Uncorking A Story

Everything I know about the criminal justice system I learned from Law and Order. Seriously, I’ve watched so much of it I feel as if I have a JD from L&O University! Well, what do you do when the police show up at your door with a search warrant when you know you are innocent of any wrongdoing? Today’s guest, Will Young, found out the hard way that life doesn’t imitate art. Meet Will Young Will is a dynamic motivator, author, and public speaker who delivers keynotes throughout the world. His books, plays, scripts, and short stories are about real-life events that move, challenge, and inspire people of all ages. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his life and memoir The Unlikely Felon: A Memoir of Ambition, Elder Care and Jail.  Key Themes Will Young's book, "The Unlikely Felon: A Memoir of Ambition, Elder Care, and Jail," is a powerful and inspiring story that delves into real-life events. It explores themes of ambition, the challenges of caring for elderly loved ones, and the consequences of

Though it sounds unintuitive, experiencing grief can be a good thing. All of us suffer losses at various points during our life—it could be the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even seeing your kids go off to college. Grief often accompanies loss and my guest today, Tracee Dunblazier, is here to teach us how we can turn that grief into something positive that inspires personal growth. Meet Tracee Dunblazier Tracee is a Los Angeles-based spiritual empath, shaman, and an eight-time national award-winning author. As a multi-sensitive, Tracee's blend of intuitive information combined with different modalities has provided the opportunity for many to achieve deep healing and create the success and peace they seek in their lives. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her life and book Transformative Grief: an Ancient Ritual of Healing for Modern Times.  Key Themes Grief is a natural and profound occurrence: The episode emphasizes the importance of reframing grief as a natural part of

I love it when conversations go to unexpected places and today’s does just that. I didn’t anticipate speaking about the passing of my brother but doing so with today’s guest, author Jane L. Rosen, simply felt right given one of the core themes of her latest novel, On Fire Island. Meet Jane L. Rosen Jane is an author, screenwriter and former Huffington Post contributor. Jane often takes inspiration from real-life stories and interviews to craft her novels. Her first novel Nine Women, One Dress was translated into ten languages. Her second novel Eliza Starts a Rumor has been optioned by NBC. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest book, On Fire Island. Key Topics The power of starting small: Jane emphasizes the importance of taking small steps when pursuing creative endeavors, such as writing a memoir or a novel. By breaking down the process into manageable tasks, aspiring writers can make significant progress and build confidence along the way. The inspiration behind "On Fire Island": Jan

I’ve long believed that curiosity is one of the most powerful superpowers that authors wield. Thinking it through more, curiosity may help us craft interesting plots, but its nothing without relatability. If our storylines are not relatable to readers, all of the curiosity in the world is useless. That’s one of the lessons I learned from today’s guest, Chris Ehrlich. Meet Chris Ehrlich Chris is an author, entrepreneur, husband, dad of 3, and tennis hacker. He holds a degree in English and political science from Denison University and joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss first book, Parts of a Life: 40 Stories on Youth to Adulthood.  Key Takeaways Relatability: Chris emphasizes the importance of making stories relatable to a wide audience. By avoiding a first-person perspective and focusing on universal experiences like school, family, and relationships, he aims to create stories that anyone can connect with. Narrowing Down Topics: When discussing his book, Chris faced the challenge of narrowing down

Carl Ficks has introduced me to many fantastic guests who have appeared on Uncorking a Story over the years. Today, it is his turn to sit in the hot seat! Listen in as we discuss his contribution to an anthology of essays on loss, courage, and personal transformation alongside the book’s co-editor Rosemary Ravinal.   Meet Carl Ficks & Rosemary Ravinal Carl Ficks, Jr., JD works with leaders to increase their effectiveness and their teams to boost engagement and productivity. Rosemary Ravinal is a public speaking and presentations coach who helps business leaders reach their fullest potential as communicators. They joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about their book The Difference, Essays on Loss, Courage, and Personal transformation which was co-edited by Rosemary Ravinal and Achim Nowak. Key Takeaways The Power of Stories: This episode highlights the transformative power of storytelling in people's lives. It explores how stories of loss, courage, and personal transformation can inspire and impact both

Tim Murphy is the author of Correspondents and Christodora, which was long-listed for the 2017 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and named a Best Book of the Year by The Guardian. He has also been a journalist for the past 25 years and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his career and latest novel, Speech Team.  Key Takeaways Tim Murphy's passion for writing: Throughout the conversation, Tim shares his unwavering dedication to writing and his journey as an author. Listeners will learn about his personal reflections on the impact of a beloved teacher, his struggles and break from fiction writing, and the lasting impact of HIV/AIDS on his life and work. The inspiration behind "Speech Team": Tim discusses his novel, "Speech Team," which explores the lives of four friends from high school. Listeners will gain insights into the personal experiences and memories that influenced the book, as well as the process of excavating one's past for storytelling. Nostalgic reflections on pop cultu

