WORD PLAY PODCAST - WEEKLY TOP TEN - 02/09 - 02/15

These are the most listened-to episodes of the week. Did your favorite make the list?

1)   Victoria Gilbert
2)   Linda Poitevin
3)   Jason Peters
4)   Ashton Macauley
5)   Rich Amooi
6)   Kindlepreneur
7)   Fern Ronay
8)   Jamie White
9)   Samantha Lind
10) Sandra Brown

*stats compiled from Podcast.co - these do not include numbers from ArtistFirst Radio Network

Interviews with the Bullet Books Speed Reads authors ~ by Manning Wolfe and Bill Rodgers

Today's guest bloggers are Manning Wolfe and Bill Rodgers, co-authors of Bullet Books Speed Reads. What follows is a faux interview by the series’ common character, Ernest Anguish, addressing a little fun and a lot of crime.

Find the first twelve Bullet Books here: www.bulletbooksspeedreads.com

 

Good Afternoon. This is Ernest Anguish, with the National News Network, reporting from an undisclosed location. I want to introduce you to the thirteen crime fiction authors from the first wave of Bullet Books Speed Reads.

As you’re about to see, putting thirteen crime fiction authors into one room might be a little like trying to drive a herd of bookworms. These authors are a curious lot. Or paranoid maybe. Before I could get everyone seated, they thoroughly checked the room. I’m not sure if they were looking for weapons, recording devices, dead bodies, or escape routes. One of them even frisked me.

The leader of this pack is Manning Wolfe, and the others each co-authored a book in the series. I’ll first ask her what brought this series about and why it’s different. Then, I’ll begin a series of rapid-fire questions for each author. I’ll ask one question of each author in the order of their book’s appearance in the series.

Ernest: Manning, why Bullet Books Speed Reads? What are they? What makes them different?

          Manning Wolfe: Thank you, Ernest. Bullet Books are speed reads for the busy traveler, commuter, and beach-goer. All are new 
          original crime fiction stories that can be read in two to three hours. On a plane … on a train … faster than a speeding bullet!

Ernest: Excellent! Next up is Bill Rodgers, co-author of Bullet Book #1, Killer Set: Drop the Mic. What is in the trunk of your car right now?

          Bill Rodgers: Well, Ernest, it’s a long story. My best friend called and said he needed help getting rid of a body.

Ernest: Very funny, I hope. Now here’s Billy Kring, co-author of Bullet Book #2, Iron 13. Your Ex is out for blood. Literally. Where do you hide?

          Billy Kring: In the gun closet.

Ernest: Sounds a bit cramped. Make sure all the safeties are on! Now we come to Helen Currie Foster, co-author of Bullet Book #3, Bloody Bead. Complete this sentence please: I couldn't think of anything but …

          Helen Currie Foster: … why it had been a mistake not to pack a hammer in the front seat console.

Ernest: Good thought! You never know when you might need to do some emergency carpentry. Next, we have Mark Pryor, co-author of Bullet Book #4, The Hot Seat. Do you hide secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

           Mark Pryor: Actually, yes. And obviously I can’t explain further.

Ernest: I didn’t mean to pry. Next up is Kathy Waller, co-author of Bullet Book #5, Stabbed. What is the best murder weapon?

          Kathy Waller: Probably Brujeria, the evil eye, a spell cast by a bruja, something like that. It wouldn’t leave much physical evidence.

Ernest: Quite bewitching. Now, we come to Jay Brandon, co-author of Bullet Book #6, Man in The Client Chair. If you had a super power, what would it be?

          Jay Brandon: Super speed. I don’t have much patience anyway.

Ernest: That’s very … where did Jay go? He was just here. Well, next up is Kay Kendall, co-author of Bullet Book #7, Only A Pawn in Their Game. What is the best murder weapon?

          Kay Kendall: In my teens, I was known to walk into a room, spy a heavy candlestick and exclaim “that would make a great murder 
          weapon.” I have not changed my opinion since. By the way, my friends always backed up and stared when I said that.

Ernest: Much like the other authors are doing right now. I’m walking over to Suzanne Waltz, co-author of Bullet Book #8, Dangerous Practice. Complete this sentence please: The last time I had butterflies in my stomach was …

           Suzanne Waltz: … the last time I ate butterflies. Duh.

Ernest: Sounds quite colorful. And crunchy. Now, we come to Scott Montgomery, co-author of Bullet Book #9, Two Bodies One Grave. A penguin walks through the door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?

           Scott Montgomery: “I’ve been tracking you for five years.” I think we all know it was over a woman.

Ernest: I guess penguins really do take that mate-for-life thing very seriously. And now for Laura Oles, co-author of Bullet Book #10, Last Call. Your biggest fan is coming to your house for dinner. What are you serving?

           Laura Oles: We’re a family that loves grilling so we’d put some steaks on, cook some shrimp from our favorite shrimp boat in 
          Port Aransas (she’s named the Polly Anna), with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Maybe a bottle of Malbec and some Shiner Blonde.

