Finding the Magic Book Podcast

Tricia Copeland
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

What makes you love a book? I find my favorite stories are those where I'm crying with the MC, celebrating their victories, and screaming at their missteps. Welcome to Finding the Magic, a podcast all about books, plots, characters, and the authors that create them. I write young adult fantasy and sci-fi dystopian, as well as fun and inspiring romances. Listen in as I highlight books and authors from these genres as well as mysteries, thrillers, and horror. Find me and intro to my books at triciacopeland.com or all my links at https://linktr.ee/triciacopeland

  1. 4d ago

    S6 E67 with Romance Author Nancy Beverly

    “To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.” — Robert Louis Stevenson I’ve been a writer since I was knee-high to Mad Magazine, so my early scripts were short and funny. I’ve also been interested in stuff like ESP and psychic phenomena since I was a youngster. I even gave a talk on the paranormal back in the sixth grade. I got an A++ on it! My career began in earnest at the famed Actors Theatre of Louisville where I had a boatload of 10-minute plays produced when I worked there in the Lit Dept. One of those plays was published by Sam French and is still produced to this day because it’s timeless and timely — Attack of the Moral Fuzzies. When I moved to L.A. two big things happened. I started working in sitcoms (and sold scripts to Roseanne and Blossom), and I took a class in trance channeling. After a few years, I wanted to work on meatier shows, so I switched to hour-long dramas. I was on such hits as Desperate Housewives and Ghost Whisperer as a producer’s assistant — and I got to pitch show ideas as well. I then decided I wanted to get my own work out there (see the quote from Robert Lewis Stevenson above) so I co-wrote and co-produced the web series The Calamities of Jane and Shelby’s Vacation, my 40-minute lesbian dramedy. Both have gotten into a bunch of film festivals and won awards to boot.. Right now I’m focused on selling my two TV pilots: The Cleaning Crew (about a small hazmat team in L.A.) and The View from Above (mysterious crop circles appear in my home state of Indiana!). My stage play career has continued concurrently with my TV work. I’ve had more than a dozen productions, including at such venues as the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the Rainbow Festival at Asbury Park, and Bloomington’s Blizzard of Short Plays. My favorite recent experience was with Denver’s Athena Project (which fosters women playwrights) where my play Handcrafted Healing had a production. I’ve been a Sierra Club member in Los Angeles for many years and have led over 350 hikes with the Gay and Lesbian Serrians, which has awarded me “Sierran of the Year” four times. I’ve made it all the way to the top Half Dome in Yosemite (seen here) and Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Find Nancy and her books here: https://www.nancybeverlywriter.com/

    S6 E67 with Romance Author Nancy Beverly

  2. Sep 8

    S6 E66 with Romance Author Tatiana Vixen Reyes

    Tatiana Vixen Reyes is the pen name of a transgender woman whose work blends sensuality, imagination, and cultural texture into richly layered storytelling. Through this voice, she explores themes of identity, desire, transformation, and connection. After an early retirement from federal civil service, Tatiana embraced her lifelong passion for storytelling, channeling decades of lived experience into bold, unapologetic creative work. Her writing explores themes of identity, desire,transformation, and connection—often centering voices and perspectives that exist at the intersections of gender, sexuality, and culture.  She is the creator of the romantic novella series She Came to the Glass Heel, a character-driven exploration of intimacy, longing, and fleeting moments of connection set against the backdrop of a vibrant Chicago nightclub. In addition, she is the architect behind the Érōsikúsō Campaign Setting, an ambitious and immersive world for tabletop roleplaying games that merges fantasy, sensuality, and intricateworldbuilding.  Now based in Chicago, Tatiana lives with her ever-“helpful” cat, who frequently supervises her writing process with questionable effectiveness. Her creative influences span a wide spectrum—from comic books and romance novels to fantasyepics, science fiction cinema, and years spent around the gaming table. These influences converge in her work, resulting in stories that are both escapist and deeply personal.  At the heart of Tatiana’s writing is a commitment to authenticity: telling stories that celebrate desire without shame, honor transformation as a form of power, and invite readers into worlds where identity is not only accepted, but exalted.  Find Tatiana and her books on her website here: https://tatianavixenreyes.com/

