EPISODE 415 - Lynne Shaner - Journey to Everland Bay, Black Rose Writing, and Apple Trees

About Lynne
Lynne Shaner has been captivated by fantasy, myth, and fairy tales since childhood, when her mother first read Charlotte’s Web and The Wind in the Willows to her. She lives in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, close enough to Lake Michigan to walk to the shoreline every day.

Shelves overflowing with books line her home, and there is always a knitting project on her needles. Lynne lives with her husband, and Merlin, her small, adorable pup. When not writing, she can be found reading and knitting in her garden, where she grows herbs, flowers and story ideas. Her work has appeared in various literary magazines. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing/fiction from Johns Hopkins. This is her debut novel.

Journey to Everland Bay
Jemma Avalon, an unconventional mage-in-training, longs to return to Everland Bay, her ancestral homeland, and find a way to join the renowned magical research institute there, like the women in her family before her.

Daughter of a gentle part elf-fae mother and a father with fiery dragon blood, an unusual combination even in the magical world, ten years after her mother’s sudden death, she is working at a major museum in DC, where magic is all but outlawed. Her father wants her to assimilate and live without magic, but Jemma is determined to fully embrace her heritage.

When an ordinary day at the museum takes an extraordinary turn, Jemma is rocketed to an Everland Bay Institute under violent siege, where dark-arts mages threaten everything important to her. Once there, she joins forces with her companions and works feverishly to save Everland Bay from crumbling under enemy attack. In so doing, she finds a path to her own strength and mastery, and her heart’s true home.

A Heroine’s Journey for our times.

“A beautifully engaging fantasy teeming with dragons, fae, magic and the importance of family and friendship. A joy to read from beginning to end. I found myself rooting for our main heroine, Jemma, as she grew into a wonderful and powerful young woman. I am already looking forward to the next work in this thrilling series!” – Julie Boglisch, author of The Elifer Chronicles, The Requiem of Stones series and her standalone, Ghost of a Memory.

https://lynneshaner.com/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

EPISODE 414 - Jack Ori - Fiction With A Purpose - transgender author who writes LGBTQ+ mysteries starring trauma survivors

I’ve been writing stories ever since my grandmother gifted me a typewriter when I was six. My first story was a two-page Nancy Drew fanfiction—to my young mind, it made sense for her to find the bad guy hiding under the bed!

As a kid, I loved mysteries. My favorite series was The Three Investigators, which is sadly out of print today. I was especially fascinated by all the secret codes the protagonists used and how Jupiter Jones (what a name!) would use his acting skills to pretend he was stupid when he needed to get information. And of course, there would always be a scene near the end where the bad guys kidnapped one or more of the boys to try to keep their secrets hidden.

Although I read and write stories for teens and adults now, I still love a good kidnapping scene. I also love writing powerful villains who will do anything to keep their secrets hidden, falsely accused people (sometimes framed by their enemies!) who must race against time to clear their names before they end up in jail, and underdog heroes who are determined to find and expose horrifying truths despite the potential consequences.

Many of my darkest stories come from my devastating personal experiences with trauma, drug addiction and abuse. I had a fairly normal childhood. But when I grew up I lived and loved a drug addict and was lucky to escape with my life. He was not—he died of an overdose two days after I moved across the country. It was another five years before I learned I was both autistic and transgender, which shattered my worldview in some ways even though it made everything that came before make sense.

I had many careers while I was trying to figure it all out, most recently as a licensed master social worker. I’ve worked with traumatized people, drug or alcohol addicts, and people impacted by the criminal justice system.

One summer I worked at an alternative court system in New York City. It opened my eyes to the ways racism and homo/transphobia, trauma, and drug use often intersect to create a “justice” system that is stacked against certain groups of people.

For all these reasons, I write mystery/thrillers that not only keep people guessing but also inspire and empower trauma survivors. All of my characters have experienced traumatic violence but don’t let that stop them from fighting for justice.

I love it when readers tell me that my books helped them heal. I also tell the stories I do to advocate for real-world change to the criminal justice system.

https://authorjackori.com/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Episode 413 - Tanya Brockett - Co-Author of Basic Financial Literacy, What You Didn't Learn in School

Book: Basic Financial Literacy: What You Didn't Learn in School - Ever wish someone had taught you more about finance and wealth management so you didn’t feel short-changed in conversations about money?

Dive into practical wealth management with Basic Financial Literacy: What You Didn't Learn in School. This short read demystifies financial literacy, making budgeting and money management accessible to all.

Inside, you'll discover:

• Why & How to Prepare Your Financial Mindset
• How to Set SMART Financial Goals
• Effective Budgeting Strategies
• The Power of Regular Saving
• Fundamental Investing Principles
• Debt Management Techniques
• How to Build and ProtectPersonal & Business Credit
• Benefits of Lifelong Learning in Finance
• How to Build a Solid Retirement Plan
• Strategic Tax Planning Tips
• The Importance of Insurance in Wealth Protection
• And More…

Through each chapter’s relatable examples, you'll see how people apply these principles in their lives, transforming their relationship with money. Perfect for beginners (teens and adults), this book is a must-have for anyone seeking to understand their finances and build lasting wealth. Basic Financial Literacy equips you with the strategies needed to take control of your financial future.

Discover how to build wealth, secure financial freedom, and achieve prosperity with this empowering roadmap to financial success. It even comes with suggestions for further reading so you can continue your financial empowerment journey. Don't miss the opportunity to unlock your financial potential and pave the way for a prosperous tomorrow.

https://amzn.to/45xJvlc
https://Linktr.ee/TanyaBrockett
https://tanyabrockett.com/

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https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/