Ernest: You had me at steaks. May I be your biggest fan? Next up is V.P. Chandler, co-author of Bullet Book #11, The Last Straw. Your best friend calls at 3am and needs help getting rid of a body. Where do you take them?

           V.P. Chandler: I’m not telling! I don’t want the cops at my door. But I live in the country, so I know of a lot of empty places.

Ernest: Location, location, location. And lastly, Elizabeth A. Garcia, co-author of Bullet Book #12, The Neon Palm. Please complete the following sentence: A stranger would never believe that I …

           Elizabeth A. Garcia: … once (LONG ago) helped a man escape from prison.


 
Ernest: I think I may have reported on that story! Well, that’s the latest news in crime fiction. Do you think we will ever know if these professional crime authors are writing from experience, or if everything they say is a product of their wild imaginations? Either way, the Bullet Books Speed Reads series is good news for readers.

www.bulletbooksspeedreads.com
www.starpathbooks.com




Manning Wolfe, an award-winning author and attorney residing in Austin, Texas, writes cinematic-style, fast-paced crime fiction. Her legal thriller series features Austin Lawyer, Merit Bridges. Manning is co-author of the popular Bullet Books Speed Reads, a series of crime fiction books for readers on the go.  As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front-row seat to watch the good people who stand against them. To find out more, visit her website.

In addition to publishing short-form humor, Bill Rodgers writes action-filled thrillers with an element of mystery. His initial foray into crime fiction, Killer Set: Drop the Mic, a Bullet Book, debuted in Fall 2019. Bill has written for Jay Leno for over twenty years, and his material has been used in Jay’s monologues and comedy routines around the world. Bill’s writing has taken many other forms, including sitcom scripts, stage plays, and action-comedy screenplays. To find out more, visit his website.



Listen to Bullet Books Speed Reads Part One episode here.

Listen to Bullet Books Speed Reads Part Two episode here.

Episode 138 - Guest Victoria Gilbert

Victoria Gilbert – author of the Mirror of Immortality series, The Blue Ridge Library Mysteries, and A Book Lover’s B&B Mystery series

Website

Episode 137 - Guest Linda Poitevin

Linda Poitevin – author of the Grigori Legacy series, the Dexter Law Women series, and the Ever After series

Website

WORD PLAY PODCAST - WEEKLY TOP TEN - 02/02 - 02/08

These are the most listened-to episodes of the week. Did your favorite make the list?

1)   Jason Peters
2)   Ashton Macauley
3)   Jamie White
4)   Kaylee Rose
5)   Rich Amooi
6)   Kevin Tumlinson
7)   Laura Moncrief
8)   Freya Barker
9)   Carol Cassada
10) M.T. Roberts

*stats compiled from Podbean - these do not include numbers from ArtistFirst Radio Network

My inspiration for poetry ~ by Teresa McRae

I am honored to be asked to be a guest blogger this week for my friend Kristine. My name is Terry Shepherd and I write under the name Teresa McRae. I am the author of the Garrison Series, which is composed of three books. The books bring titled, Mamie Garrison, Colin Garrison and Emily Garrison. All are available on Amazon as ebooks and paperbacks, as well as on KU.



I have chosen for my next creative project to write a book of poetry. It may seem a giant leap to go from Historical Fiction to Poetry, but the poems came about as a result of a series of unfortunate events.

In August of 2019, I moved to Vermont. I had separated from my husband and was looking to begin a new life in a new place. I was offered a room in a cousin’s house. This turned out to be an awful idea. In short, it did not work out.

Then two events prompted my return to St Louis. These were more disturbing. The first tragedy was the death of my younger brother, Jeff, on October 8. I had already by this time, realized my decision to live with my cousin was a bad one, but Jeff’s death only increased my sorrow and frustration at being stuck in a place I didn’t want to be, and I was not able to find another place to live within my budget. I was consumed by sadness, as Jeff and I had been very close. He was 15 years younger than I, and more like a son than a brother. I was devastated at the loss.

Shortly after his death, I became involved in a relationship with a nice man who was not ready to be involved. I think I was looking for a way to combat the depression I was feeling. I looked for someone to make me forget how sad I was. This ended badly also.

Thus, the rebirth of my poetry writing. Now, not all poetry comes out of sadness, but in my case, the majority of it did, however. I found myself writing poems. Something I had not done in many years.  I loved reading poetry, but I found it difficult to find the inspiration to pen some verse myself. After the above events, I had plenty of inspiration. Enough that I have determined to produce a book of poetry to be published in May of this year.

I hope my readers, who have loyally followed me for five years now, will find pleasure in reading my poems. Love and loss are universal feelings that we all have experienced at one time or another. I trust my poems will resonate with those who know this.

Thank you for reading, and thanks, Kristine for this opportunity to be a guest blogger.



Listen to Teresa McRae's podcast episode here.

Episode 136 - Guest Jason Peters

Jason Peters – publisher at Aberrant Literature and author of the upcoming novel, Preconscious

Website

Episode 135 - Guest Ashton Macauley

Ashton Macauley – author of the Nick Ventner Adventures series

Website