Uncorking A Story

About As the director of educational outreach at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center for twenty-six years, Merle Saferstein worked closely with hundreds of Holocaust survivors helping them pass along their Legacy of Remembrance to hundreds of thousands of students and teachers. She joins me today to talk about her life and her book Living and Leaving My Legacy: Volume 1. Connect with Merle Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OmEank Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593335321 Website: https://merlersaferstein.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/merles1212/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/merle.saferstein Twitter: https://twitter.com/safer1212 Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ L

About Marilyn Simon Rothstein: Marilyn is the author of Lift and Separate and Husbands and Other Sharp Objects. She is the winner of the Star Award presented by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association for Outstanding Debut. She joins me today to talk about her third novel, Crazy to Leave You. She graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, and owned an advertising agency for over twenty-five years. Marilyn holds an MA in liberal studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in Judaic studies from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys giving talks at book festivals and community events.   In this episode, Mike and Marilyn discuss:  Marilyn's journey towards writing her first book Why marketing your book is so important Marilyn's new book book, Crazy to Leave You How Marilyn used her sense of humor to her advantage   Key Takeaways:  Every writer will face rejection at some point in their career, but can’t give up. Someone will fi

About Kristan Higgins has sold 4.5 million books worldwide, scored nine New York Times bestsellers, and is published in more than two dozen languages. Her novels have received rave reviews from the New York Times and NPR and regularly receive national media attention from People, Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World and more. Her latest book. OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY, is a story of betrayal, revenge, and healing. Connect with Kristan Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QPkGJD Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593335321 Website: https://www.kristanhiggins.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kristan.higgins/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kristanhiggins Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristan_higgins Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: htt

About Shaun Phillips is a Christian author, speaker, coach, and pioneer. His first book, Flappy and Whiskers go to the Park, was published August 2021, ten after writing it for his two young daughters. Through the experience of getting that book published, Shaun has uncovered a passion for helping others unlock their untold stories and share them with the world through books, videos, podcasts and live performances. What impact did being read to as a child help steer Shaun to his interest in writing and publishing? What role did vulnerability play in him sharing his work with others? How did the encouragement from others give him the confidence to publish his first book? Tune in to hear the answers to these questions as well as learn how you can work with Shaun to help start you on your own publishing journey? Connect with Shaun Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HWer2K Website: https://shaunphillips.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunhphillips/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nGEyPc2pvYwk

About P. David Ebersole: He is an award-winning independent filmmaker and television director working in both narrative and documentary.  His credits include the documentary HIT SO HARD (2012) about drummer Patty Schemel of the seminal grunge band Hole. Along with his husband and business partner Todd Hughes, he is Executive Producer and Director of several documentaries including the new, MY NAME IS LOPEZ (2021) about trailblazing Latino rock and roller Trini Lopez.  His debut novel, 99 Miles From LA, is a fast-paced, noir caper with a fresh twist. It has everything you want a crime story to have, including a bi-sexual love triangle and more double-crosses than Pulp Fiction!   In this episode, Mike and P. David discuss:  David’s background as a filmmaker and making the transition to becoming a novelist How winning an award can change your life The author's motivation for making a documentary about Patty Schemel's life Palm Strings as the setting of 99 Miles from L.A.   Key Takeaways:  Winning a

About Kurt and Ellie: Kurt and Ellie are a father daughter combo team who have authored the book The Barrens: A novel of love and death in the canadian arctic.   In this episode, Mike, Kurt, and Ellie discuss:  Ellie's trip in subarctic Canada and how it inspired the book How they made the story come alive as being so real on the page What it's like working with your father in writing a story Learning about yourself during the writing process   Key Takeaways:  Your travels can be turned into a fantastic adventure story, it’s simply a matter of figuring out how to incorporate the various elements into your journey in order to create a one-of-a-kind story. Plotting out your journey, attempting to create dialogue and movement, incorporating your life experiences, and attempting to form something that creates a character at his core all work together to help your story feel more realistic.  Allow yourself to be vulnerable in front of your parents. You may feel awkward sharing your journey with them,

About Farhoud: Farhoud is an award-winning writer, director, and executive producer focused on storytelling projects that inspire mass culture change.   In this episode, Mike and Farhoud discuss:  Near death experiences Not wanting to disappoint your parents Knowing what you stand for Detaching yourself from the outcomes Finding meaning in the work you do   Key Takeaways:  A near-death experience may prompt you to evaluate your life, discover your life's purpose, and pursue your passions in order to feel fulfilled. Do not let the fear of disappointing your parents stop you from pursuing your dreams. You will not be disrespecting them if you follow your heart. You have control of your fate and you are capable of making decisions that you think are the best ones for you. The magic happens when you detach yourself from the outcome of what you want to achieve. Focus on the story, create space for the people who are there with you, and you will be able to shift hearts and minds. Your creativity is

