A Writer Reads (On the Shelf)

Rachel A Brune
  • 5.0 (4)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY
A Writer Reads (On the Shelf)

A speculative fiction author, horror publisher, and coach/freelance editor (three-in-one!) discusses her latest reads. Tune in for my thoughts on what I'm reading, reviews of new releases, and interviews with indie authors writing the books we love to read.

Episodes

  1. 03/16/2023

    Episode 8: Book History and Podcast Future with guest Anne Bartolucci

    Today, I'm talking a little bit about the podcast itself--my vision for it and where I'd like it to go in the future. I also nerd out a bit about this book I'm reading, What We Talk About When We Talk About Books. I hope you enjoy the books I talk about, as well as my conversation with my guest, Anne Bartolucci. About Guest Anne Bartolucci Anne Bartolucci, Ph.D., D.B.S.M. is a licensed psychologist and a certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She started her professional career as the clinical director of a sleep disorders center and founded Atlanta Insomnia & Behavioral Health Services, P.C. in 2008 in order to focus specifically on behavioral treatment for sleep disorders. Dr. Bartolucci is a sought-after speaker and conference panelist and has taught workshops and classes for several professional organizations. She is the author of two nonfiction books, most recently Better Sleep for the Overachiever (2020; AIBHS). Finally, she has a not-so-secret other life as a U.S.A. Today bestselling fiction steampunk and urban fantasy author under the pen name Cecilia Dominic. Most recently, she has combined her two loves of writing and psychology with her new venture, Psych Up Academy: Online Classes and Coaching for Writers. Guest  Links: https://ceciliadominic.com https://psychupacademy.com https://instagram.com/CeciliaDominicAuthor https://facebook.com/CeciliaDominicAuthor https://instagram.com/psychupacademy Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on  your podcast platform of choice. Hang out with us in the On the Shelf Facebook Group,  and let me know what you think of the show. If you would like to help  keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me  on Ko-Fi or drop me a buck or two on PayPal. Some of the links provided in the show notes may contain affiliate links, which will also help keep the show up and running. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    28 min

  2. 03/09/2023

    Episode 7: Diving Back Into Reading with guest Jean LeBlanc

    Goodbye, reading slump. Hello punks and drowned houses and re-connecting with the wild through children's books and Emily Dickinson's sister.  Links: A House at the Bottom of a Lake by Josh Malerman Honour Among Punks by Guy Davis and Gary Reed Rewilding: Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature by Micah Mortali Scares That Care: AuthorCon II On the Shelf Facebook Group About Guest Jean LeBlanc Jean LeBlanc grew up in Massachusetts, just about half-way between Emily Dickinson and Henry David Thoreau. She now lives in  northwestern New Jersey with her husband/best friend, George Lightcap. She has taught writing and literature at Sussex County Community College since 1999, and is a member of several local poetry groups: the Writers’ Roundtable of Sussex County; the Paulinskill Poetry Project; and the Silconas Poetry Center (of which she is a past director). Her publications include poetry anthologies as well as collections of her own work; her 12th collection, Terrible Terrain: Poems Inspired by the Life of Lavinia Dickinson, was released this month (February, 2023). Her poetry advocates for an awareness of the beauty of this journey called life. Pick up a copy of Terrible Terrain from Shanti Arts! Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on  your podcast platform of choice. Hang out with us in the On the Shelf Facebook Group,  and let me know what you think of the show. If you would like to help  keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me  on Ko-Fi or drop me a buck or two on PayPal. Some of the links provided in the show notes may contain affiliate links, which will also help keep the show up and running. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    31 min

  3. 03/07/2023

    Episode 6.5 Bonus Guest Episode with Rosemary Claire Smith

    Another chat with a fellow reader! Rosemary Claire Smith combines her love of reading with her craft of writing in her review column for Analog. Join us as we talk about Ray Bradbury, mythology and folktale, what it means to read stories at different times in our lives and, of course, her favorite dinosaur! About Rosemary Claire Smith Rosemary Claire Smith is a two-time AnLab Award-nominated author who writes science fiction, fantasy, horror and RPGs. Rosemary started out as an archaeologist and hasn’t yet given up on her dream of jumping back in time to the heyday of the dinosaurs. You can come along by playing her interactive adventure game, T-Rex Time Machine.  Somehow, her alternate histories, future romances, reworked mythologies, and essays have snuck onto the pages of Analog, Amazing Stories, Fantastic Stories, and other periodicals and anthologies. Starting in 2023, look for her book review columns in Analog. Find her on-line at rcwordsmith.com or @RCWordsmith on Twitter and Instagram to see what comes next. Read her new column here: https://www.analogsf.com/current-issue/the-reference-library/ Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. Hang out with us in the On the Shelf Facebook Group, and let me know what you think of the show. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi or drop me a buck or two on PayPal. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you soon!

