Uncorking a Story Michael Carlon

Chrissy Holm is a writer, editor, and project manager and is the host of the podcast Stirred By Words, where she talks about words, writing, and wellness. Her writing has been featured on Everyday Health, National Council on Aging, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and more. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book Finding Sunlight: A Coming-of-Age Memoir about Love within the Wreckage of Purity Culture.

Key Takeaways


How her book began as a way to work through her parents divorce but ended up being about so much more.

Her experience with purity culture and what it took to move beyond confusion and shame into a place of greater clarity.

How embracing her bisexuality helped her find her individuality and learn what love means to her.

Her advice for teens (and adults) who may be struggling to find their true selves amidst restrictive church teachings.


Buy Finding Sunlight: A Coming-of-Age Memoir about Love within the Wreckage of Purity Culture
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46kh3ly
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781634896498


Connect with Chrissy
Website: https://www.chrissyholm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissyholm_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrissyholm_
Instagram: https://twitter.com/chrissyholm_
LinknedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissyholm-/


Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California, where he played basketball in high school and junior college. In 1969, he entered the Air Force but subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and served time in a military prison for refusing to fight. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his latest book, "The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me," an autobiography and tribute to his mother.

Key Takeaways


The power of language and careful communication: Robert's specific choice of words during his court-martial may have saved him from a harsher sentence.

Experiences within the military justice system: His story shares the process of the military court, and how his military lawyer's advice played a crucial role in his trial.

Finding one's path and the inspiration to write: Robert's travels and encounters with various European artists contributed to his desire to express himself and eventually led him to start writing.

Robert’s search for identity: Which involved hitchhiking across the United States and traveling through Europe, an experience that enriched his life and gave him a new perspective.

A mother’s Impact: Robert's mother had a really strong influence on him and was more than just his mother, but also his best friend for most of his life. She was always there supporting him, even when others criticized his decisions, such as refusing to fight in the war. Robert describes her as a strong and independent woman who had quite an adventurous life herself.




Buy The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QucmzK
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781801000000

Connect with Robert
Website: https://robertwnorris.com/

Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natasha Daniels is an anxiety and OCD child therapist and has published multiple books including How to Parent your Anxious Toddler, Anxiety Sucks: A Teen Survival Guide, Social Skills Activities for Kids and It is Brave to Be Kind. She also hosts the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and has a Youtube channel, Ask the Child Therapist. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, The Grief Rock: A Book to Understand Grief and Love.

Key Takeaways




Processing Grief: The discussion centered on how to help children process grief, especially when the person assisting them is simultaneously dealing with their own grief.


Writing as Therapy: Natasha turned to writing after the sudden passing of her husband, which left her widowed with three young children who were each expressing their grief in unique ways.


Silver Linings: The conversation revealed that Natasha has a strong focus on her relationship with her children and her parenting, emphasizing the importance of not getting lost in the details of life and appreciating every moment:

Grief can lead to a greater appreciation for life, as it makes you realize that tomorrows are not guaranteed.

Grief can bring families closer together, as it did for Natasha and her children, strengthening their bond.

Experiencing grief can lead to significant lifestyle changes that prioritize family and personal well-being, such as closing a private practice to focus on more flexible work that allows for traveling and spending quality time together.

 It can inspire personal growth and new experiences, like traveling to different parts of the world, which might not have been considered before the experience of loss.




Buy The Grief Rock: A Book to Understand Grief and Love
Amazon: https://amzn.to/40ztEQs
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781839974397

Connect with Natasha
Website: https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/anxioustoddlers78
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atparentingsurvival
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atparentingsurvival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerpin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atparentingsurvival

Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ginger Pinholster’s first novel, “City in a Forest,” won a Gold Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She is a volunteer member of Florida’s Volusia Turtle Patrol and resident of Ponce Inlet, near Daytona Beach. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, Snakes of St. Augustine.

Key Takeaways



Conflict Drives Story: She learned about the importance of conflict in storytelling, realizing that a protagonist must urgently want something and be willing to do anything to get it, which drives the plot and story. This understanding prompted her to restart her writing process, creating a cleaner and easier to follow story.