In life, we often have to pivot to become the person we are meant to be. This insight hit me like a slap in the face when I spoke with Lauren McBrayer about her debut novel.   About Lauren: Lauren McBrayer is a graduate of Yale with a law degree from UC Berkeley. A working mom of three, she is the head of business affairs for a television network in Los Angeles. Like a House on Fire is her adult debut.   In this episode, Mike and Lauren discuss:  Having someone in your life who will push you to be your best Curiosity for the characters you are writing Pivoting during the writing process The importance of love winning   Key Takeaways:  Having someone in your life who encourages and pushes you to do better or be your best is critical to becoming the writer you were meant to be. Sometimes we unknowingly become intrigued by the characters we are writing because they are, in a strange way, a part of us talking to ourselves. When we listen to this inner voice, we discover insights into ourselves. It

About Carleton Eastlake: Carleton graduated from UCLA with degrees in political science and psychology and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School with a concentration in law and the social sciences. After a career in public policy and consumer protection law, being hired on Steven Spielberg's series seaQuest confirmed him as a television writer and producer.  He has shared an Edgar and Saturn Awards and is a former board member of the Writers Guild of America West and a past president of PEN Center USA and he is here today to talk about his book Monkey Business. In this episode, Mike and Carleton discuss:  The importance of having people who recognize your potential The truth about being a television writer Carleton's book, Monkey Business Key Takeaways:  Having a strong network of supportive people who recognize your potential helps in bringing out the best in you, which absolutely influences your success. Writing a novel is a lot different than writing for a TV series. The former is a very i

About Kathleen and Liz: Kathleen is the author of the New York Times Bestselling novel Girl in Pieces, How to Make friends with the dark, and You’d Be Home Now. Her books have been published in more than 24 countries. Liz Lawson is the author of The Lucky Ones, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020. Together, they have a book called The Agathas, a fun, young adult mystery which is a departure from the contemporary realistic fiction that both tend to write.   In this episode, Mike, Kathleen, and Liz discuss:  How Kathleen and Liz met and why they chose to collaborate on young adult mystery Writing with someone else Doing whatever you want Kathleen and Liz's book, The Agathas   Key Takeaways:  It's nice to recognize the works of other authors and try to contact them. Meeting them in person allows you to get to know them in a different way, build connections, and eventually collaborate with them. Writing with someone else not only gives you more ideas for the book and improves your relationship, but

About Sascha: Sascha is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter, who has written and produced lauded shows such as GLOW, The Bold Type, The Baby-Sitters Club, and The Carrie Diaries.  In 2015, she was named one of Variety's “10 TV Writers to Watch.” Rothchild has written for LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Elle, and the Miami Herald, and adapted her article, "How to Get Divorced by 30" into both a memoir and a screenplay for Universal Studios. Blood Sugar, her fiction debut, is a dark and utterly delicious noir thriller.   In this episode, Mike and Sascha discuss:  How Sascha's writing journey began Differences between writing for television and writing a novel Sascha's fiction debut, Blood Sugar Receiving notes as a TV writer    Key Takeaways:  Having a passion for writing is important, but it is your own will and perseverance to follow that path that will make you a great writer. Breaking into the world of writing for television is not easy. You must start at the bottom and be persistent, as well as wo

About Tess: With over forty million copies sold, New York Times bestselling thriller writer Tess Gerritsen is widely known for her Rizzoli & Isles novels, which inspired the hit TNT television series that aired for seven seasons. The iconic crime-stopping duo Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles return in Gerritsen’s new novel, LISTEN TO ME which will be available on July 5. In this episode, Mike and Tess discuss:  Placing your parents' wishes before your own Writing outside your genre The importance of curiosity to being a writer Being more adventurous Key Takeaways:  It is not easy to let go of a dream or a passion, but if you truly want to do something different with your life, there is no such thing as "too late." Breaking out of a genre is difficult, but keep writing regardless of the outcome. Simply dedicate yourself to the journey. If you're curious, there's always something new to discover in your everyday life. Following your curiosity increases your creativity and prevents you from running out of

About Michelle: Michelle Huneven is the author of four novels: Round Rock, Jamesland, Blame, and Off Course. Her books have been New York Times Notable Books and finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her latest book, Search, is available now wherever books are sold and has been named One the 10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022 by Kirkus.   In this episode, Mike and Michelle discuss:  A love of reading Taking constructive feedback and criticism Everything is a jolt   Key Takeaways:  Reading stimulates your creativity significantly. Being a bookworm is essential for becoming a successful writer. Constructive feedback and criticism is not meant to make you feel bad about yourself; rather, it's intended to inspire you to work harder and develop your craft. Being disturbed or pushed extremely hard gives you an unsettling feeling as a writer. However, it provides you with additional possibilities to hear people's reactions to your work, whethe

About RaeAnne: RaeAnne Thayne is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly's bestselling author of more than 70 novels. She graduated from college with a degree in journalism and quickly rose through the ranks of the local newspaper, becoming a reporter and then an editor. She developed a passion for romantic novels and published her debut 1995. Her stories have been described as "poignant and sweet" with "beautiful honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart."   In this episode, Mike and RaeAnne discuss:  Making time to write while dealing with important life events Writing stories with happy endings Benefits of having literary agents Key Takeaways:  An important life event should never destroy a writer's constant and burning desire to express herself through writing and get it done. To attain work-life balance, they simply need to practice flexibility. There's so much need for authors to write books with happy endings especially in these trying times because happy stories give p