    S6 E66 with Romance Author Tatiana Vixen Reyes

  3. Sep 1

    S6 E65 with Sci Fi Author Elliot Blake

    Elliot is the executive producer of the Apple TV animated kids’ series The Sisters Grimm, the EP and director of flagship Audible Original series Moriarty, and the author of the forthcoming science fiction novella Into the Great. Some of his past work includes the Emmy-winning animated web series Tomb Raider: ReVisioned, the cocktails and comedy podcast Daydrinking with Gary & Elliot, and the crime comic The Package. He’s also a creative consultant, with past clients including preschool entertainment giant Moonbug Entertainment and video game developer Player Unknown Productions. His new sci fi novel, Into the Great. follows two characters with opposite goals. More about the book: Katalogtext / Kort beskrivning Sparks fly when Lilah, a thief from a struggling freespacer colony outside the borders of the Federated Solar Republic, meets Bax, an FSR security officer stationed at an official colony within those borders, during a time of heightened tensions for humanity as the silent, staring, seemingly invulnerable aliens. A story about choosing the life you want to live. This is book #4 from indie publisher Li'l Factory. 500 numbered copies, limited edition. Find Elliot and Into the Great here: https://elliotblake.com/2026/07/16/into-the-great/

    S6 E65 with Sci Fi Author Elliot Blake

  4. Aug 25

    S6 E64 with Author Alison McBain

    Is it fantasy reading season yet? I say yes all year! Dive into Alison's short spooky stories and all her works. Learn more about her and her stories in this latest episode. Diversity is one of Alison McBain's passions. With dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, a Japanese-American mother and a B.A. in African history and classical literature, she has an eclectic background and a wide range of experience. She grew up in California and moved to the East Coast in her mid-twenties. Recently, she moved back to Alberta, where she is raising her three daughters.She started her writing career at age four with a "self-published" horror story about the monster in the closet. The story was highly lauded by her closest family members. Since then, she's received a number of writing awards and accolades from people not even vaguely related to her, but she still has a soft spot for that first short story.Her interest in diversity also extends to fiction. With over seventy publications to her name, her stories and poems range in tone from serious to silly. They cover nearly every genre, including literary, romance, horror, science fiction, fantasy, history and adventure.When not writing fiction, she follows her own personal mantra of, "Do something creative every day." She serves as the Associate Editor for the literary magazine ScribesMICRO. She also blogs about local events, showcases her art and conducts author interviews on her website, http://www.alisonmcbain.com/. When life gets a little too hectic, she does origami meditation or draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. Find Alison and all her books here: https://www.alisonmcbain.com/

    S6 E64 with Author Alison McBain

  5. Aug 18

    S6 E63 with YA Contemporary Author Tara Hodgson

    When the volleyball hits the floor mere inches from Reese’s hands, her dreams of playing college ball shatter.After consecutive failures on the court, in the classroom, and in her relationships, she’s done playing the part of perfect daughter, perfect student, and perfect athlete. It’s time for a new life. Enter Cassie Brentwood.Bold. Reckless. Free. Cassie is everything Reese isn’t yet longs to be. They quickly become friends and Cassie introduces her to Liam, a mysterious guy from Snapchat. Blinded by his love bombing and the desperation to shed her perfect image, Reese plunges head first into their world. It feels instantly thrilling… until it’s not. Girls are disappearing from nearby towns, however no one in their quiet small town seems concerned.But when Liam’s behaviour grows darker, Reese’s new life begins to unravel. She ignores the warnings. The red flags. The little voice screaming to her that something’s not right. Until she’s far from home, trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape. With no one left to trust, Reese has to fight to reclaim the life she was so eager to leave behind. She wanted freedom. Now, she just wants to go home. At least she has to try. Told with searing honesty and lyrical depth, At Least I’m Tryingis a poignant novel about mental health, girlhood, and what happens when the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard to become starts to fall apart. Tara Hodgson is the YA contemporary author of Chasing Through Time and At Least I’m Trying. As a long-time teacher, she is passionate about communicating the potential implications of a technology-centred world and spark necessary conversations about these impacts on teens, using her fiction to do so. She lives on an acreage in Sturgeon County, Alberta with her husband, two children, and a crew of cats and dogs. When she isn't teaching or writing, she is reading. She loves all genres of books, but especially YA Contemporary, Fantasy, and Dystopian (but she’ll read anything, really!) She spends her down time walking, camping, boating, and relaxing at home with her family and animals. Find Tara and her books at: http://www.tarahodgson.ca/

