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Tara J. Stone started writing fiction when she was in first grade and discovered the thrill of screenwriting when she studied Communications Media at John Paul the Great Catholic University. Screenplays are her favorite way to tell stories, but novels are quickly gaining. She hopes her writing will contribute to a revival of Catholic fiction.
After successfully self-publishing two screenplays as paperbacks and ebooks, she partnered with two of her former film professors to create Story Masters Film Academy, which offers online courses in screenwriting and directing.
Tara resides in Colorado, and in 2016, she became a Consecrated Virgin Living in the World in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. In addition to making things up and writing them down, Tara enjoys praying, hiking (definitely not running), going to the symphony (especially movies at the symphony), discovering new craft brews, and spending time with family and friends.
Learn more about Tara J. Stone and her work at https://tarajstonewriter.com/. 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "680 Miles Away," the inspiration behind the story and title!
The protagonist's journey
Integrating music into the storyline
The unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Writing a sequel to satisfy current fans and new readers.
What's next for Tara J. Stone?
680 Miles Away
Summary:
The follow-up to 6 Blocks Home is a powerful story about confronting old wounds, embracing new possibilities, and the triumph of unrelenting love.
Evie is a musical prodigy who has a habit of running away when things get hard. Or messy. Or just plain awkward. Like the time she ran away from home when she discovered the devastating truth about her past.
Now, at twenty-three, Evie is content with the quiet life she’s carved out for herself—working at a music store, teaching violin lessons, and joking around with her coworker and best friend, Finn—but her world is about to get hard and messy and awkward again.
A chance encounter with a stranger sets Evie on a crash course with the very past she’s spent years running from. An old flame reappears. And most terrifying of all, she’s beginning to suspect Finn is more than just a friend.
As events beyond her control force Evie to choose between running and risking it all, she will discover the heartache of betrayal, the strength of true friendship, and the unbreakable bonds of unconditional love.
 
CONNECT WITH TARA J. STONE!
Website:  https://tarajstonewriter.comX: @tjswriterIG: @tjswriter
 

Michael Rizzo is a fantasy fiction writer who works in finance during the day and often spends evenings writing and creating his fantasy world. He published his first book, Tales of Asterra, in early 2023, and he continues to build upon the established lore of this magical world in his spare time. He is currently working on his second book, To Sow a Fallow, which will be the second adventure set in Asterra, with many more soon to follow. When Michael is not writing, he enjoys playing guitar in his band and relaxing with his family, friends, and dogs. His inspirations for writing come from a variety of different sources: classic literature, mythology, old-world language studies, video games, fantasy literature, music, and other sources. 
Learn more about Michael Rizzo and his book at  https://www.talesofasterra.com/
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About "Tales of Asterra" and the inspiration behind the book
Writing a short story anthology
Using a narrator to connect the stories
Building realms and languages, exploring magic
Working with an illustrator to bring the stories to life
Advice for new authors
What's next in the world of Asterra?
TALES OF ASTERRA - SYNOPSIS



Welcome, adventurer, to the wondrously magical world of Asterra-where no two roads are the same and life blooms and beckons around every bend. Join Penniforth 'Penny' Rodgers as he regales you with tales of the events, people, currencies, and beliefs that have shaped this mystical land.
From the pirate infested shoals of Del' San Cove, to the dark depths of the Ochre Halls and the fairy forests of Faeril, there is a story for everyone. All that is missing is for you to create your own adventure within Asterra. So, what are you waiting for? Penny has already marked the first destination on the map.
CONNECT WITH MICHAEL RIZZO!
WEBSITE: https://www.talesofasterra.com/ FACEBOOK: TALES OF ASTERRAINSTAGRAM: TALES OF ASTERRA








 

