Novelist Spotlight

Mike Consol
  • 4.9 (11)
  • FICTION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Novelist Spotlight

Novelist Spotlight is a gathering place for people interested in reading and writing great fiction and literature. This is where you will hear from the authors who write the novels and learn of their motivations, writing process, characters, struggles and successes. Novelist Spotlight is hosted by Mike Consol, a lifelong journalist and author of four novels.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Novelist Spotlight #170: Remembering the great novelist Paul Auster and his electric imagination

    In the spotlight is the late, great novelist Paul Auster and one of his friends and biographers, I.B. Siegumfeldt, who spent three years logging conversations between herself and Paul Auster and compiling those conversations into a book titled A LIFE IN WORDS — a wide-ranging dialogue between Auster and the Danish professor, in what has been called a “remarkably candid and sharply focused investigation” into Auster’s art, craft and life. In total, Paul Auster wrote more than 30 books, some translated into more than forty languages, as well as writing the screenplays for a selection of films. We discuss: >> The first sentence of his novels>> His imaginative characters and storytelling>> Work style>> Popularity in Europe>> The Paul Auster Research Library and The Paul Auster Society>> His passion for and involvement in cinema>> Etc. Learn more about Paul Auster here: https://www.faber.co.uk/author/paul-auster Learn more about I.B. “Gita” Siegumfeldt here: https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/persons/inge-birgitte-siegumfeldtNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    53 min

  2. NOV 7

    Novelist Spotlight #169: From the Department of Homeland Security to thriller writer

    In the spotlight is Chad Boudreaux, former deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where he advised department leader Michael Chertoff, and current chief legal officer at Huntington Ingalls Industries, the nation’s largest military shipbuilder. Along the way, Boudreaux became a novelist, writing the thrillers “Scavenger Hunt” and “Homecoming.” His forthcoming novel is titled “Mob Justice.”  We discuss:  >> Legal versus fiction writing >> Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum >> Submarines and shipbuilding >> Hidden floors in buildings >> Waco, Texas and the Branch Davidians >> Etc.  Learn more about Chad Boudreaux and his books here: https://www.chadboudreaux.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no     Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    1h 7m

  3. OCT 28

    Novelist Spotlight #168: Edinburg, Scotland psychological thriller writer Rosie Walker

    In the spotlight is Rosie Walker, author of psychological thrillers, her latest being “My Husband's Ex.” That novel was pre-dated by three other psych trillers: “The Baby Monitor,” “The House Fire” and “Secrets of a Serial Killer.”  We discuss:  >> The role of the unconscious mind >> Plotting and analysis using an Excel spreadsheet >> Hitting a daily word count >> Pacing >> Being open to agents and editors’ input >> Keeping up the momentum >> Book coaching >> Etc.  Learn more about Rosie Walker, her books and editorial services here: https://www.rosiejanewalker.com/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    1h 1m

  4. OCT 21

    Novelist Spotlight #167: Media strategist Paula Rizzo on the 10 questions every author needs to answer

    In the spotlight is best-selling author, Emmy-award-winning television producer and media strategist Paula Rizzo. She did the television production thing for nearly 20 years before going on her own to train experts, authors and entrepreneurs on how to be media-ready and build their reputations in the traditional and social media realms.  We discuss:  >> Her path to television production >> The decision to move from TV to media strategist >> How she works with authors >> The online courses available >> Her bestselling “lists” books >> The tools of the marketing trade >> The 10 questions every author needs to answer >> Etc.  Learn more about Paula Rizzo here: https://paularizzo.com  Get Paula Rizzo’s free list of the 10 questions every author needs to answer here: https://paularizzo.com/10Q  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    46 min

  5. OCT 16

    Novelist Spotlight #166: Hot new Canadian author Deepa Rajagopalan

    She was born in Saudi Arabia, moved to India as an adolescent, and later to the United States and Canada in her twenties. Today, Deepa Rajagopalan has published a short story collection titled “Peacocks of Instagram,” whose title story won the 2021 PEN Canada New Voices Award, and is now working on her first novel, titled “We Have Come Empty Handed,” the story of a disparate group of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, whose lives become entangled and caught in the exigencies of war, deception and intolerance.  We discuss:  >> Her path to publication >> Life in Saudi Arabia >> Mentorship >> Her influences >> Writers conferences and book expos >> Etc.  Learn more about Deepa Rajagopalan here: https://www.deeparajagopalan.com Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no  Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    45 min

  6. OCT 12

    Novelist Spotlight #165: Barbara Kyle, actor turned novelist and book coach

    She began her career as an actor for stage and screen, then became a novelist around age 40, selling more than half-a-million books thus far. Today, Barbara Kyle is also a mentor, book coach and popular speaker at writers’ conferences. We discuss: >> The move from acting to fiction writing >>  Three things agents and publishers must see and the first 30 pages of a would-be novel >> The importance of writing a detailed >> The problem with passive characters >> The chief issue dogging aspiring novelists >> Useful fiction-writing books >> Etc.  Learn more about Barbara Kyle here: https://www.barbarakyle.com/ Sign up for Barbara Kyle’s free webinar — 3 Things Agents & Publishers Must See in Your First 30 Pages — here: https://www.barbarakyle.com/free-webinarNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    1h 6m

  7. OCT 5

    Novelist Spotlight #164: John Darnton, Pulitzer-winning NYT veteran turned novelist

    In the spotlight is John Darnton, novelist and author of six novels, including “Burning Sky,” his latest. Darnton worked 40 years at the New York Times cover city hall before becoming a foreign correspondent in Africa; Warsaw, Poland; Madrid; and London. Along the way he won a Pulitzer Prize and two George Polk Awards, while moonlighting as a novelist. In addition to his six novels, Darnton has also written a memoir (“Almost a Family”) about his father’s life and death as a foreign war correspondent.  We discuss:  >> The transition from reporter to novelist >> His daily word count >> His work style pre- and post-retirement >> The inspiration of Charles Darwin >> His father’s life and death >> Reporting on Lech Walesa and Poland’s Solidarity movement >> Etc.  Learn more about John Darnton here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/6414/john-darnton/  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no         Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    1h 8m

  8. SEP 14

    Novelist Spotlight #163: Rachel Turow on using self-talk to optimize your writing and mental state

    In the spotlight is Rachel Turow, a San Francisco native who earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Oregon. She is the author of the book The Self-Talk Workout: Six Science-Backed Strategies to Dissolve Self-Criticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head.  We discuss:  >> The principles of self-talk >> Feeling bad about feeling bad >> Wordless self-criticism >> Speaking about yourself in third person >> Organizing a self-talk group >> Meditation >> The tug-of-war between writer and internal critic >> Emotional vicissitudes >> Crossing things off your list  Get a copy of The Self-Talk Workout here: https://snip.ly/p7fc97  Learn more about Rachel Turow here: https://www.rachelturow.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no       Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

    49 min
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4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Novelist Spotlight is a gathering place for people interested in reading and writing great fiction and literature. This is where you will hear from the authors who write the novels and learn of their motivations, writing process, characters, struggles and successes. Novelist Spotlight is hosted by Mike Consol, a lifelong journalist and author of four novels.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Consol
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Mike Consol
  • Show Website
    Novelist Spotlight

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