Books and Brews Podcast

Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Laura Creedle is the author of The Deep Well and The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily, which Kirkus Reviews described as "entertaining, thought-provoking, and unsettling—in a good way." When she's not writing, Laura can usually be found playing pinball or watching indie horror. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a feral cat named Hellman who was found with her head stuck in a mayonnaise jar. We talked about how indie publishing has changed the horror genre, writing novels with ADHD, Russia's Kola Superdeep Borehole, the place of AI in writing, and much more. What drinks would you pair to readings about a super deep borehole and a stalking cult member!? 00:00 START 04:49 Drink 1: Mexican Coffee 05:48 Reading 1: 5-Year-Old April at the Deep Hole 13:49 A book with lots of moving parts 14:38 Authors killing our darlings 15:33 Drink 2: B-52 17:59 Reading 2: Wikipedia on the Ojo de Cristo Mining Disaster 19:50 Many questions & stories on the Kola Superdeep 25:19 Stories? Vampires & Werewolves 32:17 Drink 3: Verdant Lady 35:07 Reading 3: Marianne Returns 40:16 Marianne vs the Cult (and more on cults) 51:04 AI and more AI Visit our PATREON for our extended AFTER HOURS with Ashley and Andrea Www.booksandbrews.net www.lauravosika.com www.gabrielshornpress.com www.glenmirrilfarms.wordpress.com Www.lauracredle.com ~ ~ If you enjoy our interviews or have benefited from them, we invite you to help us continue our work. It takes a great deal of time and money to produce Books and Brews. We've been doing interviews since January 2017 as a free service to authors. We continue to promote those authors on our social media for years after their interviews. Subscribing, following, liking, commenting and sharing all help us to keep doing what we do. A $5 tip helps us pay for our many expenses: Libsyn hosting, web hosting, Google meets, providing the drinks for the interview and the many hours of preparation and editing that go into each episode. Patreon: patreon.com/BooksandBrewswithLauraVosika Tip Jar: paypal.me/booksandbrewsMN Books and Brews products: https://www.zazzle.com/store/books_an… (more to come) Sponsor an episode to promote your product or service: contact us [email protected] COMING NEXT: JK Divia — dark fantasy, mythological horror, paranormal Barry Black — former FBI master bomb technician Randy Lerch — former MLB player Charles Graham — sci-fi drawing from military & rescue experiences UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology NEW THEMES: CHILDREN and AMERICA Our theme music is from www.bensound.com. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to get notifications of all our new videos. We have now interviewed more than 115 authors! Would you like to be featured? Leave a comment.

Shawn D. Brink is currently building a following with four novels to his name, the latest being MY GYPSY WAR DIARY (Gabriel's Horn Publishing). He has also had numerous shorter works in various publications and anthologies. Shawn is represented by Liverman Literary Agency. shawnbrinkauthor.wordpress.com Facebook Twitter Shawn's Readings: Ghosts – 9:05 Post-Game Events – 27:45 Haunted Memories – 44:55 Michael's Beer Pairings:  Winter Welcome, Samuel Smith Old Brewery – 6:49 Windvane, Bad Weather Brewing Company – 25:02 Dead Guy Ale, Rogue Ales – 41:32 Interview Highlights:  Norfolk, Norfolk, and Norfork – 13:21 Memories of growing up in Norfolk, Nebraska – 15:32 Wearing bolo ties in Clovis, New Mexico – 18:29 From end times thriller to a boy in the Midwest in the 70s – 20:03 Tornado! The craft of vivid writing – 34:37 Why the D. in Shawn D. Brink? – 38:33 Using flashbacks – 47:46 Jumping back to the 1800s – 51:49 COMING NEXT MONTH: Lauretta and Michael Kehoe, A Dream of Dragons UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Born and raised in Alaska, Sandra graduated from University of Alaska and became a travel agent. After marriage, she helped run her husband's real estate appraisal business until their children were grown, while doing freelance writing. She and her family left Alaska in 1988 and has lived in Western Washington since 1991. A lifelong fascination with the Middle Ages stoked her interest in historical fiction, and she traveled to Italy to research a novel set in the thirteenth century Kingdom of Naples. Her passion for family