RACHEL STONE writes stories of hope and redemption, often set against vibrant Canadian backdrops. Her debut novel, THE BLUE IRIS, was named a BookLife Editor's Pick and placed second in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her award-winning lyric essays have appeared in international literary magazines, journals, and blogs.
Rachel holds degrees in psychology and industrial relations, and once worked seven summers at a flower market. She's an active member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and the proud co-founder of a local volunteer initiative supporting new moms and newly-immigrated families in need. She lives near Toronto with her family and on weekends you'll find her along the shore of Georgian Bay, belting nineties pop rock off-key from her paddleboard.
Learn more about Rachel Stone and her work at: www.rachelstoneauthor.com
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "The Blue Iris" and the inspiration behind the story
The chosen family
Love, loss and healing
Writing from multiple perspectives
The delightful characters
Feedback from readers
What's next for Rachel Stone?
THE BLUE IRIS
Sometimes, uprooting the thorn-filled past is the only way we bloom...
Tessa Lewis is set to embark on a Big-Time Career and marry Toronto's fastest-rising lawyer, who loves her to pieces. But when a visit to a flower market from her childhood sparks memories of the mother she lost too soon, Tessa puts her bright future on hold to work there, determined to come to terms with her past.
At the Blue Iris Flower Market, everything is blossoming except the rag-tag crew, each hiding deep scars of their own. When Sam, the beloved but troubled man in charge, takes off and leaves the market reeling, Tessa and her unlikely new friends come face-to-face with their most uncomfortable truths, uprooting lives carefully cultivated-and just maybe, unearthing everything they've ever wanted.
Told from multiple perspectives, The Blue Iris is an intricately woven exploration of love tested beyond its limits, chosen family, and the beauty that grows in letting go. 
CONNECT WITH RACHEL STONE!
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rachelstoneauthor
Website: www.rachelstoneauthor.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/racheystone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030081772132
X: https://twitter.com/rachestone
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelstoneauthor/
 

Margaret A. Blenkush writes from her childhood home in South Saint Paul, Minnesota where she enjoys the changing seasons. Always a writer at heart, it was the COVID pandemic that challenged her to seek publication of her first novel, The Doctor of Bellechester. Enthusiastic response as in "When's the next book coming out?" and receiving an honorable mention for Best Catholic Novel in the 2023 Catholic Media Awards encouraged Margaret to continue writing about the adventures of Dr. M.E. Senty.
A proud graduate of the College of St. Benedict (B.A.) and St. John's University, Collegeville (M.A. in Theology - Systematics), she became an Oblate of Saint Benedict's Monastery in 2010. A life-long learner who loves books and libraries, Margaret earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 1991. In 2004, she contracted a rare auto-immune disease that forced an early retirement from her dream job as Director of the Instructional Services Center for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1992-2004.
When not writing, Margaret enjoys spending time with family, playing card and board games, gardening, volunteering and solving word and sudoku puzzles. She and her identical twin sister, Mary are enrolled in the University of Minnesota Twin Study where they participate in many and varied research projects. Currently, they are participating in a study on twins and aging.
You can learn more about Margaret Blenkush and her work at https://www.margaretablenkush.com/.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Welcome to Bellechester and the inspiration behind the story
The importance of setting to the story
Research around medicine and sleuthing in 1959
Learning more about the characters
The writing process and drawing inspiration from personal experience
What's next in the Dr. M.E. (Mary Elizabeth) Senty series?
 
WELCOME TO BELLECHESTER

Meet the lovable and quirky residents of this idyllic 1959 Shropshire County village as Dr. Mary Elizabeth Senty arrives to join Dr. Harold Merton's medical practice. Detective Inspector William Donnelly has recently transferred to Bellechester from London's Metropolitan Police Service to deal with the rash of jewel thefts in the area. When local socialite Lady Beatrice Brantwell is enlisted to throw a gala as a ruse to flush out the thieves, she pairs the newcomers in hopes of kindling a romance. Despite the police's best efforts, jewels, including Mary Elizabeth's precious agate pendant, are stolen in an intricately planned heist.
Can William and his officers solve the case and return the jewels to their rightful owners? Does love stand a chance between the career- minded doctor and duty-bound chief inspector? Find out in this gentle, cozy sequel to The Doctor of Bellechester which is sure to keep readers turning the pages.
 