Imagine sitting with an acquiring editor who just offered you a multi book deal to write a series based on your first book and telling them that you will think about it. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s just part of prolific writer Craig Johnson’s amazing story. Meet Craig Johnson Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire. He is the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction and the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-six and joined me today on Uncorking a Story to talk about his career and latest book, The Longmire Defense. Key Takeaways The importance of perseverance: Throughout the conversation, Craig Johnson emphasizes the need to stay focused and dedicated to one's craft. He shares his own experiences of facing challenges and setbacks but ultimately persevering to achieve succ

I’ve long believed that writing is therapeutic but for author Lynn Hightower, it became her path of survival during a difficult period in her life. She explains that writing helped her escape the real world and allowed her to express her opinions on grief and hearing loss through her characters. So, writing isn’t done just for the benefit of readers, but for us authors as well! Meet Lynn Hightower Lynn Hightower is the author of numerous thrillers, including the Sonora Blair and Lena Padget detective series. Her internationally-bestselling novels have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times’ bestseller lists, the WH Smith Fresh Talent Awards, and the Shamus award. She also teaches Master Novel classes in the UCLA Extension Writing Program, and works as a Manuscript Consultant/Writing Coach for novelists.  She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her career and her latest book, The Beautiful Risk. Key Takeaways The Power of Encouragement: The episode highlights t

Writing is a dynamic and ever-evolving process. By embracing change and finding inspiration in unexpected places, you can breathe new life into your writing. Just ask Stephanie Cowell, whose latest book, A Boy in the Rain, was started over forty years ago. It was only recently that Stephanie felt as if she could finish it, which just goes to show that all of the book we have within us will come out on their time, not necessarily our time. Meet Stephanie Cowell Stephanie has been an opera singer, balladeer, and founder of Strawberry Opera and other arts venues, including a Renaissance festival and an outdoor arts series in New York City. She is the author of Nicholas Cooke, The Physician of London, The Players: A Novel of the Young Shakespeare, Marrying Mozart, and Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet. Her work had been translated into nine languages and adapted into an opera. Stephanie is also the recipient of an American Book Award. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her career and latest book, T

Today, we have the fabulous Wendy Holden, a British journalist and novelist with global success, joining us to spill the tea on her latest book, "The Princess." We're talking about the ultimate royal celebrity, Diana Princess of Wales, and a fictionalized backstory of her young adulthood. Trust me, this episode is packed with more drama than a reality TV show, so grab your popcorn and get ready to uncork this captivating story with us. Let's dive in, shall we? Meet Wendy Holden Wendy Holden is a British novelist who has authored ten Sunday Times top ten bestsellers and has sold over three million copies worldwide. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest book, The Princess, which explores the astonishing backstory and young adulthood of the ultimate royal celebrity–Diana, Princess of Wales. Key Takeaways Persistence is the name of the game: Wendy's journey into the world of writing wasn't a walk in the park. It took grit, determination, and a whole lot of persistence to break into journal

I was once eating dinner alone at a bar in Petaluma, CA when a fellow solo diner started a conversation by saying, “I’m no conspiracy theorist but…” and what came out of his mouth would make Dan Brown raise an eyebrow. When I was offered the chance to speak with Colin Dickey, who recently wrote a book on the history of conspiracy theories, I jumped at the chance.  Meet Colin Dickey Colin is a writer, speaker, and academic, who has made a career out of collecting unusual objects and hidden histories all over the country. He’s the author of multiple books, including Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places and The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained. He Joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy. Key Takeaways The historical roots and implications of conspiracy theories: Colin delves into the origins of conspiracy theories, exploring how they have be

Given my love of Columbo, I love it when a guest has a good Peter Falk story, and Alison Gaylin doesn’t disappoint. She doubled down when expressing her appreciation for The Love Boat—and now I think I have to marry her. Don’t tell our spouses. Meet Alison Gaylin Alison is the Edgar and Shamus award-winning author of 12 books and many short stories. A USA Today and international bestseller, she joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Robert B. Parker’s Bad Influence. Key Takeaways The importance of perseverance: Alison Gaylin's journey to becoming a published author showcases the significance of perseverance in the face of discouragement. Despite not receiving encouragement from her high school English teacher, she pursued her passion for writing and eventually achieved her goal. The importance of curiosity in storytelling: Gaylin emphasizes the role of curiosity in crafting engaging stories. She believes that a good story starts with the author's curiosity, even in seemingly munda

My twin brother and I are very close—so close in fact that we can finish each other’s sentences. That said, I couldn’t imagine writing a book with him, let alone a series of books. That’s just one of the things that amazes me about sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine, who are today’s guests on Uncorking a Story. Meet Liv Constantine Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine who are Wall St. Journal and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, The Washington Post, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. They joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss their career and latest novel, The Senator's Wife. Key Takeaways The secrets to executing a great twist: The authors discuss the significance of a satisfying twist in a story and share advice on how to execute it effectively. Listeners will gain insights into creating compelling plot twists that cap