history keeps the drama of the past alive for her and sometimes inspires story ideas for novels or non-fiction. sandralynnereed.com Sandy's Readings: Earthquake! – 10:44 Fireflies in New York – 26:19 The Northwoods Axe Murderer – 41:38 Michael's Beer Pairings:  Earthquake High Gravity Lager, City Brewing Company (paired to Earthquake) – 8:58 Éphémère (Apple), Unibroue (paired to Fireflies in New York) – 24:05 Bomb!, Prairie Artisan Ales (paired to The Northwoods Axe Murderer) – 39:46 Interview Highlights:  Deciding to write the book. The origins of the story – 17:01 What inspired 3 women to go on a 22,000-mile road trip with five kids in 1965?! – 20:30 Overcoming doubt and scoffing – 21:40 Showing the route around the country – 31:30 People's perceptions of each other – 35:30 Travel and writing – 48:53 Why is it important to tell our stories? – 52:15 COMING NEXT MONTH: Shawn D. Brink, apocalyptic trilogy, YA adventure UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Lisa Gurine has written newsletters and business communications professionally for more than twenty years. She comes from a long line of storytellers and for most of her life has channeled her creative energy into re-telling and embellishing her family's history. Without Words grew from the seeds of her own ancestors' lives as South Dakota immigrants. Lisa Gurine resides in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with her husband of more than thirty years. Her passion for cross-cultural understanding led her to volunteer with an international high school exchange program. She and her husband have hosted six foreign exchange students at their home and have engaged with many more. Her other favorite pastimes include international travel, volunteering with her church and honing her writing skills with her Night Writers critique partners. Lisagurinebooks.com Facebook Lisa's Readings: Letter to Emma – 8:56 The Boy from the In Between – 27:11 Hulda and the White Cake – 44:43 Michael's Beer Pairings: Guinness Draft Stout, Guinness Ltd. (paired to Letter to Emma) – 5:22 Mango Mango Mango, Dugges Bryggeri & Stillwater Artisanal Ales (Paired to The Boy from the In Between) – 23:32 Cake'd Up Celebration Cake, Mankato Brewery (Paired to Hulda and the White Cake) – 41:08 Interview Highlights: The story behind Letter to Emma – 13:35 Turning fact into fiction – 15:42 Developing as a writer; exercises and writers groups – 21:40 Hosting exchange students – 34:20 Perceptions of the Land of Snow – 35:35 What's the deal with cake! – 50:01 The importance of telling our family stories – 52:26 COMING NEXT MONTH:  Sandy Frykholm, author of The Drive in '65 UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology Lisa Gurine will be one of three authors at a book signing, Maple Grove Lutheran Church, 9251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove, MN, Sunday, November 8, 2020, 1 - 5 pm Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Ozgur K. Sahin is an award-winning historical novelist and life coach. True Colors, the second book in his Brethren of the Spanish Main series, was released in late 2019 as a sequel to The Wrath of Brotherhood. He is currently working as a life coach while hunkered down during the Covid-19 pandemic and working on a non-fiction book on narcissism. He grew up in Minneapolis and his studies range from astrophysics and history to meditation and development studies. ozgurksahin.com Ozgur's Readings: Pieter at the Prison – 14:21 Coya with the Golden Staff – 31:06 Captain Roy Toppings at the Hucia – 46:51 Michael's Beer Pairings: Sidra Asturiana Mayador Natural Cider, Sidra Mayador (paired to Pieter at the Prison) – 9:56 Cowbell Cream Ale, Urban Growler Brewing Company (paired to Coya with the Golden Staff) – 26:30 Stout/Rum Cocktail with Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewery (paired to Captain Roy Toppings at the Hucia) – 44:29 Cocktail Recipe (from CB2): 1.5 oz Rum 1.5 oz Ginger-Jalapeño Syrup .5 oz Fresh Lime Juice 5 oz Stout-Style Beer Preparation: Pour the rum, syrup, and lime juice into a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake and strain the liquid into a glass half-filled with fresh ice. Top with the beer and garnish with a lime wedge. Interview Highlights: Humor in a serious story – 21:38 Why 1660? Why pirates? – 22:56 Flawed and scarred heroines – 38:28 Research--history, fiction, and Ginger Plantation – 52:40 Writing vivid descriptions – 53:59 Writing on narcissism – 55:59 COMING NEXT MONTH: Lisa Gurine, Author of Without Words, the stories of South Dakota settlers UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology. Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

