Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk Podcast

Dianne Burckhardt
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Join award-winning, indie author, Dianne Burckhardt, as she chats with fellow authors and industry insiders around the world about their work, inspirations, greatest challenges, and triumphs. Writing is often the easy part, and the real work begins once the author writes, "The End."  Dianne and her guests shed light on what it takes to be a successful author in today's markets whether as an indie author or traditionally published. Dianne's guests share their insights on their personal journeys to creating a successful writing career. They discuss everything from their writing process, common obstacles in publishing today, marketing, customer engagement, and resources to help create engaging content, and so much more!  Be sure to check out our website: BurckhardtBooks.com.  Wednesdays are better with a little good book banter ... join us for chats that are entertaining, uplifting, and help you find new books to feed your soul! BIO: Dianne Burckhardt is a podcaster and award-winning designer and author (writing as Stephen Burckhardt). Her historical fiction series, The Into the West Saga Serial is complete and she is currently developing a new Haunted Hearts paranormal romance series she will write as S.D. Stephens. Dianne is an American from Wichita, Kansas, but currently resides in Germany with her Chilean husband, and their Russian rescue dog, Shaggy. She is also a proud bonus mom to twin adult daughters.

  1. 6d ago

    S5 EP246 | John Parenteau Brings the Creature Feature to the Page

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello, My Happy People, What happens when someone who has spent decades telling stories through cameras, screenplays, film, and television decides it is time to put those stories into novels? That is exactly where my conversation with John Parenteau began. John has worked on productions including Star Trek: Voyager, Iron Man 2, and The Hunger Games, and his background in cinematography has definitely influenced the way he approaches storytelling on the page. We also talked about his latest novel, Archaic, a good old-fashioned creature feature with plenty lurking beneath the surface. But John’s life outside writing gave us just as much to talk about. Racing cars, firefighting, scuba diving, filmmaking, teaching, publishing, and somehow finding time for gaming with his wife all made their way into our conversation. Seriously, this man has done a little bit of everything. Along the way, we got into the differences between writing for the screen and writing novels, what makes dialogue feel authentic, why the emotional story underneath all the action matters, and what John has discovered after giving some of his old screenplays an entirely new life. And, naturally, our Five Quick Questions wandered into everything from Die Hard to laser tag because apparently “quick” still means absolutely nothing around here. Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more from behind the interview. John's Bigfoot Robot Books site Bigfoot Robot Books on Facebook Bigfoot Robot Books on Instagram Bigfoot Robot Books on Threads John on Instagram John on Threads Buy Archaic Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  2. Oct 21

    S5 EP245 | Rhonda Bulmer on Finding New Love While Uncovering Old Family Secrets

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello My Happy People, What happens when the dream of becoming an author starts at 15, takes a few unexpected turns, and refuses to go away? Today, I’m chatting with Canadian author Rhonda Bulmer about her lifelong relationship with writing, the very early attempt she made at getting published, and the winding road that eventually brought her back to fiction. We also get into her background in public relations and freelance writing, her experiences with both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and what she has learned along the way. Of course, we also talk about Rhonda’s novel, The Widow and the Will. An unexpected inheritance sends a young woman far from the life she knows and into a place filled with new possibilities, old family secrets, a little romance, and perhaps even a ghost or two. Rhonda’s love for New Brunswick is woven throughout the story, and we talk about how landscape can become so important to a novel that it almost becomes another character. There are plenty of other turns in our conversation, including what Rhonda is working on next and where she plans to take readers after The Widow and the Will, but you’ll have to listen to find out where all of that leads. Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more behind-the-interview information at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog. Rhonda Bulmer Substack Rhonda on Facebook Rhonda on Instagram Buy from Amazon Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  3. Oct 14

    S5 EP244 | Daniel Grace and a Modern Reimagining of Judas and Pilate

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Bleeped words: L*nched, Add!ct!on x 2, V!olence  Hello, My Happy People, What do a former advertising executive, a Tuscan winemaker, and a novelist have in common? In Daniel Grace’s case, everything seems to come back to storytelling. Daniel joined me to talk about his fascinating path from the advertising world, where his career included international agencies and even Super Bowl commercials, to the vineyards of Tuscany, where he has spent decades producing wine. Somewhere along the way, another kind of storytelling demanded his attention. That story became In the Wake of Golgotha, a modern reimagining of Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate that brings these familiar historical figures into an entirely different light. Daniel and I talked about what inspired him to explore their stories, the questions that began to emerge as he looked beyond what most of us have been taught about them, and how he turned those ideas into a dark literary thriller that spans thousands of years. We also talked about the unexpected connections between advertising, winemaking, and literature, whether years of professional marketing experience actually make it easier to promote your own novel, and, of course, books, wine, and book-to-screen adaptations. Daniel is an incredible storyteller, and this conversation went in directions I never could have predicted when we started. Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more about my conversation with Daniel at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog. Daniel's Website Daniel on Instagram il Molino di Grace Winery Buy In the Wake of Golgotha Available NOW! Pre-order Book one in Burckhardt Books New Haunted Hearts Paranormal Romance Series, Langston Watch Hotel by D.S. Stephens Amazon USA Amazon DE Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  4. Oct 7

    S5 EP243 | Family Secrets, Strange Legends, and the Toe Beast with Aaron Starmer

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Bleeped word: Murd3r3d x2 Hello My Happy People,  Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I talked with middle grade and young adult author Aaron Starmer. Before publishing approximately sixteen books over the past fifteen years, Aaron worked for a travel bookseller and later ran the documentation department for an African safari company. He shared how his work for the travel bookseller provided a second education in reading and what nonfiction taught him about organizing facts into compelling stories. I asked Aaron what it was like to have his novel Spontaneous adapted into a movie. Aaron discussed why the movie’s release in 2020 did not provide the book with the boost it might have received at another time (understandably) and why even established, traditionally published authors can struggle to engage with a broad national audience. Our main focus today was Aaron’s latest middle grade novel, You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This. The book follows twelve-year-old Roman as he organizes his late grandfather’s home and discovers strange objects in the attic connected to a family legend known as the Toe Beast. We discussed family secrets and the age when children begin to understand their parents and grandparents are complicated people with histories and secrets of their own. During the Five Quick Questions, Aaron shared his favorite cookie, what it was like to tour Vermont’s indie bookstores, and his favorite family Thanksgiving tradition, among other personal stories. He ended by giving us a preview of his work in progress inspired by events in his hometown. The book is expected sometime next year. I've already invited Aaron back to Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt to share that book with us next Halloween. For more behind-the-scenes information from this episode, read today’s blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog. Aaron's Website Aaron on Facebook Aaron on Instagram Aaron on Threads Aaron on Blusky Buy from Bookshop.org Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  5. Sep 30

    S5 EP242 | Robert Gwaltney and the Dark Magic of Southern Gothic

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello, My Happy People, If you love Southern Gothic, magical realism, old folklore, and stories where the line between the living and the dead gets a little blurry, you are going to want to meet my guest today, Robert Gwaltney. Some of you may recognize Robert’s name. Shortly after I interviewed him, I spoke with Amy Pence, author of Yellow, and she told me about the role Robert played as a mentor while she navigated publishing her first novel. I had literally just interviewed him, so hearing Amy talk about how much his guidance had meant to her gave me another glimpse into the person behind the books. Robert joined me to talk about his latest novel, Sing Down the Moon, a story filled with family legacies, ghosts, a mysterious fig tree, and wonderfully dark Southern folklore. We also talked about his Southern roots, magical realism, the pressure of following a successful debut, and the writing community. And because this is Book Banter, somehow sweet tea, falling iguanas, and the possibility of haints wandering around Germany also made it into the conversation. Once you've listened to today's episode, don't forget to check out the BTS blog at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog for more from my interview with Robert. Robert's Website Robert on Facebook Robert on Instagram Robert on Threads Robert on Amazon Robert on Linktr.ee Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  6. Sep 23

    S5 EP241 | Julie Gerstenblatt and the Secrets Aboard the Stargazer

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello, My Happy People, What happens when an author who has spent years writing contemporary fiction is told the story she really needs to write is historical? For Julie Gerstenblatt, it led straight to Nantucket, an island she has known since childhood, and eventually to her latest novel, The Stargazer of Nantucket.  Julie and I had a lot of fun talking about what really goes into historical fiction, including the research rabbit holes that can swallow hours of your life and the unexpected amount of math involved when your characters need to get somewhere on an historically accurate schedule. We also talked about the point when an author has to stop chasing every fascinating detail and remember there is still a story to tell.   Of course, we get into The Stargazer of Nantucket, Julie’s seafaring adventure about a determined young woman who refuses to accept that her place is safely back on shore. But there is much more waiting aboard the Stargazer than Winnie expects. Our conversation takes us through the real history that helped inspire the novel, women who pushed against the boundaries of their time, some fascinating Nantucket locations, and even a historical legend Julie had to decide how to handle in her fiction. And because this is Book Banter, we also somehow ended up discussing whether being born in the 1900s officially makes us historical.   Once you’ve listened to today’s episode, don’t forget to check out the BTS blog for more from my interview with Julie Gerstenblatt at BurckhardtBooks.com/blog. Julie's Website Julie on Facebook Julie on Instagram Julie on Linktr.ee Buy Her Book Scotland: Thanks to Rohan and June and these shops in Pitlochry Coffee Break All About Books Hettie's Tearoom Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  7. Sep 16

    S5 EP240 | Lucy Ashe: When the Person You Trust May Be Manipulating You

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello My Happy People, Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I’m talking with author Lucy Ashe about her unusual journey from professional dancer and teacher to historical fiction author and the experiences that eventually led her to writing novels. Our main focus is The Model Patient, Lucy’s historical psychological thriller set in early-1960s London. We explore the troubling relationship between a young model and her psychoanalyst and the questions the story raises about trust, manipulation, power, and professional boundaries. Lucy also shares some of the inspiration and research behind the novel and how its historical setting influences the story. We talk about creating characters within a period when attitudes toward women, mental health, psychoanalysis, and professional authority were very different from those we recognize today. Along the way, we get to know more about Lucy herself, her experiences before becoming an author, and how those different parts of her life eventually contributed to her writing. And, of course, we finish things off with our Five Quick Questions, which are rarely as quick as the name suggests. Lucy's Website Lucy on Instagram Lucy on TikTok Lucy's Linktr.ee Lucy on BookBub Buy Model Patient Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

  8. Sep 9

    S5 EP239 | Krysten Lindsay Hager on Breaking Free of Expectations to Find Her Own Path

    Share your thoughts on this episode, text us now. Hello My Happy People, Today on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, I share my chat  with award-winning author Krysten Lindsay Hager about her journey from journalism to becoming a published author and the experiences that helped shape the stories she writes today. Krysten writes uplifting, PG-rated stories for young readers through New Adult audiences, with themes of self-esteem, friendship, finding your voice, and healthy relationships. We talked about why these themes matter to her, the books she enjoyed growing up, and why she loves writing supportive “cinnamon roll” characters. Krysten also introduced us to When Stars Collide in the City, the third book in her Stars in the City series. We discussed influencer culture, maintaining a public image, and the pressures young people face to conform and fit in. We also talked about Krysten’s own experiences growing up and how they eventually became part of what she wanted to accomplish through her fiction. She talked about spending years trying to fit in and learning that what makes someone different can also be what makes them special. Krysten's Website Krysten on Facebook Krysten on Instagram Krysten on YouTube Buy Her Books Support the show BurckhardtBooks.com:  Langston Watch Hotel — Haunted Hearts Book 1 Read Three Chapters FREE!Buy: Burckhardt Book CollectionsShop our Zazzle Store: Burckhardt_BooksSubscribe: Newsletter Book Banter Productions: BUY AN ISSUE: Book Banter MagazineBBP on FacebookBBP on TikTokApply to be a Guest: Podcast Guest Application About Dianne: Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author Meet Dianne EP 1: Who Am I?

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Join award-winning, indie author, Dianne Burckhardt, as she chats with fellow authors and industry insiders around the world about their work, inspirations, greatest challenges, and triumphs. Writing is often the easy part, and the real work begins once the author writes, "The End."  Dianne and her guests shed light on what it takes to be a successful author in today's markets whether as an indie author or traditionally published. Dianne's guests share their insights on their personal journeys to creating a successful writing career. They discuss everything from their writing process, common obstacles in publishing today, marketing, customer engagement, and resources to help create engaging content, and so much more!  Be sure to check out our website: BurckhardtBooks.com.  Wednesdays are better with a little good book banter ... join us for chats that are entertaining, uplifting, and help you find new books to feed your soul! BIO: Dianne Burckhardt is a podcaster and award-winning designer and author (writing as Stephen Burckhardt). Her historical fiction series, The Into the West Saga Serial is complete and she is currently developing a new Haunted Hearts paranormal romance series she will write as S.D. Stephens. Dianne is an American from Wichita, Kansas, but currently resides in Germany with her Chilean husband, and their Russian rescue dog, Shaggy. She is also a proud bonus mom to twin adult daughters.

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