    25 min

  4. 03/02/2023

    Episode 6: To Re-Read or Not to Re-Read? With guest Patrick Dugan

    Am I in a mini-reading slump? Should I read one of my new books that I got from Ret-Con? Or should I return to my tried and true favorites? Join me as I overthink everything about my reading life. Also, join me at the end of the month at Scares That Care: AuthorCon II in Williamsburg, VA, from March 31 to April 2. See you there!  Links: The Misfit Toys Facebook Group Michael G. Williams Of Mycelium and Men by William C. Tracy The New Rules of Lifting by Lou Schuler, Cassandra Forsythe, and Alwyn Cosgrove Company of One by Paul Jarvis About Guest Patrick Dugan Patrick is the author of the award-winning Darkest Storm Series published by Falstaff Books. Other titles include Never Steal From Dragons and Watchers of Astaria series from Distracted Dragon Press. Other publications include Fairy Films: Wee Folk on the Big Screen, a collection of fairy essays. Patrick is a member of SFWA. An avid gadget user, Patrick is also the Director of Technology Services for Author’s Essentials LLC providing solutions and advice for writing professionals. Patrick writings delve into software, hardware, social media, and all things web-related. The primary focus of Author’s Essentials is how and when to employ technology to enhance your writing process. Patrick resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he’s a PC gamer, homebrewer, 3D printer enthusiast, and DIYer. You can usually find him in the Hearthstone Tavern or wandering Azeroth as a Blood Elf Warlock in the evenings. You can find out more at https://linktr.ee/patrickdugan Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. Hang out with us in the On the Shelf Facebook Group, and let me know what you think of the show. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi or drop me a buck or two on PayPal. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    30 min

  5. 02/26/2023

    Bonus Episode: On the Shelf Live from the Ret-Con Dealers Hall

    Join me as I walk around the dealer hall, asking authors and publishers to recommend their works! But be prepared… Your TBR pile is going to experience abnormal growth if you listen to this episode! Check out: Michael G. Williams, Prospective Press, Jason Gilbert, Kirtland Neal, Space Wizard Space Fantasy, Orielis Books, Samantha Bryant, Crone Girls Press and John G. Hartness of Falstaff Books. Not heard because they were actively selling books: O.E. Tearmann!

    23 min

  6. 02/23/2023

    Episode 5: Murder Ghosts and More! With Guest October K Santerelli

    This week, I ignored most of the books hanging out on my shelves (and under and around them as well) in favor of my library book haul. Sometimes, you wander the shelves and find you can't resist the covers and blurbs and titles you discover. Ah, who am I kidding--sometimes? Ha! Try every single visit... In any case, I'm still three books ahead on my Goodreads reading challenge. Just haven't made a bunch of progress on reading through the books I own! Also, for the listeners who may want to find out more about me or the podcast, you can visit me in the On the Shelf Facebook group, or come to Ret-Con next weekend (24-26 February) in Cary, NC. Hope to see you there! Links: The Consequences: Stories by Manuel Muñoz American Afterlife by Pedro Hoffmeister Uncanny Times (Huntsmen Book 1) by Laura Anne Gilman Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief and Loss Through Writing by Susan Zimmerman On the Shelf Facebook Group Ret-Con 2023 About Guest October K Santerelli: October K Santerelli is primarily a fantasy author and LGBTQ+ sensitivity reader who hails from Denver, Colorado. His works span several genres and multiple forms of media, including novels, short stories, and comics. His works include CITY OF DAY, book one of the Nightfall series from Falstaff Publishing, and the novella GLIMMERS IN THE NIGHT. Being LGBTQ+ has allowed him to edit and sensitivity read for indie and traditional authors alike. Visit octoberksanterelli.com for more. October’s Links: Website: https://octoberksanterelli.com/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@okwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/o_k_writes/ City Of Day  Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    30 min

  7. 02/20/2023

    Episode 4.5 Bonus Episode with Dana J. Moore

    What's better than a weekly podcast about reading? A bonus, mid-week episode about reading! One of my favorite things in the world is to meet someone who loves reading as much as I do, and then geek out with them about the books we have in common, the way we came to a love of reading, and to come away from the conversation energized to get back to my TBR pile (with maybe just a few more titles to add to the list!)  Join me and Dana as we talk about how she got me into reading YA, passing our love of reading to our children, and what book she recommends that I dive into next. About Dana  Dana J. Moore is a voracious reader, occasional writer, compulsive artist, moody musician, obsessive plant collector, and unabashed tea enthusiast. She has lived in 7 states and 2 countries, so far. She currently lives near Augusta, Georgia, with her husband Ray (an Army chaplain) and their small horde of wildlings (3 human children). Her home in the suburbs protects a hoard of old books, art supplies, cozy blankets, board games, and delicate teacups. She expects to read 150 books this year. Find Dana on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter @thedanaverse Her music exists at www.danajmoore.bandcamp.com Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    32 min

  8. 02/16/2023

    Episode 4: Does Roxane Gay Read Romance? With guest Nancy Northcott

    This week, I decided to read a random selection from the floating bookshelves above my bed, shelves which hold a tiny fraction of my TBR pile, but from which I hadn't selected a title to read in a while. I ended up with a meaty selection of werewolf and shifter romance, as well as a collection of narrative and critical essays by Roxane Gay. My guest this week continues in the romance vein (it is Valentine's Day this week!) as I host Nancy Northcott to share her new release, an anthology of Valentine's Day romance stories set at the fictional, yet intriguing, Caynham Castle. Also, for the listeners who may want to find out more about me or the podcast, you can visit me in the On the Shelf Facebook group, or come to Ret-Con next weekend (24-26 February) in Cary, NC. Hope to see you there! Links: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling by Eric Nuzum Growl: Werewolf/Shifter Romance by Eve Langlais, Kate Douglas, & A.C. Arthur Love and Valentines at Caynham Castle by Jeanne Adams, Morgan Brice, Caren Crane, Seressia Glass & Nancy Northcott On the Shelf Facebook Group Ret-Con 2023 About Guest Nancy Northcott: Nancy Northcott’s childhood ambition was to grow up and become Wonder Woman.  Around fourth grade, she realized it was too late to acquire Amazon genes, but she still loved comic books, science fiction, fantasy, history, and romance. She currently enjoys attending and volunteering at science fiction conventions. Nancy has written freelance articles and taught at the college level.  Her most popular course was on science fiction, fantasy, and society.   She has also given presentations on the Wars of the Roses and Richard III to university classes studying Shakespeare’s play about that king.  A sucker for fast action and wrenching emotion, Nancy combines the magic, romance and high stakes she loves in the books she writes. Reviewers have described her books as melding fantasy, romance, and suspense. Library Journal gave her debut novel, Renegade, a starred review, calling it “genre fiction at its best.” Nancy’s Social Media Links: Website: www.nancynorthcott.com Twitter: @NancyNorthcott Facebook:  https://facebook.com/nancynorthcottauthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3468806.Nancy_Northcott Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow,  and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your  podcast platform of choice. If you would like to help keep your intrepid  show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    36 min

  9. 02/09/2023

    Episode 3: All the Dark Things with guest Mike Jack Stoumbos

    This week, I span the gamut of fiction with a short story anthology, a novella, a novel, and a Kindle book on using dark feminine archetypes for shadow work. That, combined with my guest's novella, adds up to a dark, exciting week of reading. I discuss my love of the novella format, as well as why I thought I was going to fall behind in my reading challenge. (Spoiler alert--I'm still four books ahead!) Finally, I invite my fellow The Writing Tribe alum on the show to talk about his latest novella release, A Man of His Word. Hope you enjoy this week's time On the Shelf! Links The Labryrinth's Archivist: A Broken Cities Novella by Day El-Mohamed* The Book of Queer Saints, edited by Mae Murray* No Gods for Drowning by Hailey Piper The Goddess in the Shadow: Lessons from the Dark Goddesses and Shadow Work to Harness Dark Feminine Energy by Allycia Rye* *Available in Kindle Unlimited About Guest Mike Jack Stoumbos Mike Jack Stoumbos is an author and educator, living with his wife and their parrot in Richmond, VA. He is best known as a 1st-place winner of the Writers of the Future contest and for his space opera novel series THIS FINE CREW. His work appears in anthologies from Zombies Need Brains, WordFire Press, and Camden Park Press, among others. He is the lead editor of WonderBird Press, whose first anthology, Murderbirds, made 1st-day funding and was named a #ProjectWeLove on Kickstarter. Mike Jack teaches writing craft classes for teens and writing habits workshops for emerging authors. He also writes articles for TheBookBreak.com and other groups. Find more if his publications and newsletter at MikeJackStoumbos.com Links Website: https://www.mikejackstoumbos.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeJackStoumbos/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MJStoumbos Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Jack-Stoumbos/e/B01MXI8G2X/ TFC1 Signal: https://www.amazon.com/Signal-Space-This-Fine-Crew-ebook/dp/B09N8VHGFP Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi. You can also find me pretty much everywhere I am online using my LinkTr.ee. See you next week!