The Dirty Lowdown called Mike Faricy America's hottest new mystery writer. Robert Carraher referred to him as Minnesota's Master of the Bizarre. Crime Scene referred to him as the next Carl Hiaasen. Mike Faricy writes four crime fiction series; Dev Haskell mystery series, the Corridor Man series, Jack Dillon Dublin Tales series, and the Hotshot series. Faricy's novels are filled with the sort of oddballs we're all curious about, but wisely prefer to keep at a distance. His characters serve not so much as an example as they do a warning to us all. None of them will be saving the world from terrorism, international banking conspiracies, or coups to take over the government. Rather, Faricy's characters inhabit a world just below the surface of polite society. The circumstances they find themselves in are usually due to their own bad decisions, but then bad decisions make for interesting stories. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Faricy still spends part of his time in the saintly city as well as in Dublin, Ireland. mikefaricybooks.com Mike's Readings: Bite Me – 11:30 Last Shot – 26:39 Mr. Swirlee – 43:19 Michael's Beer Pairings: Mas Agave, Founders Brewing Company (paired to Bite Me) – 8:35 Steel Reserve, Steel Brewing Company (paired to Last Shot) – 22:40 Dirty Bastard, Founders Brewing Company (paired to Mr. Swirlee) – 41:16 Interview Highlights: Where does a womanizing private investigator like Dev Haskell come from? – 17:36 Mike's history with St Paul, where most of his novels are set. – 20:57 Where does Mike find his characters? – 35:15 Why Ireland? What happened to Mike in a pub there! – 36:07 Why the decision to write under pen names--and why change that now? – 49:48 Mike's amazing marketing--and why he can now write full time – 50:29 COMING NEXT MONTH:  Ozgur K. Sahin, author of Brethren of the Spanish Main series. UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Mark Connor is from St. Paul, MN. In summer 2019, he was featured in the first Gabriel's Horn Press anthology, Surprised by Joy. A boxer since age 10, he currently trains competitive and recreational boxers, runs a training business called Fighting Chance/Boxing for Life and writes fiction, poetry, and journalism. He has written and published many articles about Boxing and Irish culture and history, as well as other features. boxersandwritersmagazine.com Mark's Readings: The Perfect Metaphor – 9:26 Halfway Around – 29:53 Two Pilgrim Souls: Anam Cara – 46:14 Michael's Beer Pairings: Veltins Pilsener, Brauerei C & A Veltins (paired to The Perfect Metaphor) – 6:03 Ommegang Saison Rosé, Brewery Ommegang (paired to Halfway Around) – 27:24 Dirt Wolf Double IPA, Victory Brewing Company (paired to Two Pilgrim Souls: Anam Cara) – 42:43 Interview Highlights: Boxing and jazz improvisation – 11:41 Boxing and poetry – 14:48 Mark's start in boxing – 17:30 Mark's mentors – 21:06 Similarities of boxing to poetry – 24:24 Other boxer poets – 25:16 Native American medicine wheel – 37:04 Spontaneous writing vs re-working a poem – 39:07 The epic Irish poet and his muse – 48:06 Becoming a monstrance – 53:03 COMING NEXT MONTH: Mike Faricy, mystery author Our theme music is from www.bensound.com. UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as two other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles" and "The Ripperologists." He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films. Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies. elimarksmysteries.com Free Eli Marks Short Story - The Invisible Assistant Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/RLJQGX Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/GGHJVS Free Eli Marks Short Story - The Last Customer Ebook version:  https://BookHip.com/TXSQS Audiobook version:  https://BookHip.com/NCPKGD Jim Cunningham is an actor, writer, producer, and director. He spent three years in Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop's Resident Improv Company and has done numerous television commercials—including the Carsoup Guy—and voiceovers for TV and animated series.