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Boskone Part 2

Here it is, the second episode of my coverage of the 2020 Boskone book expo. Thanks go out to the folks behind this great event for having me back this year.

Up first it's Anabel Graetz, who led workshops on vocal training. Along with her years spent as a singing teacher, she has an acting resume a mile long! We talk about the movies she's been in and the Who's Who of talent she's worked with.

E.C Ambrose recently released “Bone Guard Two: The Nazi Skull,” and “The Singer's Crown: The Author's Cut.” The latter is a re-release which has 35,000 more words and she talks about how this changed the story and the research part of the Bone Guard series.

Rob Greene and I chatted about his debut book, “The Light Years,” which deals with an arranged marriage and the discovery of long-held secrets. Rob talks about the world-building process and how it feels to have his first novel out for the world to enjoy.

The final interview is with Sarah Smith for her upcoming book, “Crimes and Survivors,” available April 15. This Titanic-based story is a mystery about not only icebergs, wrecks, and murder, but crimes against the human spirit and how to survive them. Sarah and I dive into the time period and what it meant then when the main character learns that she may have a relative of African descent.

 

Boskone Book Expo, Part 1

Feb. 14 marked the 2020 Boskone book expo and I had a great time, as usual. I got the chance to speak to a lot of great writers, and the interviews are collected in the first of two episodes.

 

In the first, Michael McAfee of the Post Meridian Radio Players talks about the show they did at Boskone “The Silver Shade: Help From The Shadows.” Michael tells me about the casting process and how they plan for the worst to happen.

 

Author Tabitha Lord and I haven't spoken in years and there is a lot to recap! She's completed her sci-fi “Horizon” series and tells me about the urban fantasy story she's working on now, which includes a lot of research.

 

Last in this episode is Vincent O'Neil, who has been hard at work shopping around the script for his “Handler Hank” short story. He goes into the transition from short story to script and what other of his works he'd like to see on the screen.

Ways to create a strong relationship

Authors David and Julie Bulitt joined me on Valentine's Day to talk about their new book “The 5 Core Conversations For Couples.” We take a look at things like communication, a work/life balance, and a healthy sex life and how each plays a role in creating a strong relationship. The Bulitts also look at their professional lives in family therapy and divorce and family law and how it informed the writing process.

Thanks go out to Ellen Whitfield of JKS Communications/Books Forward PR for her help in arranging this interview.

Metalheads unite!

Marilyn Jimenez and David Martinez of the metal band Nocion are an interview I've been looking forward to for some time. We go deep into our shared metal history and then talk about the band's upcoming album and some sick music videos they have in the works. We also talk about some shows they have planned and look at areas they have on their “must play” list.

After this, get ready for two songs from the band, “Into The Darkness,” followed by “The Storm.”

Taking the stage in Boston

In this episode, Washington D.C.-based Grammy-nominated songwriter Carolyn Malachi joins me to talk about her upcoming show in Boston as part of the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum's Thursdays LIVE series. We also look at her forthcoming album, her work as an education advocate, and work with the GRITS & GARRI podcast.

Following this, enjoy her song, “Beautiful Dreamer.”

 

Short film examines unsolved Boston murder

Musician Otto Kinzel adds Actor to his resume with the new short film “A Dream of Distant Skies,” from Neptune/Teletron (Russell James) about the still unsolved murder of Karina Holmer in Boston back in ‘96. Kinzel has a role as “the host father” in the film and we talk about the history of the case and how it's adapted to the film. Otto shares his experiences in front of the camera and how played a role that had no lines.

Following this, enjoy a recent release from Otto Kinzel, “I Bleed For You.”

You can't take the sky from me

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Housel, the #PopCultureProfessor, joins me to talk about all things “Firefly.” On Feb. 11, she and comedian Ken Reid—recently voted Boston’s Best Comic— will be at Boston's Museum of Science to present a screening of the classic sci-fi film “Serenity” as part of the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival. In the Hayden Planetarium, enjoy a view of the night sky on one half of the dome and the movie on another with commentary by Reid and Housel.

Purchase tickets in advance at the Museum box office, or by phone at 617-723-2500, online at mos.org/adults.

Dr. Rebecca Housel, known as the #PopCultureProfessor, is a NY Times bestselling author and editor; her books are sold in 9 languages and 150 countries. Housel is also a science writer, researcher and mental health advocate--you can read her column, "Survive Anything" on Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/survive-anything, as well as articles for #SuicideAwareness and #StandUp2Cancer on 7Cups.com, winner of Stanford Medicine's X Award:  https://www.7cups.com/experts/@rebecca-a-housel/. Dr. Housel is an author and editor in the Mental Health for Millennials series; her work there focuses on relationships, intimacy and the neuroscience behind sex. 

 

Dr. Housel has also been accepted for NASA's SIRIUS research mission with Roscosmos and the European Space Agency at the NEK facility in Moscow. Her next appearance is in February 2020 at Boston Museum of Science Hayden Planetarium in association with Boston Sci Fi Film Festival's 45th anniversary, where she will be co-hosting a show of the night-sky along with a screening of Joss Whedon's Serenity. Housel was on tour with Comic Con for three years where she interviewed stars from Firefly, Serenity, Buffy, and Angel, as well as opened Comic Con with her popular live show, "The Whedonverse," sponsored by Lion's Gate. She will also be appearing in March 2020 at Elsevier's conference on artificial intelligence and cancer and will be speaking at University of Sheffield in April 2020 on neurogenetics and mental health, as well as returning as a motivational speaker in mental health at Zeminar Dublin in October 2020. 

 

To learn more about Dr. Rebecca Housel, including reading her personal blog (which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019), please visit RebeccaHousel.com

Some new sounds for Thieves & Lovers

Brandon Stoner, guitarist and vocalist for the band Thieves & Lovers, joins me to talk about their highlights for 2019, which included the release of the single "Don't Think About Me." This tune took the band in some new directions, and we look at what these were and some potential plans for 2020. We also look at some different show types out there that the band has pursued or is looking to try out.

Following this, I've got their entire EP, “Down The Line” for you. This includes "Don't Think About Me," followed by “Down The Line” and ending with “Up at Night.”

All hail the Queen

Where did the horse come from?

That's my first question to Boston-based R&B artist Nancia as we talk about her recently-released album “Heir to the Throne,” and the music video released for “Get Low,” which shows the artist on horseback. She goes in-depth to the album's production and how she chose the 18 tracks among the many she has made.

Nancia's music is her career and she talks about the different ways she has monetized her skills to make it happen. We also give a 101 on show prep, something she has learned a lot about over the years.

Following this interview, enjoy the song “Get Law” from “Heir to the Throne.”

The healthy side of getting older

 Author Dr. Matthew Erlich joins me to talk about his book, “The Vail Method: Getting Better Not Just Older,” which was released on Jan. 14. The book is a comprehensive lifestyle guide for readers to begin working towards healthier aging, and Dr. Erlich talks about the many subjects he covers, from exercise and the plant-based diet to the importance of mindfulness.

 

After the interview, Kim Kondrashoff brings us two great songs, “Bathtub Boogie” and “Talk To Me.”