    36 min

  10. 02/02/2023

    Episode 2: Hey! I know these authors! With guest Gordon Linzner

    This week, I looked up from the books I was reading to realize I had chosen volumes from authors I know, either because I published their work previously, or had connected online. In this episode, I reflect on how excited Middle-School-Me would have been to be able to talk to authors and get to know them, and how lucky I am to be able to read a book and then visit the author's platform to learn more about them (and buy more books!) Then, I get to talk with Gordon Linzner, an author who has a wide and varied bio, and who has recently released an urban fantasy detective novel he wrote in 1985, Highway of Hell: An Evelyn Slade Mystery. So, grab a cup of coffee, and sit down with some new old friends as we talk about poetry, the military brat life, horror, the human condition, and what else is new On the Shelf. Links: Synthetic Dawns & Crimson Dusks by Pedro Iniguez One Breath and Brats by Dr. Catharine Clark-Sayles Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw About Gordon Linzner: Gordon Linzner is founder and former editor of Space and Time Magazine, and author of four published novels and dozens of short stories appearing in Fantasy & Science Fiction, Twilight Zone, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, and numerous other magazines and anthologies. He is also a copy editor, a licensed New York City tour guide, a sound technician, and lead singer for the Saboteur Tiger Blues band, among other odd jobs. He is a full member of the Horror Writers Association and a lifetime member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association. Highway of Hell: An Evelyn Slade Mystery Gordon Linzner's Chronological Bibliography Follow him on Facebook! Don't forget! If you would like to support the show, please like, subscribe/follow, and review! All of those things will help more people find us on your podcast platform of choice. If you would like to help keep your intrepid show host in caffeine and books, you can support me on Ko-Fi. See you next week!

    38 min

  11. 01/26/2023

    Episode 1: Cyberpunk, SciFi and Sherlock with guest Nicole Givens Kurtz

    This week, I talk about my love of long series (serieses?), and reading more military science fiction. I give a shoutout to some short horror fiction, and update you on the latest Shadow Council Archives Novella, The Ghost and Doctor Watson. I also talk about finding the books I wanted to read at the library. Libraries are awesome! And, in this episode, I introduce On the Shelf: New Release! I invite author and publisher Nicole Givens Kurtz onto the show to discuss her latest book, the cyberpunk police procedural Glitches and Stitches: Death Violations 01. So grab your best dystopian hacker fashion and a glass of caf and sit back as we talk about what's new On the Shelf. Links: Glitches and Stitches: Death Violations 01 by Nicole Givens Kurtz On Basilisk Station by David Weber  Under Your Bed: 13 Terrifying Tales by Blair Daniels The Ghost and Doctor Watson: A Shadow Council Archives Novella by Alexandra Christian More about Nicole Givens Kurtz and her work! Website Facebook Twitter

    32 min

  12. 01/21/2023

    Episode 0: Welcome to On the Shelf

    Welcome to the bonus preview episode for On the Shelf: A Writer Reads. In this episode, I introduce myself, talk about who I am, and then get right down to business discussing my 2023 Goodreads reading challenge, my recent book haul at Arisia Con in Boston, and give a quick look ahead at future episodes, including my first New Book Release guest, author Nicole Givens Kurtz. If you enjoy reading and are looking for a conversation about reading books, acquiring books, and the intersection of reading and writing, then pull up a chair and a notebook (to write down all the titles for that TBR list!) In this show, I mention: Tea & Absinthe: My favorite geeky tea shop! Arisia Con: My very first Con ever (back in 2008); still going strong! Crone Girls Press: My indie horror micropress specializing in Horror Anthologies. Falstaff Books: The Misfit Toys of Fiction. I'm currently reading horror novels and novellas for their brand-new horror imprint, Falstaff Dread. Cold Run: Book 1 of the Rick Keller Project: My werewolf secret agent series! Little Monster Detectives - In the Darkness: Check out your local game store and ask if they can get you a copy! Nightcrawlers: A Splatterpunk Roleplaying Game: Anyone want to join me for a game? The following contain affiliate links. Purchasing through affiliate links helps support the show (a writer's gotta eat and buy more books, not necessarily in that order!) A Witch's Kitchen by Dianna Sanchez Glitches & Stitches: Death Violations Book 1 by Nicole Givens Kurtz Want to support the show? You can drop me a tip on my Ko-Fi page, follow me on Facebook and Instagram, and follow, review, and share the show! Thanks for tuning in--see you this week for the first official episode.

    16 min
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A speculative fiction author, horror publisher, and coach/freelance editor (three-in-one!) discusses her latest reads. Tune in for my thoughts on what I'm reading, reviews of new releases, and interviews with indie authors writing the books we love to read.

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