    S6 E63 with YA Contemporary Author Tara Hodgson

  6. Aug 11

    S6 E62 with Children's Author Newton Vanriel

    The “SOUL TWINS” Dawn and Charm Spirit set theirsmall town abuzz as they create their world through their imaginary adventures!What will they do next? Set in the Northern Ontario town, Espanola has apopulation of 5,000. Mixed with farms and a small-town center with old stone architecture. The families have been living in the area for generations and don’t adjust to change easily. The setting creates a wonderful learning environment for the diverse Soul Sista’s and their super Sista’s team! A setting for great adventures and some challenges along the way. The Team learns that it's ok to be different. Their story is truly what is needed in these polarizing challenging times. The world needs the “Soul Sista’s.” Find Newton and the "Soul Sista's" here:  https://www.instagram.com/newtongary_advocate_author/  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2963424147283685  (6)newtonvanriel author (@newtonvanrielauthor)| TikTok  https://www.soulsistasbook.ca/

    S6 E62 with Children's Author Newton Vanriel

  7. Aug 4

    S6 E61 with Inspiring Author Urmi Hossain

    Urmi Hossain is a self-published author, speaker, podcast host, and finance professional based in Canada. She holds the CFA and CAIA designations and works in the financial services industry while actively advocating for women’s empowerment, identity, and self-leadership.  Her book, Discovering Your Identity: A Rebirth from Interracial Struggle, explores her journey as a third-culture woman navigating her sense of belonging, culture, and self-worth. Urmi also hosts “Stories Beyond Borders,” a podcast that amplifies diverse voices on identity, migration, language, and the meaning of home.  She serves as Co-Chair of Women in Leadership’s Montreal Chapter and is passionate about public speaking, mentorship, and continuous growth.  Find Urmi here: https://www.instagram.com/urmamio

    S6 E61 with Inspiring Author Urmi Hossain

  8. Jul 31

    S6 E60 with Thriller Author Joe Battaglia

    Seasoned content executive and award-winning journalist, EVP Media Strategy Track Star League, and member of the National Sports Media Association and International Sports Press Association (AIPS), Joe Battaglia talks about his first adult novel, Beneath the Rings, a suspense/thriller about the Doha 2040 Olympics. The Doha 2040 Summer Olympics are supposed to be about gold medals and global unity. Instead, they kick off a descent into terror when 12 Israeli and Lebanese athletes vanish, leaving behind only the chilling threat of The Obsidian Hand and an impossible $500 billion ransom. Veteran journalist Nova Mendelsohn finds herself entangled with a cryptic Ancient Arabic note and a mysterious local merchant, forced to race the clock. Her pursuit of the truth will take her from the glittering Olympic Village into the city’s darkest corners and onto the blood-soaked sands of the desert, where a centuries-old vengeance threatens to ignite a catastrophic final act. What secrets lie beneath the surface of the Games, and what will it cost Nova to uncover them? Find Joe and his book on his website here: https://booksbybattaglia.com/

    S6 E60 with Thriller Author Joe Battaglia
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About

What makes you love a book? I find my favorite stories are those where I'm crying with the MC, celebrating their victories, and screaming at their missteps. Welcome to Finding the Magic, a podcast all about books, plots, characters, and the authors that create them. I write young adult fantasy and sci-fi dystopian, as well as fun and inspiring romances. Listen in as I highlight books and authors from these genres as well as mysteries, thrillers, and horror. Find me and intro to my books at triciacopeland.com or all my links at https://linktr.ee/triciacopeland

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