she uncovers, Wanda faces new dangers that threaten her life . . . or is it Claire’s?

 

Lisa and I explore how identity and memory tie together, and if one can exist without the other. We look at Wanda's quest to discover the truth about herself and the obstacles in her way. Lisa is a lawyer-turned-author, and shares how her legal background helped with the writing process. This may be Lisa's first book, but it's not her last and we talk about future titles and what lies in store.

It’s a world of daemons and magic in Alison Levy’s new book

I’ve been a longtime fantasy fan, and so it was a real pleasure to speak with Alison Levy’s new book, “Blue Flame,” part two of the Daemon Collecting series, out on Oct. 11 through SparkPress. The new book continues the adventures of Rachel Wilde, who comes from a dimension adjacent to ours. The people there have structured their society around daemon collecting: they locate, catch, and repair malfunctioning daemons (creatures out of phase with our world that tempt people to do good or evil).

 

While introducing Leda Morley, last of an ancient line of gatekeepers, to the ins and outs of her daemon-collecting work, Rachel Wilde encounters something far more dangerous than any daemon: a young boy who stands alone against an unseen yet terrifying enemy that has invaded his home—an inhuman creature who, hellbent on revenge for a minor slight, intends to harm the boy’s oblivious family. Meanwhile, Leda’s brother, Simon, is feeling left out of his maternal family legacy but is coping partly by helping Rachel’s friend Bach—a previously homeless man with unusual mental abilities—get his life back on track.

 

In the midst of all of this, Bach unintentionally but serendipitously makes contact with a capable otherworldly being who, with great reluctance, agrees to help Bach and his friends take on the dangerous creature that’s just become their problem to solve. Together, this group of unlikely allies must put aside their differences to save an innocent child, and his family, from a monster—before it’s too late.

 

Alison and I dive into the worldbuilding that went into this book and the new characters that we meet. She talks about the daemons and the system of magic she created and how it all works. We look at how writing this book compared to her first novel, “Gatekeeper,” and her plans for the release of “Blue Flame.” Along with being a writer, Alison is also a mental health advocate, and we go into how writing the new book helped and how it can be a platform to help others.

Kevin Lucia talks about the new arm of Cemetery Dance Publications

As we close on Halloween, it makes perfect sense to welcome back one of my favorite horror authors, Kevin Lucia. This time, we're diving into the small press industry with a look at his role as e-book and trade paperback editor at Cemetery Dance Publications. It's a significant change for the press and one that's upped their status in a big way.

 

In this episode, we talk about what this means for the company and the work that made it happen. Kevin addresses the publisher's past issues with making deadlines and the complete turnaround that he's witnessed.

 

But that's not all! Kevin has some new projects in the works, including “The Horror at Pleasant Brook,” out this Halloween. Along with a look at the story, we talk about the kill factor in horror books and some of his best methods to end a character. Hey, it's a horror episode, what did you expect?

Jeff Seitzer’s memoir shares a story of unconditional love and an unbreakable bond

Ethan Seitzer was only 9 years old when he passed away, but in that short time he impacted countless lives. Whether it was through his easygoing nature, the way he accepted people, or his unique artwork and poetry, Ethan brought so much to this world, all of which is chronicled in “The Fun Master,” written by his father, Jeff Seitzer.

 

In the book, Jeff talks about parenting a child with special needs while dealing with his own medical issues. He holds nothing back, talking about Ethan's passing, the decision to write this book, and how the experience helped him cope with the grief. Jeff shares what his life was like prior to being a parent and what he expected it to be—and how very different it turned out. No doubt this was a difficult journey, but amidst the challenges are many wonderful memories.

The story of WW II Pilot Richard Eager covers time in and out of the cockpit

The life story of U.S. Air Force veteran Richard Earnest Evans is certainly filled with amazing tales—such as how he became the B-17 "Flying Fortress" pilot for Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the British 8th Army.

But this is just one of several stories compiled and self-published by his daughter, Barbara Kinnear as “Richard Eager: A Pilot’s Story from Tennessee Eagle Scouts to General Montgomery’s “Flying Fortress.” Better known as Richard Eager, Evans began working on this book after his service, but passed away before the book was completed.

In this episode, Kinnear talks about her father’s time with the Air Force and all the things she learned through his stories. The book also looks at Richard’s time growing up and we talk about life back then.

Kinnear talks about the fire that claimed their home and—she thought at the time—the entire collection her father had worked on, only to make a welcome discovery later. She shares the experience of growing up in the armed forces and the perspective on her father’s service through a child’s eyes.

Joseph Falank writes on family relations and coping with Alzheimer’s in “Renewal”

Author Joseph Falank's new novel, “Renewal” (Sept. 13 through BHC Press) is a powerfully written and incredibly honest story of a family coming to grips with the reality that their patriarch is afflicted with Alzheimer's. Here's the synopsis of the story:

 

It's been two years since aspiring novelist and English teacher Malcolm Aton has had any contact with his family. Ever since his divorce and the loss of his mother to cancer, his relationship with his father has been strained.

 

When he receives an urgent text from his brother, he learns the devastating news that their father's memory issues have progressed. He's now violent and at the end stages of Alzheimer's disease.

 

Although confrontation with his father is imminent, Malcolm reluctantly agrees to return home for the weekend and take on the mantle of caregiver while they contend with the difficult decision of how to care for their father. As is the case with everything involving his family, nothing goes as expected.

 

Joseph and I talk about the relationship that Malcolm and his father has and what it is like to reconnect after two years. He sheds light on how Malcolm adjusts to being his father's caregiver and the impact of their roles being reversed. We also talk about the affect Alzheimer's can have on the patient's loved ones and the new challenges they will have to overcome.

 

This is Joseph's fifth book and we discuss the subjects of “The Painted Lady,” “Disconnected,” and others and the inspirations which led to them. Personally, I cannot wait to read “Disconnected.” He also shares some of his ideas for future works.

Dog-lovers unite! Victoria Schade provides a powerful story with “Dog Friendly”

Fans of our four-legged friends won't want to miss this one! Author and dog trainer Victoria Schade recently released her sixth book, “Dog Friendly” a story with amazing depth and thoughtful characters. Here's a look at the summary:

 

Exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group’s glittery annual fundraiser.

Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself.

 

This book required a lot of research into the lives of veterinarians, and Victoria shares what she learned, including a condition related to those who get burned out over the years. She's even heard from the experts and talks about that feedback.

 

Victoria's books have run the gamut from animal care to fiction, and we talk about that transition and what it was like. We look at the sources of the ideas for her various fiction stories and how they're developed from concept to finished work.