Don't Give Up: Ginger's advice to aspiring authors is to never give up on their writing journey, emphasizing that it is a long and challenging process that requires perseverance and determination to succeed.


Persistence Pays:  Writing is a craft that can be learned and perfected over time, similar to carpentry or playing a musical instrument. Ginger suggests that authors build up their writing skills progressively, starting with smaller pieces such as articles and short stories before tackling larger works.


Importance of Community: Being part of a writing community and having a critique group is invaluable, as it helps authors navigate difficult parts of the writing process and provides constructive feedback, pushing writers to improve and refine their work.


An Inclusive Message: One key inspiration for her latest book, Snakes of St. Augustine, is the exploration of individuals living on the margins of society, exemplified by characters such as Jazz, a neurodivergent and unhoused community college student, who feels invisible and disconnected from the community. The novel delves into themes of compassion toward those marginalized and the value of community, urging readers to consider how everyone is worthy of inclusion and is partially inspired by Ginger’s late brother.


Buy Snakes of St. Augustine
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FSa2xA
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781646033829

Connect with Ginger
Website: https://www.gingerpinholster.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingerPinholster
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingpin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerpin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ginger_pinholster

Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#UncorkingAStory #GingerPinholster #CityInAForest #SnakesOfStAugustine #WritingCommunity #Storytelling #NovelWriting #AuthorsOfInstagram #Fiction #SouthernFiction #AuthorsOfyoutube #authorsoftwitter #booktube #booktok #bookstagram #wildlifeconservation #newrelease #whattoread #floridaman
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lynne Golodner is the author of eight books and thousands of articles as well as a marketing entrepreneur, writing coach and host of the Make Meaning Podcast. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her first novel, Woman of Valor. 

Key Takeaways


Lynne's journey as a writer: Lynne shares her passion for writing, which began at a young age with journals and evolved into freelancing during college. Her dedication to writing and storytelling has been a consistent thread throughout her life.

Writing as a means of comfort and healing: Lynne discusses how writing has served as a source of comfort and healing for her. It has allowed her to make sense of the world around her and express her creativity.

Exploring religious identity in a positive light: Lynne's novel, "Women of Valor," delves into the exploration of religious identity in a positive and nuanced way. She aims to showcase the validity of choosing a religious path, even if it may not be the common choice for individuals in their 20s.

The significance of personal growth and reflection in writing: Lynne reflects on her personal growth as a writer and the lessons she has learned throughout her journey. She emphasizes the importance of developing as a writer and understanding the direction of a story before diving into writing a full novel.



Buy Woman of Valor
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47e0SXS
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798987650110


Connect with Lynne
Website: https://lynnegolodner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynneGolo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnegolodner/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yourpeoplellc?reload=9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourPeople


Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, Looking Glass, The Girl in Red, The Mermaid, Lost Boy, Alice, Red Queen, and the seven-book urban fantasy Black Wings series. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Good Girls Don’t Die.

Key Takeaways



Be the exception. Christina didn’t have an agent representing her when she landed a three book turned six book deal with a publisher. Sometimes you can be the exception to the rule.


Discover as you go. While some writers have a lot of success outlining their stories, Christina chooses to see where her stories take her. This leads to her feeling surprised at her own stories and hopefully translates to readers absorbing the author’s sense of excitement and wonder as they turn each page.


The Story may present Itself. We like to think that we are in control of our stories and often sit down with a specific intent as we begin to write only to find that a different story emerges. That’s okay—follow your curiosity and not your intention.


Write for you. Christina breaks another rule in that she doesn’t think of “the market” when she writes her stories—she thinks about herself as the target. While many “experts” will tell you this is a recipe for disaster, Christina’s success suggests otherwise.



Buy Good Girls Don’t Die
Amazon:https://amzn.to/47lKJQh
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593638194


Connect with Christina
Website: https://www.christinahenry.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorChristinaHenry/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorchristinahenry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/C_Henry_Author


Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices