Citywide Blackout

Douglas Knight of Cross Eye Comics dives into his soon-to-be released series

I love a good comic, as you all know, so this episode is one I am very happy to share. Douglas Knight, founder of Cross Eye Comics, joins me to talk about his new series, CHIASM (kai-ahz-em). It's the story of his life.....sort of. He talks all about the main character Desmond Phillips, who undergoes an operation to implant an alien molecule in his optic chiasm to combat and eliminate the cancer in his head. It's got a strong real-life connection and Doug and I look at how it influenced the story.

 

There's currently a Kickstarter going for the series and it runs until Aug. 28. The cool thing is that it's already well past the goal (you should support it anyway!) and Doug talks about what it means to have such support from the fans and readers.

 

We also look at how Doug got his start in comics and the different titles that inspired him along the way. He talks about working as a comic artist while being legally blind and how he's developed his very cool and unique style.

Keddrain Bowen shares his journey to success with new biography

We all have a dream for our lives, but it's getting there that takes work. In this episode, entrepreneur Keddrain Bowen details how he started his journey from the trunk of his car at 23 years old to being the founder and president of Fanatics 101. We talk about that journey and it's different twists and turns, and what led him to chronicling this in his book, “The Dream Is Free: The Journey to Success is Sold Separately.”

 

Keddrain and I talk about his leadership style, how he helps his employee overcome their challenges, and keeping a growth mindset. He looks at his definition of success and how his own codes and morals influence his choices. We also look at his plans for the future and how he'll achieve his goals.

Faith Pierce’s horror debut brings a real nightmare to life

Author Faith Pierce never wanted to work in horror. But after experiencing a recurring nightmare that she couldn’t get out of her head, she decided to turn it into a short story. That story evolved over the years into “The Face You Wear,” her debut novel, set to be released on Aug. 12 through Crystal Lake Publishing. Here's a look at what's in store:

 

Jana overcame a bleak, poverty-stricken childhood to achieve her version of the American dream. She has her own home, a successful career, and a new husband who offers everything she hoped for in a normal life.

Her tight grasp on stability however begins to slip with disturbing dreams about her husband Michael. A figure in the bedroom doorway watching her sleep, night-time conversations Michael claims never happened, someone lying beside her at night when Michael later says he wasn't there.

Old anxieties and paranoia begin to surface as Jana becomes increasingly desperate to discover if the true threat is her mind, her husband…or something darker.

 

Pretty terrifying, isn't it? Faith and I spend time with the nightmare itself and how she built on this to become a complete story. We look at Jana and Michael, how the two play off one another and the ways they react to the building tension. We talk editing and how this changed the story and the all-important question—will there be more?

Diving into blended styles and cross-country moves with Joseph Mossbridge

This episode takes us into the musical world of Joseph Mossbridge, currently in Boston and soon to be moving to Los Angeles. We take a look at how his career kicked off and the fanbase he's built from his debut album, “Take My Time.” Much of the music on this album takes a page from what he experienced during the pandemic, including having to leave LA, where he was working when March 2020 happened.

 

Joseph's music blends all sorts of styles, including rap, EDM, and pop. We look at how these different sounds come together and what he's hoping to try out in future releases. We also shine the spotlight on the many people he's worked with to bring “Take My Time” and other songs to life.

 

Afterward, enjoy “Goodbye,” from Joseph's debut album, a look at the major move he had to make.

Linda Marks and Sarah Tolle talk uplifting messages and signature sounds

This episode is a double musical header! Up first is Boston-area singer-songwriter Linda Marks, a longtime friend of the show. We talk about the new music released this year, some of which found its origins in violent shootings and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Linda and I discuss the messages shared in the music and how she maintains a positive mindset after the last few years.

 

Following this, here is Linda's recent release, “Our Children's Prayer,” written after the Uvalde shooting from the children's point of view.

 

Our next guest is Vancouver-based singer-songwriter and actress Sarah Tolle. Like Linda, Sarah shares some uplifting themes in her work, such as body positivity and loving yourself. Sarah talks about what inspired her to publish her music beginning in 2021 and her goals as an artist. We've heard a lot on this show about the music scene in Canada and Sarah provides first-hand perspective of what it has to offer. We also dive into Sarah's film career and the roles she'd like to pursue.

 

To close out this episode, enjoy “Game We Play,” by Sarah Tolle which looks at the funny things we're told to do with our lives.

