Au Rendezvous Mary Anthony

Today in conversation with #author, #filmmaker and #publisher Andrew McManaman about his newly released book 'Dollhouse'. Surprisingly this horror/thriller novel has been inspired by a #dream of 20 years ago, Andrew as a kid had a nightmare and years later the dream lingered on in the subconscious which is now a thrilling subject of the story. The book trailer has been shot in 80s style horror flick and takes the viewer through paranoia, mystery and dark secrets hidden inside an abandoned house in the woods. 

Andrew has also turned publisher with his publication house - PopcornPaperbacks. Andrew McManaman was born in Ottawa and raised in the small rural community of Kemptville, Ontario, Canada. Being an avid reader and film buff, Andrew fell in love with storytelling right from a young age. Introduced to many badass classics growing up, he took a shine to the horror and thriller genre. At ten years old, Andrew wrote his first short story and fell in love with the act of writing and has kept writing ever since. Still to this day, a huge movie and book geek, many of the films he grew up watching are his true inspiration for his work. With Popcorn Paperbacks, his goal is to meld the genres he loved to watch growing up and his passion for writing together.

Blurb: 

Single mother Darla awakens to the ultimate nightmare… She’s trapped in a house in the woods, with no memory of how she got there. She’s surrounded by strangers. And worst of all, she doesn’t know where her children are.

The six strangers with her have no clue as to what is going on. Tensions grow as they struggle to figure out who locked them in this hellhole and how they can escape. All hope seems lost until the clock strikes 9:00 PM, and the house’s only door finally unlocks. But as they venture out into the woods, something lurks in the darkness.     

Highlights of the Episode:


Reading session from the book 
How did a dream possibly turn into a horror novel after 20 years
Journey as a writer
What is Andrew's writing process
Favorite character from the book 
Final words 

#authorinterview #authoralert #horrorthrillerfans 

Today in conversation with #author of Mating in Captivity - Helen Zuman. Helen is a survivor of a #cult called Zendik Farm, she was mentally and #sexually exploited as a member of this cult. Her #memoir spans those harrowing #fiveyears in Zendik farm that #forbid #monogamy. So how did a #harvardgraduate land in a #newage spiritualism cult. How are these so called #utopian cults exploiting younger generation forms the crux of her own horrific personal account.

Mating in Captivity has since #won many laurels and #awards in the world of publication. Winner, 2020 Timothy Miller Outstanding Book Award (given by the Communal Studies Association) 2020 Eric Hoffer Awards: First Runner-Up, Memoir; finalist for the First Horizon Award and the Grand Prize Finalist, 2019 Firecracker Award in Creative Nonfiction (CLMP) A Best Indie Memoir of 2018 (Kirkus Reviews) #1 Amazon New Release in Religious Cults, #1 Amazon New Release in Human Sexuality. To know more about the author visit - Helen Zuman site. 

Highlights of the Episode:


Early life of Helen
Did her rigid Catholic upbringing sway her towards rebelling with the norm
What made her join the cult
What was her experience while living in Zendik farm
Why do educated young minds fall prey towards these new age cults
Why was she served a notice by the cult and asked to leave
Do these cults exploit women in the garb of spiritualism and dominate via male patriarchy
Final message to the youth

Today in conversation with author Tom Galvin who is debuting with the book - The Auction! Tom has lead an illustrious and adventurous career as a political #journalist during which he covered breaking news from the #whitehouse, #capitolhill, covered the 1996 #presidentialelection and visited the infamous #Guantanamo Bay. He then detoured towards technology and set base in the #siliconvalley as head of corporate communications at Cisco. He again felt the shift in dynamics and became an author with his new book that is very much inspired by #realpeople and experiences of working with the #elite. 

The Auction is all set in the future when greedy corporates will decide the #financial worth of young generation and bid them into financially bound slavery. All the details and an exclusive sneak peak of the book can be found on the website. A trailer is also out on Youtube which will definitely intrigue you.  

Highlights of the Episode


Inspiration leading to writing the book
Advice on facing #writer's #block and overcoming the same
Most favorite character from the book and why
Why are authors resorting to writing #darktheme stories 
Is the future based on #financialvalue of a person especially since we see it happening with #socialmedia #influencers
Final message

#authorinterview #aurendezvous #theauction #trending #dystopian #future 

Today in conversation with well known author and politician Dan McCrory. Dan was a 2013 #Democraticcandidate in the special #election for District 45 of the California State Assembly. He has been an officer of the National #WritersUnion, UAW Local 1981 for the past 15 years.   

His book #capitalismkilled the #middleclass was #finalist in the Page Turner Awards. This book is part memoir and part #political statement as it follows his thirty-seven-year career at the phone company that began in 1973, about the time economists say worker pay flatlined. Capitalism Killed the Middle Class also examines the present political and economic systems rigged against us. Dan McCrory spent 37 years within the beast: AT&T. From poor, southern hick to clueless worker to union activist and finally to political candidate, McCrory had a ringside seat to the dismantling of a former #monopoly as it transformed itself into a mean, lean machine for the 21st century. How did we get here? What does the future look like for working families? What can we do to prepare ourselves?

The book presents insightful and thorough analysis of the current plight of the working, class. He highlights his role in the labor movement and unions and proposes these areas as key organizational starting points toward rescuing the middle class. McCrory gives a detailed analysis in each of the "25 ways" the system is killing the middle class. 

His book is available at Amazon both #Kindle and Paperback version.

Highlights of the Episode:


His brief background and the inspiration behind writing the book Capitalism Killed the Middle Class
Is capitalism pushing communism out of the picture
How are the middle class affected by capitalism
Is capitalism hand in glove with the government
How is the health care and education system rigged by capitalism
Final message 

#authorinterview #aurendezvous #politics #bookrecommendation 

Today in conversation with noted conservation #biologist, educator and author-illustrator Alan J. Hesse. Based in biodiversity-rich Ecuador, Alan’s work is inspired by the majesty and fragility of #nature and the need to do everything we can to #protect it.

Alan combines his #artistic creativity with his technical experience and knowledge to create #scientifically #accurate, educational #graphicnovels full of quirky, comic humor and fun action that also bear a message about how everyone can help preserve Nature.

He is the author and illustrator of six non-fiction graphic novels for middle grade children, among which his main ongoing focus is the #CaptainPolo series about #climatechange. Alan is also the author of 3 climate change-themed picture books for children within the 6-8 age range. Alan has combined #fiction and #nonfictional facts in an interesting way to come up with varied #storylines to educate adults as well as children about the forces of nature and the #positive solutions that can be implemented to bring about #climate preservation. 

Captain Polo series is a completely #witty and #informative combination of #fiction and #nonfiction unlike other #climateactivists who are more interested in being politically correct!!

Highlights of the Episode:


His journey from being living in diversified rich Amazon for 20 years towards authoring Captain Polo's adventures.
Captain Polo - a curious polar bear character that is the heart of all expeditions around the #world and his take on the changing geographical scenarios
How climate change is very much a man-made phenomenon
How through his graphic novels he has been taking educative sessions regarding climate preservation with teachers, parents and younger generation 
You can find resourceful material about his books, blogs and fun activities on his webpage 
A short extract from the latest in the Captain Polo series where he explains how the #refugeecrisis is worsening due to #globalwarming and not just political factors 
Parting message about climate change

#geographic #refugeecrisis #authorinterview #authortalk #podcastshow

Today in conversation with author Dad Tom Kreffer about his upcoming second book - Dear Arlo Adventures in #Dadding. His first book Dear Dory has been a major success, an honest account of being a first-time dad. Dear Arlo comes out soon and we chat about the emotional, fun and the serious events mentioned in the #book. Tom is also the creator of Adventures in Dadding #newsletter that acts as a guide for parenting from a dad point of view. 

You can #subscribe to the newsletter via his website ! About Tom:

He is a writer who chronicles his son's every day life and about parenthood.

He does this for many reasons: to force himself to reflect deeply about his role as a #parent; to create a gift for Arlo when he’s older (imagine your parents giving you their journals about you on your 21st birthday); to improve his writing ability; and to give readers a unique perspective on parenthood that they won’t find in other books.

He believes his writing career started out as a complete fluke. It began when he found out that his partner was #pregnant. The news was unexpected to say the least, because they were told that they wouldn't #conceivenaturally. 

#Highlights of the #Episode: Tips for new Fathers and Father's to be


#Journal your child's adventures, you may not want to publish it but it is a great way to keep #memories alive
Spend #time with your partner and bond with your child when they are tiny coz time #flies by
Take #support from #elders - #Grandparents are a great source of #wealth and #help 
Work as a #team to nurture and up bring your child  
Household chores can wait - Get some #Sleep! 

#authorinterview #parentingguide #dadadventures #deararlo #cooldad #parenthood