A Spot of Story

Danielle Grandinetti

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Fiction
Semiweekly

A Spot of Story brings you books, history, and the writing life over a steaming cup of tea. Tune in on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays for author conversations and quick history dives. Find out more at daniellegrandinetti.com/podcast. danielleswritingspot.substack.com

Oct 17

Episode 28 | Echoes of History: Behind My First 1930s Romance

In this episode of Echoes of History, we are taking a step back in time to where my 1930s publishing journey all began: my very first historical romance novella, To Stand in the Breach. Over five years and twenty-one books later, To Stand in the Breach still holds a deeply special place in my heart. Join me as I share the behind-the-scenes story of how a side character captured my imagination, how I took my very first steps into independent publishing, and the real-world 1930s history that woven into Dr. Katy’s journey. In This Episode, We Discuss: * The Birth of an Independent Author: How a spin-off idea from A Strike to the Heart led to my first foray into indie publishing. * The 1933 Wisconsin Dairy Strikes: The historical backdrop of Midwestern farmers caught between economic hardship and caring for their herds during the height of the Great Depression. * Early Female Veterinarians: The fascinating history of women breaking into large-animal veterinary medicine in the early 20th century. * Irish Backstories & The Magdalene Laundries: How real history shaped Dr. Katy’s past and her journey across the Atlantic to find a new home in rural Wisconsin. * Unforgettable Characters: A nod to Glen the donkey and the animal companions that steal the spotlight. Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this journey into history, be sure to leave a comment below or share this post with a fellow lover of sweet romance and vintage history. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direct from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 3

Episode 27 | Behind the Book: Storm at Nottingham Castle by Ann Elizabeth Fryer

Set your dial to A Spot of Story, where books, history, and the writing life come alive over a steaming cup of tea. On this episode, I’m sitting down with author (and my wonderful critique partner!) Ann Elizabeth Fryer to talk about her Gothic Regency novel, Storm at Nottingham Castle—the first book in her Sisters of Sherwood series. We dive into: * Life on the Edge of Sherwood Forest: Growing up with archery, gentlewoman traditions, and sudden plot twists. * Gothic Romance Trope Favorites: Storms, flashing lightning, and dramatic hero entries. * Historical Lore & Local Mysteries: Weaving real Nottingham history, haunted cave legends, and Robin Hood inspiration into a story. Listen directly in the post player above, or grab your favorite brew and check out the full transcript and links below! Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 19

Episode 26 | Echoes of History: 1932 Summer Olympics

In today's Echoes of History episode, host Danielle Grandinetti dives into the history of the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Learn how the Tenth Olympiad inspired details in the Sabotage Games, from the creation of the first Olympic Village to the incredible story of track legend Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson and the history of female olympians. In this episode, we chat about: * How the 1932 LA Games set new standards, including the first official Olympic Village and standardized medal podiums. * The economic, gender, and racial tensions surrounding the 10th Olympiad. * The groundbreaking athletic legacy of Babe Didrikson. * How these real-world historic events frame Emma Hancock’s journey in Sabotage Games. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 5

Episode 25 | Behind the Book: The Amazing Crab Alley Revival with Sharon Wilharm

Set your dial to A Spot of Story, where books, history, and the writing life come alive over a steaming cup of tea! In this episode, Danielle sits down with author, speaker, and podcaster Sharon Wilharm to chat about her debut Southern historical novel, The Amazing Crab Alley Revival. In this episode, we chat about: * Old Florida Lore: Shifting her setting to Florida’s “Forgotten Coast” and how vintage coastal towns inspired the fictional town of Crab Alley. * Quirky 1890s History: The fascinating details Sharon uncovered in an 1897 Sears Roebuck catalog and vintage church bazaar etiquette guides (including live peacock booths and hat-wearing dogs!). * Non-Conforming Heroines: Why she loves writing spunky, independent older women who make their own rules. * Biblical Roots: How the story connects back to Lydia from the Bible and why women of every season have a unique purpose in God’s plan. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 15

Episode 24 | Echoes of History: 1932 Winter Olympics

Join us as we step back into February 1932 to explore the high-stakes, real-world drama surrounding the III Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. In this episode, we chat about: * Mass Starts & Boycotts: How a clash between American rules and international standards sparked a speed skating boycott. * Medal Stands & Melting Ice: The chaotic debut of the very first Olympic podium and the last-minute blizzard that saved the games from an unseasonal thaw. * The Lake Placid Club Controversy: How Melvil Dewey’s restrictive bylaws almost cost Lake Placid the Olympic bid, and how the Olympic Committee worked around them. * Pioneering Women in Sports: The record-shattering performance of female speed skater Jean Wilson, the long road to official medal status, and how modern sports like the Nordic Combined are still fighting for inclusion today. * Behind Sabotage Games: How these real 1932 events serve as the backdrop for Sabotage Games, a 1930s historical romantic mystery. To read the full transcript and explore additional resources, visit the episode page. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 1