​ He hosted Mall of America, the Show, Explore Minnesota, Golf Nut for WCCO TV, "Minnesota Fun" for the Twins and Minnesota Wild, and has been the host of the Renaissance Festival's Feast of Fantasy for almost 30 years.​ Last but not least, Jim spent three years hosting his own radio show on sports and entertainment. John's Readings: The Ambitious Card (Eli Marks Mysteries) – 10:11 Acting Can Be Murder (Como Lake Players) – 21:57 Greyhound of the Baskervilles – 38:10 Michael's Beer Pairings: Schell's Hefeweizen, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to The Ambitious Card) – 7:15 Triumphant Session IPA, Summit Brewing Company (paired to Acting Can Be Murder) – 19:51 Ellie's Brown Ale, Avery Brewing Company, Boulder Colorado (paired to Greyhound of the Baskervilles) – 7:04 Interview Highlights: Writing novels vs. writing screenplays – 15:38 Writing novels inspired by magic tricks – 18:08 On planting clues and red herrings – 26:06 Murder mystery theater – 28:54 Making audio books – 29:56 Sunday Night Magic! – 32:10 Jim's years doing voice-overs and narration – 47:39 COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet and boxer Mark Connor. Our theme music is from www.bensound.com. UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology

Fiction Author, Judith Granahan of Minnesota writes books about strong, intelligent, inventive women who get in trouble. The question is who will survive, who won't? Women have always been described as super human to sniveling child, intelligent to incompetent, collaborator to cut throat; it goes on and on. With such varied attributes in mind, Granahan creates novels full of compelling characters dealing with mystery, danger, thrills, romance, horror, and difficult choices. Someday she may even write science fiction, fantasy or historical novels. www.judithgranahanbooks.com Judy's Readings: Rose Teaches her Sons to Hate (See That House) – 10:48 Hailey Goes Off the Mountain (See That House) – 23:47 Anna Mae Shoots Her Husband's Grave (Dancers of the Third Age) – 41:25 Michael's Beer Pairings: Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewery (paired to Rose Teaches her Sons to Hate) – 6:54 Zombie Dust, 3 Floyd's Brewing Company (paired to Hailey Goes Off the Mountain) – 21:10 BOMB!, Prairie Artisan Ales (paired to Anna Mae Shoots Her Husband's Grave) – 36:58 Interview Highlights: Starting the Night Writers group – 12:23 What kind of research goes into writing about corporate financial shenanigans? – 19:16 How do you get inside the head of characters completely unlike yourself? – 25:26 Writing people who are despicable in many ways--but not two dimensional bad guys. – 31:37 Revenge is not the answer to evil--what is? – 34:02 Your characters do a lot of shooting! What's your background with guns? – 45:46 What drew you to writing about an abused woman? – 47:40 Why do some people get the strength to leave abusive situations? – 50:54 COMING NEXT MONTH: Film maker and novelist John Gaspard. Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Tony Plocido is the author of three collections of poetry. The first, Sucker Punch Wisdom, was published with two other K.C. poets (Jeremy O'Neal & William Peck). His other books are Aging and Other Side Projects (2016) and Felt This So Many Times (2018). Is writing can also be found in 2019 Martin Lake Journal, Starled by Joy (2019), and 2019 Talking Stick by Jackpine Press. March 2019, he became the host/curator of the long running showcases, Poets & Pints and Writers Read.  He also is a board member for Cracked Walnut the local chapter of The League of MN Poets. You can find his work on his personal website, Mental Valley. Poets & Pints  Poets & Pints Facebook Writers Read Writers Read Facebook Mental Valley Mental Valley Facebook Tony on YouTube: Argument   Word Hinged Desire Events: Tony will be leading a virtual Poets & Pints via Zoom on April 15th. Check the Facebook page for additional information. Tony's Readings: The Loose Loop in My Sweater – 13:04 Expense – 28:33 Awakened – 43:11 Michael's Beer Pairings: Samuel Adams Utopias, Boston Beer Company (paired to The Loose Loop in My Sweater) – 9:16 Salted Nut Roll Cream Ale, Tin Whiskers Brewing Company (paired to Expense) – 24:13 Aspall Dry English Cider, Aspall Cider (paired to Awakened) – 40:41 Interview Highlights: Poetry as reflection on life lived and yet to be lived – 17:15 Writing on the fly, borrowing from others, writing from life – 30:22 Being a Generation X poet – 32:53 Performance poetry – 36:26 Self-affirmation – 55:55 Becoming active in the poetry scene – 48:38 Tony's performance poetry workshop – 51:18 COMING NEXT MONTH: Judith Granahan Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Timothy Young has published four books and three chapbooks of poetry. He has recorded four CDs of poetry with various musicians; produced poetry and cultural videos; organized readings, cultural events, festivals and concerts; and for five years he co-hosted The Northland Literary Review on KFAI radio. His work has been chosen for The Writers Almanac, The Best American Poetry of 1999, college textbooks, many magazines and has been the inspiration for award-winning musical compositions performed in Jazz at Lincoln Center, the University of Texas-Arlington, St. Olaf College and many other venues. He has been a cattle inspector, a police and fire dispatcher in Alaska, a handy-man at an Indigenous People's clinic in Mexico, an inner-city newspaper editor, an organizer for Robert Bly's Men's Conferences, and has taught storytelling, anger management and moral judgment to at-risk youth at the Red Wing Correctional Facility. Facebook: Timothy Young Facebook: To the Palace of Kings You Tube: Timtwoboots  Upcoming Events: Tim will be performing at the 10th Annual Blues Night as part of his House Concert Series on March 6 & 7. More information can be found on the To the Palace of Kings Facebook page. Tim's Readings: Gramps and the Skunk – 10:00 1998 Calendar of Pierre-August Renoir's Paintings – 26:32 Joy Soup – 42:59 Michael's Beer Pairings:  Heineken, Heineken International (paired to Gramps and the Skunk) – 7:10 Biere de Garde, Finnegans (paired to 1998 Calendar…) – 24:00 Lonely Blond, Fulton Beer (paired to Joy Soup) – 41:05 Interview Highlights: What is the draw we have to the stories of our ancestors? – 12:14 Tim's start in poetry – 15:29 Who is Robert Bly? – 21:00 Artists inspiring other artists and other art forms – 29:46 About poetry and Andrew Wyeth's paintings – 31:38 Meeting Robert Bly – 35:58 Robert Bly's place in poetry and his influence on Tim – 37:11 Having poems read at Jazz at Lincoln Center – 49:50 COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet Tony Plocido Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Douglas was born Nov 28th, 1971. He got the chance to live in many different places while growing up, courtesy of the assignments the US Army offered his father. Quiet and shy, he dreamed of other worlds and places…and desired to write about them. He got into fantasy role-playing games in his mid-teens. To this day he regularly meets friends in tabletop role-playing games and online adventures. Many of his characters evolved in games, and developed their own personality. Having to rely on self-publishing for his novels, Douglas was surprised at the amount of good reviews and publicity they received. The Earthrin Stones trilogy sold more copies than expected. The Widow Brigade started its reception earning eleven straight 5-star reviews, including a recent widow who said it helped with her healing process. Douglas lives with his wife and two sons in Minnesota. He works in health care, serving people's needs in medical imaging. Most people see him wearing scrubs. dhealoral.com   Facebook: @Dhea-Loral Twitter: @ThaminDheaLoral Upcoming events: Douglas will be at Con of the North, Feb 14-16, Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Dr, Plymouth, Mn - A popular gaming convention featuring just about every type of gaming you can imagine. He will be at Marscon, Feb 28-Mar 2, Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, 3800 American Blvd E, Bloomington, Mn - A Sci-fi based convention near Mall of America, which also includes some fantasy and steampunk. Douglas's Readings: The Widow Brigade – 12:56 Sword and Path – 30:16 Boxer Earns his Wings – 44:13 Michael's Beer Pairings: Stjørdal, Hammerheart Brewing (paired to The Widow Brigade) – 9:28 Saison Dupont, Brasserie Dupont sprl (paired to Sword and Path) – 27:02 Budweiser Copper Lager, ABInBev (paired to Boxer Earns his Wings) – 41:46 Interview Highlights: Expanding the emotional world of dwarves – 19:57 Douglas's background as a writer – 22:34 What sparked Dhea Loral and the dwarf widow Duli? – 23:18 Male writer creating female characters – 25:54 World-building – 39:40 The steampunk world of 'Boxer' – 50:47 How does growing up in the military affect us