Gwendolyn Nix’s new book explores Hell, magic, and a complex cast

On July 29, Gwendolyn Nix's new book, “I Have Asked To Be Where No Storms Come,” will hit physical and online shelves. But before that, kick back and enjoy this conversation on the story, characters, and a lot more. Here's a quick look at the plot:

 

The fact of Domino Bluepoint's afterlife is simple: he's a half-breed witch from a people without a name, living out a cursed Butch Cassidy existence… and no one wants to be stuck in Hell with witch blood. When he discovers bounty hunters are on his trail, and his brother, who wields insurmountable power, has struck an ill-made bargain with an ancient being of lighting and thunder, Domino is determined to fight his way out of the underworld no matter what the cost.

 

Yet, he soon learns an even darker power resides behind his cursed lineage, one buried deep in the earth and who will use his brother for its own gains. Desperate to escape their own destines, the two must decide if they will save the world… or let it burn.

 

Gwendolyn and I talk about Domino's character and where he stands—hero, or villain? We look at other characters and the roles they play in the story, which takes place in a detailed version of Hell. Believe me, we spend awhile delving into this. We also look at release day and Gwendolyn's plans for it.

The mind behind Gold Light Hour talks new styles and bringing music to the big screen

From playing in an alt-country band to the atmospheric styles of his current project, Gold Light Hour, Christ Gutierrez has taken on a number of genres. In this interview, we talk about the varied and unique sounds of Gold Light Hour and his DIY, self-taught approach. He's recently been back on stage courtesy of the good folks at Tiny Oak Booking and we go into what a show with him sounds and looks like.

 

Chris and I dive into his new album, “Music of Sex and Horror,” and all the cool stories behind the music. Chris hopes to get into the film scoring field, and we talk what kinds of movies would be the best fit. I'll bet you can never guess his answer.

 

Following this, enjoy two tracks from the new album, “Morph,” followed by “Warm.”

Glenn Rockowitz’s book shares he and his father’s cancer journey

Diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal cancer in 1998, Glenn Rockowitz was told he had three months to live. After the diagnosis, his father prayed to take his cancer from him. So, when Glenn’s father received his own terminal diagnosis less than a week later, the two faced their final moments of life alone, and together. That journey is captured in Rockowitz's new book, “Cotton Teeth.”

 

In this interview, Glenn talks about the day he received the diagnosis, his conversations with his father, and how their relationship changed during their treatment. Glenn shares the writing process and how he approached sharing such a personal time of his life with the world. Included in the book is a letter that Glenn wrote to his son when he thought his diagnosis would prove terminal.

Neil Kleid shares his first trip to the horror genre with Comixology Originals title “The Panic”

“The Panic”—a five-issue apocalyptic comic series on Comixology—has quickly drawn me in with its deep characters and gripping story. So, I just had to speak with series creator and writer Neil Kleid for this episode.

 

In The Panic, ten strangers become trapped on a PATH train beneath the Hudson River when their car comes to an unforeseen halt. They are forced to depend on each of their fellow commuters in order to survive. Things go very wrong as they work their way above ground and those left must fight their way through more than rubble to make it to safety. But the darkness is closing in, and with it their own individual fears and paranoia—along with cultural, racial, and political biases. It’ll be a long road to the end of the tunnel . . . that is if they don’t kill each other before they get there.

 

Neil and I talk about the origin of this series, which began as a novel set amidst Sept. 11, 2001. We look at how the story was updated and adapted to a comic format, and what had to be changed during this process. Neil worked with Andrea Mutti as co-author and artist, and we talk about the gritty visuals and how they came to be.

 

Neil also shares the theme of loss of control and security, how they are utilized in “The Panic.” We dive into the different characters and how they interact as they try to save themselves and learn what happened.

Mary Keliikoa shares her third book and growth as a writer

In Mary Keliikoa’s “Kelly Pruett Mystery” series, a grieving single mother inherits her late father’s PI business, and begins tackling mysteries on her own, leading her into dangerous territory.

Following the success of the series debut, “Derailed” (2020) and sequel “Denied” (2021), Keliikoa has released another installment,“Deceived,” through Camel Press. Here's a look at the plot for the new book.

 

Kelly finally feels like she’s coming into her own. With her personal life well on track, a gig uncovering what drove a client’s granddaughter underground could be good for business. But after her undercover operation at the homeless shelter reveals rampant drug dealing, she’s suddenly kicked off the case... just as another girl goes missing.

 

Vowing to expose the truth even if it means pro-bono work, Kelly is taken aback when her half-sister helps her hunt down answers in a tent city brimming with distrust. When her investigation doesn’t move quickly enough to save a second woman from a vicious murder, Kelly doubles her efforts unwilling to accept defeat.

 

Mary and I dive into the plot of the new book, as well as Kelly's challenges from the other two. We look at how the main character and author have grown over the years, and how Mary feels about her writing career with three titles now released.

 

Mary talks about her work as a legal secretary and how this helped her as a writer. We look at the stereotypes of mystery books and some of the things she strove to avoid in this series.