About Colleen: A native of New England, Colleen Hubbard now lives in the U.K. with her family. She wrote her debut novel, Housebreaking, while on maternity leave from her job with the NHS. She graduated from the University of East Anglia’s MA program in creative writing, where she earned the Head of School Prize with a distinction.   In this episode, Mike and Colleen discuss:  Taking small steps Complicated family relationships The role of mentorship Key Takeaways:  Make a one-page outline for the book you're working on. It doesn't matter if you can just write a few words per day; as long as you're taking little steps toward your goal, you'll stay on track and avoid becoming lost in the story. There are some complicated and complex family relationships worth investigating and repairing. Both sides would benefit from forgiveness, but do not force it on anyone. Boundaries can be beneficial at times. Mentorship may help you form a relationship that leads to increased self-confidence and career advancem

I seriously thought I was the only person on the planet who remembered the show Small Wonder, but today’s guest proved me wrong! As part of getting to the story behind the story, I ask my guests a series of questions about what they were into as kids. One of my go-to questions is, “What were some of your favorite TV shows when you were younger?” James Crews surprised the hell out of me when he mentioned Small Wonder, and a friendship was born. MEET JAMES CREWS James Crews is the editor of the best-selling anthology, How to Love the World, which has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, as well as in The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. He is the author of four prize-winning collections of poetry: The Book of What Stays, Telling My Father, Bluebird, and Every Waking Moment, and his poems have been published in the New York Times, Ploughshares, The New Republic, and The Sun Magazine. His new collection, THE PATH TO KINDNESS, offers more than 100 poems of connection and joy from a diverse range of voic

When I worked at the consumer products giant Unilever, I got an insider’s view into how products go from the idea stage all the way to being available for sale on the store shelf. It’s a long and comprehensive process characterized by different stages and gates a team has to pass through to keep the project (and idea) alive. While not on the same scale, authors have to follow a similar process to bring a book to market. In many ways, authors and product managers have a lot in common. My guest today knows something about that. MEET MOSHE MIKANOVSKY Moshe MIKANOVSKY is a Software Engineer and Product Management Leader who turns his creativity towards building software products, hosting a podcast, creating visual art, and writing. He participates in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and, in 2013, began writing his first novel The Resurrector, which can be purchased wherever books are sold online. In addition to his love for the written word, Moshe loves mentoring and coaching product managers and st

I have another confession to make, I hated reading newspapers when I was younger. They were always in black and white and just seemed so boring. Then I discovered the USA Today. It had pictures in color, and was much easier to read than other newspapers. And don’t get me started on the purple section! I loved the purple section—it was always the first one I’d read! Why am I sharing this? Well, today’s guest Laura Trujillo just happens to be the managing editor of the purple section for the USA Today. That’s right, the managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today joined me to talk about her memoir: Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter’s Search for Truth and Renewal. MEET LAURA TRUJILLO Laura Tujillo is the managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today and a former reporter and editor for The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Arizona Republic, and The Oregonian. In addition, she does advocacy work on behalf of suicide awareness. How did her mother’s suicide impact her life? How Laura get bac

When I was early in my career, I had this recurring anxiety dream where all my teeth would fall out, one at a time. Later in my life, that dream morphed into being thrust back into high school unprepared for a test while naked (Freud would have a field day with me). These days, anxiety dreams take the form of doing down in a plane crash. Why am I sharing all of this? Today’s guest, Steve Fretzin, knows what it’s like to go down in a plane and survive—and that event changed the course of his life forever. MEET STEVE FRETZIN Steve Fretzin is the host of the Be That Lawyer podcast. After surviving a near death experience in a small plane crash in 1996, Steve vowed to turn each day into an extraordinary experience. Today, he is one of the most respected business leaders and advisers on sales effectiveness. Steve has transformed thousands of sales professionals, entrepreneurs and professional service practitioners into business development stars through his proprietary system of Sales-Free Selling. He joined me

When I was a kid, I used to dread gym class. My Physical Education teacher was fond of picking two captains for opposing teams, typically the most athletic kids in the grade, and then they’d hand select their team members. I was typically picked at the bottom of the list because I just wasn’t that good at sports. It was embarrassing to always be picked last, or close to last, and it really impacted my desire to go to school. Kids can be mean, plain and simple. My guest today, Rob Volpe, knows exactly what I mean. Our interview started off by him telling me about a painful experience he had in grammar school but, as I came to learn, everything happens for a reason and Rob learned a very valuable lesson that day, even if he didn’t realize it until decades later. MEET ROB VOLPE Rob Volpe is an astute observer of life and a master storyteller who brings empathy and compassion to the human experience. As CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team of insights, strategy, and creative professionals helping the world’s lea