as writers? – 53:53 COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet Tim Young Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Martin Case, freelance researcher and writer, researches political and economic networks that shaped US relationships with indigenous nations, and drove the expansion of the US across the continent. He was on the design team for Why Treaties Matter, a collaboration of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center, and the Smithsonian Institute. His book -- The Relentless Business of Treaties: How Indigenous Land Became US Property – was published in 2018 by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. Treatysigners.org Treatiesmatter.org   We would like to extend special thanks to the Yoerg Brewing Company of St. Paul for hosting us on our first on-site recording. The Yoerg Saloon is located at 378 Maria Ave, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55106   Marty's Readings:   Relationships to Land, Kinship vs. Property, Marshall's Doctrine of Discovery – 11:30 Making the American Myth: Whose story is it? – 31:55 From the Gospel of the Child Rabbit – 47:16   Michael's Beer Pairings:   Samuel Smith India Ale, Samuel Smith's Old Brewery (paired to From the Intro) – 9:55 Yoerg's Bock, Yoerg Brewing Company (paired to On Marshall's Doctrine of Discovery) – 29:07 Alpha State, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to From the Gospel of the Child Rabbit) – 43:47   Interview Highlights:   The fascinating history of Yoerg's Brewery--our host for episode 9 – 4:42 How Marty got involved in the Treaty Signers Project – 17:32 Treaty signer relationships vs. the American myth – 18:51 org online database – 23:16 Marshall's Doctrine of Discovery – 26:10 Implications of viewing land as kin vs. property – 37:28 Treaties as international agreements – 41:05 On writing your personal 'gospel' – 50:35 Under a speeding semi! – 52:16   COMING NEXT MONTH: Fantasy fiction writer Douglas van Dyke   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Sarah's first novel, These Granite Islands was awarded a Loft McKnight Award; a Friends of American Writers Award, and was a Barnes & Noble Great New Writers pick, among other awards. That novel was translated into eleven languages. Her second, The Ice Chorus, was also widely translated. Her memoir Shelter: Off The Grid in the Mostly Magnetic North won a Northeast Minnesota Book Award. Her feminist trilogy Fishing With RayAnne (originally written under the pen name Ava Finch) will be re-issued by The University of MN Press, beginning in 2020. She is currently adapting that series for television, as well as writing original screenplays. Laurentian Divide, the second book in her Northern Trilogy, was the winner of the 2019 Minnesota Book Award and the NEMBA award, as well as being a 2019 National Reading Group Month selection by National Women's Book Association. In March 2020, WPRI, Wisconsin Public Radio International's longest running program, Chapter A Day, will feature Laurentian Divide, to be read on air by Jim Flemming. She's currently researching and is at work on the final volume of the Northern trilogy, Watershed. Sarah has been awarded fellowships at several international residency programs, including the Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland; Gibraltor Center, Toronto; Hawthornden, Scotland; Art Omi, New York, and Chicago's Ragdale Foundation, Sarah lives in Minneapolis on the Mississippi River in a renovated flour mill with her husband, musician Jon Ware. sarahstonich.com Sarahstonichbookshelf   Sarah's Readings:   Alpo Ponders Life – 16:30 Pete Meets Meg – 29:05 Sissy and the Sled Dogs – 44:41   Michael's Beer Pairings:    Grain Belt Premium, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to Alpo Ponders Life) – 14:50 Summit Great Northern Porter – Summit Brewing Company (paired to Pete Meets Meg) – 27:20 Tip Up Winter Ale – Beaver Island Brewing (paired to Sissy and the Sled Dogs) – 42:12   Interview Highlights:   Overview of the Northern Trilogy – 13:00 Why do people read? – 24:20 What makes a great book? – 25:20 How and when did you get started writing? – 39:51 40 raw acres with a city boy – 54:16   COMING NEXT MONTH: Novelist Lyn Miller Lacoursiere, author of the Lindy Lewis Adventures   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Poet Donna Isaac is a teaching artist who organizes community readings in the Twin Cities. Published work includes a poetry book, Footfalls (Pocahontas Press), a paean to American folk music and her formative years in the Appalachians; two chapbooks, Tommy (Red Dragonfly Press); Holy Comforter (Red Bird Chapbooks); and work in journals such as the Saint Paul Almanac, the Penn Review, and AvantAppal(achia).  