While many of us dream of being writers from a young age, the truth is, not all of us can do it early on in our lives and find that we have to defer that dream for another time. Jenny Jackson, whose debut novel Pineapple Street is quite possibly the most buzzed about book of the spring/summer isn’t any different—she spent decades in publishing learning the craft by working with some of the world’s most renowned authors before becoming an author herself. Meet Jenny Jackson Jenny is a Vice President and Executive Editor at Alfred A. Knopf and joined me today to talk about her debut novel, Pineapple Street. Key Topics The power of turning personal experiences into stories: Jenny Jackson discusses how writers can embrace life lessons and use them as inspiration for their stories.  The importance of perseverance in writing: Jenny shares advice from a bestselling author who emphasizes the need to keep going even when you get stuck. She encourages writers not to give up and to pick up their work again, even if

Today’s guest, Peter Maeck, inspired me with his words of advice for his younger self—”If you have an impulse and are young enough to start at an entry level, do it! Don’t worry about the risks and the outcomes.” These were words that I wish I heard in my late teens and early twenties as acting on them might have helped me get off my butt and explore my authentic self instead of making decisions that pleased other people, but left me wanting more. Still, it’s never too late to find yourself and try new things so, if writing is your thing, listen up because Peter has more wisdom to share. Meet Peter Maeck Peter Maeck is a novelist, poet, playwright, and photographer who has served as a US State Department American Cultural Specialist in Tanzania and Morocco. His award-winning photographs are in US and international galleries. He was named one of the "Hot 100 Photographers of 2021" by the Duncan Miller Gallery in Los Angeles and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his debut novel, Zänker.  Key Takeaw

They say you can never go home again, but no one told that to Andrew Ridker. During the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, Andrew left his apartment in Brooklyn, NY to head back to his childhood home in Brookline, MA. It was being back in his hometown, sharing his childhood home with his wife and sister, where his latest novel, Hope, started to take shape. Meet Andrew Ridker Andrew’s debut novel, The Altruists, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a Paris Review Staff Pick, and a People Book of the Week. He is the editor of Privacy Policy: The Anthology of Surveillance Poetics and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Le Monde, and Bookforum, among other publications. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, HOPE, an intimate portrait of the undoing of a seemingly-perfect family in an era of waning American optimism Key Takeaways 1. The importance of perseverance: Listeners will learn that Andrew Ridker encourages aspi

Sometimes it takes a while to find out who we truly are, particularly if we didn’t give ourselves the time to explore life prior to settling down and starting a family. Those of us who did that young may find that, after our kids have grown, we really don’t know who we are. Today’s guest, Melissa Giberson, discusses her experiences coming out as a lesbian well into her 40s after being married and raising her children. I found myself captivated and moved by her story, especially how she describes her ex husband’s reaction to her big news. But that is her story to share. Meet Melissa Giberson Melissa is an author and occupational therapist. As a storyteller, she captures moments by taking pictures and writing. Her essays have appeared online and in print in numerous publications, and she received an Honorable Mention in the Memoirs/Personal Essays category of the 91st Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her memoir, Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self at

Giving yourself the right to write badly is excellent advice for aspiring and established authors. Writing is a muscle which has to be exercised in order to get stronger. Not everything we write will be gold, but every rep serves a purpose—to make our writing stronger. This is just one of the lessons I learned from today’s guest, Jennifer Cody Epstein.  Meet Jennifer Cody EpsteinJennifer is the internationally bestselling author of The Painter from Shanghai, Wunderland, and The Gods of Heavenly Punishment, which won the Asian/Pacific American Honor Award for Literature for Adult Fiction. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Self, Mademoiselle, and others. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest novel, The Mad Woman of Paris. Key Takeaways The importance of feedback and confidence in writing: Jennifer discusses how receiving honest feedback and having confidence in your writing are crucial for growth and improvement as a writer. She emphasizes the value of having a supportive

Josh Winning is the author of the critically acclaimed The Shadow Glass. He is a senior film writer at Radio Times, has written for Total Film for over a decade, and is the co-host of movie podcast Torn Stubs. During his years as a film journalist, he has been on set with Kermit the Frog (and Miss Piggy), devoured breakfast with zombies on The Walking Dead, and sat on the Iron Throne on the Dublin set of Game of Thrones. Josh lives in London with his cat Penny and dreams of one day convincing Sigourney Weaver to yell “Goddammit!” at him. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, Burn the Negative.  Key Takeaways 1. The importance of perseverance: Josh Winning's journey as an author is filled with stops and starts, but he never gave up on his dream of writing books and stories. Listeners will learn that it takes determination and persistence to overcome obstacles and achieve success in the writing world. 2. The power of journalism in shaping authorship: Josh highlights how his backgrou

Elevator pitches are critically important when selling your book. Ideally, you’d answer the question, “So, what’s your book about?” with a one sentence description that gets the agent/publisher/reader interested in knowing more. Today’s guest, Karen McManus, used “It’s like the breakfast club, but with murder,” as her elevator pitch for One of Us is Lying and that’s when I knew I had to have her on the show.  Meet Karen McManus Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her books include the One of Us Is Lying series, which has been turned into a television show on Peacock, as well as the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and Nothing More to Tell. Karen's critically acclaimed, award-winning work has been translated into more than forty-two languages. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her career and latest book, One of us is Back. Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Karen McManus 00:01:15 Kar