Episode 23 | Behind the Book: A Mess of Dreams with Jessie Mattis

Set your dial to A Spot of Story, where books, history, and the writing life come alive over a steaming cup of tea! In this episode, Danielle sits down with author Jessie Mattis to chat about her novel, A Mess of Dreams (Book 1 in The Middlefork Series). In this episode, we chat about: * Life on the 1940s Home Front: What a typical day looks like for 17-year-old Lorene Stewart in rural Illinois. * Favorite Moments: Writing town cakewalks, emotional scenes, and capturing real-world nostalgia. * Uncovering Forgotten History: The fascinating history of German POWs working on American farms during World War II and the real family story that inspired the book. * Wrestling with Grace: How fiction helps us process guilt, build trust, and recognize hope through life’s trials. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 18

Episode 22 | Echoes of History: Beach Reads vs. Cozy Cabin Reads

Set your dial to A Spot of Story, where books, history, and the writing life come alive over a steaming cup of tea. On this episode of the podcast, we are exploring the difference between a beach read and a cabin read. While summer is the pinnacle season for light reads and sun-drenched vacations, not all books create that feeling—nor do we always want it. In this episode, we dive into the unique emotional architecture of a cozy cabin read. That sense of nostalgia and slower pace that invites you to hunker down by a roaring fire on a chilly afternoon, wrapped in a blanket with a warm mug in hand. Whether it’s blistering hot outside or the seasons are turning, a cabin read delivers a distinct, comforting sense of rest. Grab your favorite mug and tune in as we discuss: * The Emotional Landscape of Escape: How a beach read transports you to wide-open horizons, while a cozy cabin read offers the slow-living focus of a winter refuge. * The Power of Immersive Writing: A look at how rich sensory details and historically grounded settings build an evocative story world readers want to return to again and again. * Nostalgia and Cozy Suspense: Why the background of the 1930s—and classic mystery structures reminiscent of Agatha Christie—naturally align with the “cabin read” mentality. Read the full episode transcript: Listen and Read the Full Post Here. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 4

Episode 21 | Behind the Book: To Crown with Liberty with Karen Ullo

“Set your dial to A Spot of Story, where books, history, and the writing life come alive over a steaming cup of tea.” On this episode of the podcast, we are exploring the dramatic history of the French Revolution—an era inspired by the birth of the United States 250 years ago. I’m sitting down with award-winning author and editor Karen Ullo to discuss her historical novel, To Crown with Liberty. We dive into the fictional story of an 18th-century French court lady-in-waiting and talented harpist to Marie Antoinette who survives the blood-soaked streets of Paris, only to build a new life on a flatboat in the untamed Louisiana swamps of 1795. Grab your favorite mug and tune in as we discuss: * The Power of Contrast: How a refined noblewoman copes with the radical transition from the opulent halls of Versailles to the alligator-infested wilderness of the frontier. * The September Massacres: A look behind the scenes at the pivotal 1792 historical event that marked the true beginning of the Reign of Terror. * Separating Fact from Folklore: The truth behind George Washington Cable’s Strange True Stories of Louisiana and how Karen spent over four years navigating genealogical records and on-site research in France to bring this tale of resilience to life. Read the full episode transcript: Listen and Read the Full Post Here. Further Reading or Listening * More on the Podcast: View all the episodes, read the transcripts, and explore more about each featured book. * Danielle’s Writing Spot: My book blog with weekly psalms, hand-picked book recommendations, and exclusive author interviews. * Dispatch Flash Fiction: This paid subscription level opens a private collection of exclusive vignette flash fiction (400–900 words) tracking the hidden cases and character scenes you won’t find anywhere else. * The Author Shop: If you love ebooks and signed paperbacks browse my website storefront to buy direction from the author. Thanks for reading The Fireside Wire! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Fireside Wire at danielleswritingspot.substack.com/subscribe

A Spot of Story brings you books, history, and the writing life over a steaming cup of tea. Tune in on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays for author conversations and quick history dives. Find out more at daniellegrandinetti.com/podcast. danielleswritingspot.substack.com

Creator

Danielle Grandinetti
Years Active

2026
Episodes

29
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Danielle Grandinetti
Show Website

A Spot of Story