CONNECT WITH MARGARET BLENKUSH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marge.blenkush/about/ 
Website: https://www.margaretablenkush.com/
 

When T.G. Brown is not writing books, he is a martial arts practitioner and a competitive CrossFit athlete. He practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing and Muay Thai.
He competed in the sport of CrossFit, before blowing out his knee in the 2021. Like most Crossfitters, he would do the "CrossFit Open." A nationwide test of fitness that introduces some of the hardest workouts in the world. In 2019, T.G. placed in the top 1 percent of the world, which was not enough to make the famous CrossFit Games, but he was proud of it nonetheless. In 2021, before injuring his knee, T.G. competed in a CrossFit competition involving the fittest Law Enforcement Officers in the world. He was the 29th fittest Law Enforcement Officer in the world that year.
T.G. Brown is also a certified Defensive Tactics Instructor for police officers in the state of Oregon. When he is not doing his own training, T.G. works with police officers or civilians who want to learn how to stay alive in verbal, physical, or deadly use-of-force conflicts.
Learn more about TG Brown and his work at : www.tgbrownbooks.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Literary Awards Accolades
About "Tribal Honor" and the Inspiration Behind the Story
Developing upstanding (and villainous) characters with authenticity
The influence of actual life and work experience on the plot and characters
Bringing tribal issues to the forefront
Representation in literature
What's next for TG Brown?
 
TRIBAL HONOR
Warren Lawson is an elite Tribal Police Officer on the Jericho Nation Reservation in Oregon. A relatively peaceful place, but that’s all about to change.Marvin Bingham is a man with morals that vastly differ from Warren Lawson's. One man loves to kill; the other does everything he can to avoid killing.As Marvin claims another victim, he attracts the attention of two twin Native American brothers who want revenge outside the law, two brothers who happen to be very good at killing.Caught in the middle of three killers, Warren races to keep the peace in his town, a task that grows increasingly difficult as his moral compass is tested unlike ever before. With each twist and turn in the case, Warren contemplates whether the law is worth upholding, or if he is just like the very people he puts behind bars.Buckle in, as a seemingly cut-and-dry case turns into something horrific and complex, leaving the Jericho reservation in the wake of a bloody battle.
 
CONNECT WITH TG BROWN!
Website: www.tgbrownbooks.com
Facebook: TG Brown
Instagram: tgbrownbooks

An accomplished attorney and award-winning journalist, Randy Richardson is the founding member and president of the Chicago Writers Association. His latest novel, "Havana Hangover," earned recognition as a 2023 Finalist for the Kindle Book Awards and the BestThrillers.com Book Awards and received 5-Star Reviews from Reader Views and Readers' Favorites. With two more novels, "Cheeseland" and "Lost in the Ivy," plus a coauthored nonfiction work titled "Cubsessions," Randy's influence spans genres. His essays grace anthologies like "Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul," "Storytellers' True Stories About Love," and "Cubbie Blues," and literary journals such as Hypertext and Memory House. As The first male recipient of the National Federation of Press Women’s Communicator of Achievement Award, Randy is featured on NewCity’s "Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago" list for 2019 and 2022.
Learn more about Randy Richardson and his work at randyrichardson.co
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "Havana Hangover" and the inspiration behind the story.
Traveling, researching and writing about Cuba
Drawing from personal experiences
The influence of Ernest Hemingway
The importance of the writing community for authors
What's next for Randy Richardson?
 
HAVANA HANGOVER
Thirty-year-old Chicago corporate lawyer Tanner Ford leaves behind a painful past and lucrative job for a bucket-list trip to Cuba with Jackson Swift, his estranged best friend from law school. But when they arrive, the oddities start adding up. Jackson evades questions about his wife and kids. Their itinerary keeps changing, and their tour guide might work for a fake company. When Tanner awakes after a rum-soaked night beside Dannel, a local musician with something to hide, and a text from Jackson that reads “HELP ME,” his dream vacation turns into a fight for survival. He is held hostage in an abandoned cigar factory, interrogated by the police, and hunted down by a mysterious “ghost” in the Cuban government. Beset by anxiety and panic attacks, Tanner is hurled unwittingly into an international conspiracy leading right back to Jackson and a friendship that began in betrayal.
 
CONNECT WITH RANDY RICHARDSON!
https://www.randyrichardson.co/https://www.facebook.com/RandyRichardsonWriterhttp://twitter.com/lostintheivyhttps://www.instagram.com/randman61/https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyrichardson/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2629753.Randy_Richardson