The Bell Cow Round-up

Bell Cow Productions
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosts Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride are rounding up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider literary world—publishers, authors, and more. This is where we shine a light on the people you need to hear from and the process behind their work. Get ready for short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft. We’re ringing the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next good book, maybe even one written in your own backyard. Join the herd, or least give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, follow!

  1. 🐮 Bell Cow StoryLab: Mystery of the Ordinary, Turning Everyday Life Into Page-Turning Fiction

    3 DAYS AGO ·  BONUS

    🐮 Bell Cow StoryLab: Mystery of the Ordinary, Turning Everyday Life Into Page-Turning Fiction

    Bell Cow StoryLab is our monthly author panel series, hosted by authors Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride. Each episode brings multiple writers into one craft-focused conversation, spotlighting how books actually get built. Scene by scene, choice by choice. In The Mystery of the Ordinary, we start with a deceptively hard question: how do you turn everyday life (a grocery store parking lot, a quiet marriage, a small-town lunch counter) into something unputdownable? We talk about mundane sparks that become story engines, “quiet” tension that still grips, emotional stakes that land like explosives, and the craft tools that keep pages turning: subtext, timing, withheld information, micro-twists, secrets, and the ordinary object that becomes a symbol. Today’s panelists (bios + links)-- Christine Husom: A central Minnesota author known for crime fiction that blends police-procedural realism with cozy-adjacent charm, often filtered through a sharp eye for what people hide in plain sight.https://www.christinehusom.com/ John Heckenlaible: Born and raised in southern Minnesota, he writes contemporary, small-town, character-driven fiction that leans nostalgic, funny, and emotionally honest. He splits his time between Scottsdale, Arizona and New Prague, Minnesota.https://jjheckenlaible.com/ Michael Allan Mallory: A Twin Cities metro crime-fiction writer whose work lives in mystery and thriller territory, often mixing classic detective energy with a playful streak and an eye for the odd corners of human behavior.https://www.snakejones.com/ Marjorie Mathison Hance: Based in Minneapolis, she writes Minnesota-set murder mysteries steeped in lake-country atmosphere, where community history, routine, and relationships create the pressure that drives the story.https://mmhance.com/ Connect with the hosts-- Rob Jung: https://robjungwriter.com/ Michael David MacBride: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/ Everything Bell Cow: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/ #BellCow #BellCowProductions #BellCowStoryLab #StoryLab #AuthorPanel #WritingCraft #AmWriting #MysteryWriters #PageTurners #FictionWriting

    54 min

  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    🐮 Bell Cow Author Round-up: Catherine Friend (with hosts Rob Jung & Michael MacBride)

    The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word. The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow! Today we’re joined by award-winning Minnesota author Catherine Friend, whose latest novel Ghost of the Heart blends romance, paranormal elements, and thoughtful emotional storytelling. Catherine is widely known for her memoirs and nonfiction—particularly Hit by a Farm—but her fiction is equally rich, warm, and insightful. Catherine’s writing often centers around relationships, personal transformation, and the ways love shapes our lives. She brings humor, vulnerability, and a deeply affirming voice to every project, and her characters feel refreshingly real—messy, brave, yearning, and lovable. She is also a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in literature, and her stories feature queer romance that celebrates authenticity and emotional truth. Beyond her writing, Catherine is a farmer, musician, and all-around Renaissance human who brings curiosity and kindness to every creative endeavor. You can learn more about Catherine at: https://catherinefriend.com/ Her books—including Ghost of the Heart—are available wherever books are sold. In this episode, Catherine talks about writing across genres, blending humor with heart, and crafting romances that feel both magical and deeply grounded. You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com). And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!) #bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup

    35 min

  3. 7 APR

    🐮 Bell Cow Author Round-up: Karen Engstrom (with hosts Rob Jung & Michael MacBride)

    The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word. The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow! Today we’re joined by Minnesota author Karen Engstrom, whose latest novel Shadowland continues her evocative trilogy set in 1950s northern Minnesota. Karen’s work blends historical fiction with mystery, weaving in atmospheric settings, quiet emotional truths, and characters navigating family secrets and personal transformation. Her short fiction has appeared in Minnesota Stories, Minnesota Not So Nice, WINK Magazine, and the Star Tribune, and she brings that same careful attention to craft into her long-form work. Karen’s creative life is wonderfully eclectic—she’s currently translating her father’s journals from Swedish to English, developing a cookie cookbook, and crafting a yearless family keepsake calendar. She also makes handcrafted fountain pen ink for a family company, Anderillium Inks. You can learn more about Karen at: https://karenengstrom.com/ Her books—including Shadowland and The Fox—are available wherever books are sold, including Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/ In this episode, Karen reads from Shadowland and shares insights about memory, heritage, and her love for northern Minnesota. You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com). And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!) #bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup

    24 min

  4. 1 APR ·  BONUS

    🐮🤡 April Fools Special: We’re Not Fooling Around About Scams w/ Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware

    Bell Cow StoryLab is our monthly author panel series, hosted by authors Rob Jung and Michael MacBride. Each episode brings multiple writers into one craft-focused conversation, spotlighting how books actually get built. Scene by scene, choice by choice. This is a StoryLab Podcast Special, airing April, and no, we are not joking: publishing scams are getting smarter, faster, and more convincing. Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware joins cohosts Michael MacBride and Rob Jung, plus a panel of authors, to break down what’s actually happening right now, what the red flags look like in real emails and contracts, and what to do next when your gut says “something’s off.” We dig into: • The one habit that prevents the most harm • The earliest red flags writers talk themselves out of noticing • A practical, under-30-minute due-diligence sequence for vetting opportunities • Money flow, rights grabs, termination clauses, and the “services bundle” trap • AI-adjacent contract language to watch for (training data, audio, translation, derivatives) • What to do if you already said yes, and how to document and report safely About Writer Beware: https://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/writer-beware/ https://writerbeware.blog/about/ Guest: Victoria Strauss: Co-founder of Writer Beware (founded in 1998) and long-running watchdog for publishing scams and predatory practices. Panelists (bios + links) Mike Faricy: Award-winning crime fiction author of multiple series, known for fast, funny mysteries and oddball characters you can’t quite look away from. https://www.mikefaricybooks.com/ John Rogers: Thriller writer whose stories draw on experience in finance and biotech, with plots that lean into modern systems and real-world leverage. https://johnbairdrogers.com/author/fretlessjohn/ William J. Anderson (A.W. Powers): Writes paranormal, mystery, and horror, and is the creator of the Psychic Guardian Angel series as A.W. Powers. https://wmjanderson.com/a-w-powers/ Betty Brandt-Passick: Historical crime novelist and speaker whose fact-rooted gangster series builds fiction from real history and community memory. https://bettybrandtpassick.com/ Alan Miller: Founder of Access to Democracy, longtime civic-media host and interviewer focused on public life and accountability. http://www.accesstodemocracy.com/?page_id=2 Connect with the hosts Rob Jung: https://robjungwriter.com/ Michael MacBride: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/ Everything Bell Cow: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/ #BellCow #BellCowProductions #BellCowStoryLab #StoryLab #WriterBeware #WritingScams #PublishingScams #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife

    58 min

  5. 31 MAR

    🐮 Bell Cow Author Round-up: M. Stone Mayer (with hosts Rob Jung & Michael MacBride)

    The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word. The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow! Today we’re joined by thriller author M. Stone Mayer, whose novel Ashes to Ashes delivers high-stakes suspense rooted in deep emotional undercurrents. Stone’s writing is sharp, cinematic, and full of rich psychological detail—perfect for readers who love thrillers that explore not only danger but the internal struggles that propel his characters toward it. A lawyer turned novelist, Stone brings a deep understanding of justice, conflict, and moral ambiguity to his work. His fiction often grapples with power dynamics, personal reckoning, and the fine line between vengeance and truth. He’s also a generous literary citizen, active in writing communities and known for his thoughtful, articulate conversations about storytelling. You can learn more about him at: https://mstonemayer.com/ His books—including Ashes to Ashes—are available wherever books are sold, including Minnesota’s renowned Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/ In this episode, Stone talks about writing morally complex thrillers, blending legal insight with narrative tension, and building characters shaped by consequence. You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com). And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!) #bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup

    24 min

  6. 24 MAR

    🐮 Bell Cow Author Round-up: S.L. Smith (with hosts Rob Jung & Michael MacBride)

    The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word. The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow! Today we’re joined by Minnesota crime novelist S.L. Smith, whose latest book Malice adds a new chapter to her gripping procedural series featuring St. Paul investigators Pete Culhane and Martin Tierney. Smith’s novels are beloved for their meticulous police detail, layered character relationships, and strong sense of place—all grounded in her deep knowledge of Minnesota’s law-enforcement landscape. A retired investigator herself, Smith writes with authenticity and insight, exploring not just the procedural mechanics of solving a crime but the emotional and moral weight carried by those who do the work. Her Minnesota settings are richly textured, her characters flawed and compelling, and her mysteries elegantly constructed. You can learn more about Smith at: https://www.slsmithbooks.com. Her books—including Malice—are available wherever books are sold, and readers can also find her procedural series at Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/ In this episode, she discusses the craft of procedural storytelling, writing authentic law-enforcement characters, and building long-running series with heart and precision. You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com).And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!)#bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup

    38 min

  7. 19 MAR ·  BONUS

    🐮 Bell Cow StoryLab: The Villain You Secretly Love: Crafting Compelling Bad Guys (with five authors)

    Bell Cow StoryLab is our monthly author panel series, hosted by authors Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride. Each episode brings multiple writers into one craft-focused conversation, spotlighting how books actually get built. Scene by scene, choice by choice. In The Villain You Secretly Love: Crafting Compelling Bad Guys, we head straight into the pasture where the trouble lives. 🐮😈 What makes an antagonist unforgettable, and what keeps them from feeling like a cardboard cutout with a knife? We dig into villains as mirrors and wrecking balls, the internal logic that almost convinces the reader, and the craft choices that turn “bad” into “can’t look away.” Along the way, we get into questions like: Do your villains know they’re villains? What’s the most sympathetic thing you’ve given an antagonist? Ever had a villain take over the plot? We also talk through villain function (catalyst, tempter, moral test), competence that raises stakes, charm as a weapon, humanizing without excusing, boundary lines on the page, villain POV, and what a satisfying ending actually looks like when the bad guy is the best part. Today’s panelists (bios + links) Aliah Wright: Thriller author who leans into psychological tension, sharp reversals, and the kind of trouble that escalates fast. https://www.aliahwright.com/ Brian Lutterman: Mystery and suspense author with a lawyer’s eye for leverage, motive, and the moment a situation turns. https://brianlutterman.com/ David Housewright: Crime novelist known for bringing smart, relentless pressure to the page and building adversaries who can really play. https://www.davidhousewright.com/ Frank Weber: Minnesota author writing true-crime driven fiction, where real-world darkness meets page-turning momentum. https://www.frankweberauthor.com/ Tracy Clark: Crime fiction author whose work delivers street-level stakes, sharp character work, and villains who do not politely stay in the background. https://tracyclarkbooks.com/ Connect with the hosts Rob Jung: https://robjungwriter.com/ Michael David MacBride: https://www.michaelmacbride.com/ Everything Bell Cow: https://www.bellcowproductions.com/ #BellCow #BellCowProductions #BellCowStoryLab #StoryLab #Villains #Antagonists #WritingCraft #AmWriting #FictionWriting #MysteryWriters #CrimeFiction #ThrillerWriters #CharacterDevelopment #PageTurners

    56 min

  8. 17 MAR

    🐮 Bell Cow Author Round-up: Craig MacIntosh (with hosts Rob Jung & Michael MacBride)

    The weekly Bell Cow Herd Podcast, hosted by authors, Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride, rounds up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider publishing world—publishers, authors, editors and more—to shine a light on the people who compose the remarkable Midwestern literary community. With short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft, you’ll get to know, like never before, the people who embellish our lives via the written word. The podcast rings the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next favorite author, maybe even one who writes in your own backyard. Join the herd. Give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, and follow! Today we’re joined by Minnesota author and former newspaper illustrator Craig MacIntosh, whose newest novel Culling delivers a gripping mix of mystery, action-adventure, and procedural intrigue. Craig’s background as a visual storyteller gives his writing a cinematic immediacy—scenes unfold with striking clarity, and his pacing keeps readers firmly on the edge of their seat. Craig is also the co-creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip Sally Forth and has spent decades shaping visual narratives. His fiction reflects that same precision and artistry: crisp dialogue, memorable characters, and locations rendered with an illustrator’s eye. His novels often explore moral tension, political undercurrents, and the psychology of justice, making them favorites among readers who crave intelligent, layered thrillers. You can learn more about Craig at: https://www.cjmacintosh.com/ His books—including Culling—are available wherever books are sold, and Minnesota thriller fans will find his work at Once Upon a Crime: https://onceuponacrimebooks.com/ In this episode, Craig talks about transitioning from cartoonist to novelist, building action through detail, and crafting stories that feel both grounded and explosive. You can find out more about your hosts: Rob and Michael at their webpages (https://robjungwriter.com/ and https://www.michaelmacbride.com). And, of course, you can find everything about Bell Cow at the official webpage: https://www.bellcowproductions.com (🐮 -- moo!) #bellcow #bellcowproductions #interviews #authors #roundup #bellcowroundup

    28 min
See All (21)

Trailer

About

Hosts Rob Jung and Michael David MacBride are rounding up the best voices from the Bell Cow Cattle-log and the wider literary world—publishers, authors, and more. This is where we shine a light on the people you need to hear from and the process behind their work. Get ready for short, punchy chats, exclusive author readings, and deep dives into their background and craft. We’re ringing the bell loud and clear, guiding you straight to your next good book, maybe even one written in your own backyard. Join the herd, or least give the round-up a listen: subscribe, like, follow!

Information

  • Creator
    Bell Cow Productions
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bell Cow Productions
  • Show Website
    The Bell Cow Round-up