Persistence of Vision, a chapbook focused on Donna's love for movies, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press, November 2019. donnaisaacpoet.com   Events   Poets Dore Kesselbach, Sharon Chmielarz, Donna Isaac, and Ethna McKiernan will read work at Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN, November 5, 2019, 7:00 p.m. All poets have new books for sale. Clapping Waters' Reading Series will feature Donna Isaac, Nov. 13, 6:00-6:30 (open mic: until 8:00) at River Falls Public Library (lower level) in River Falls, WI. Donna Isaac will read at Tillie's Farmhouse, 232 Cleveland Ave., St. Paul, MN, November 20, 2019, 7:00 p.m. with poet Margaret Hasse. Books for sale. Come early for dinner and music by John Wenstrom and co.   Donna's Readings   Unravelling – 10:12 Bloodlines – 27:45 For the Love of Dance – 45:20   Michael's Beers Oberon, Bell's Brewery (paired to Unravelling) – 7:56 Rubaeus, Founders Brewing Co. (paired to Bloodlines) – 24:30 Let's Dance, Urban Growler Brewing Co. (paired to For the Love of Dance) – 42:23   Interview Highlights   Childhood then & now – 12:11 Tommy Chapbook: Poems for Donna's Brother – 17:47 Donna's Background – 19:32 Donna's Influences – 22:21 Influences of Growing Up in Appalachia – 31.26 Imagery of Ireland – 38:16 Interest in Family Research – 40:53 Writing About Joy and Beauty – 48:30 Themes of Donna's Chapbooks Holy Comforter and Persistence of Vision – 55:09 The Value of Poetry – 56:37   NEXT MONTH: Author Sarah Stonich.   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Anya Johanna DeNiro lives in St. Paul. Her fiction has appeared in Catapult, One Story, Minnesota Monthly, and elsewhere. She's currently at work on a Young Adult novel entitled My Heart Is an Unslain Dragon. Her novella City of a Thousand Feelings is forthcoming from Aqueduct Press in the winter of 2019.   LINKS @adeniro on Twitter AqueductPress.com   Upcoming Events: Laura will be reading at the Startled By JOY 2019 poetry reading and open mic on October 6th, 2019. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Troubadour Wine Bar, 2827 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. Michael is teaching a class on barrel-aged beer on November 19th at Zymurgy Brewing on Main Street in Menomonie, Wisconsin   Anya's Readings: Take Pills and Wait for Hips – 10:40 City of a Thousand Feelings – 36:56 Faint Voices Increasingly Desperate – 47:14   Michael's Beer Pairings: W. Lee's Harvest Ale 2002 Vintage, J.W. Lee's & Company, UK (paired to Take Pills and Wait for Hips) – 15:26 Wittekerke, De Brabandere, Belgium (paired to City of a Thousand Feelings) – 34:07 Firebrick, August Schell Brewing Company, MN (paired to Faint Voices Increasingly Desperate) – 45:07   Interview Highlights: What is an Interactive Fiction game? – 25:44 Imagery, Allegory, Writer's Intention – 27:51 How does the Glass-Bottom Boat Image in Take Pills and Wait for Hips relate to theme of transition as a transgender woman? – 31:09 What goes into getting an MFA? – 41:15 Writing in second person – 43:11 Writing in third person present tense – 51:32 Writing transgender protagonists – 54:45   COMING NEXT MONTH: Poet Donna Isaac.   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Tekkan is the Dharma name for Barry MacDonald. He has lived in England, Japan, and Minnesota, all of which have influenced him. The themes of his life revolve around his Buddhist practice and his recovery from addiction. His books, "Everyday Mind," look for the extraordinary hidden within everyday events. He uses the sonnet form without the rhyme scheme followed by a Japanese tanka.   LINKS https://www.facebook.com/barry.macdonald.1293   Upcoming Events: Barry and Laura will be reading at the Startled By JOY 2019 poetry reading and open mic on October 6th, 2019. The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Troubadour Wine Bar, 2827 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.   Barry's Readings: Reading Circles of Sober Alcoholics – 12:20 The Wood Flooring of the Zen Temple – 27:44 Like a Basset Hound – 42:39   Michael's Beer Pairings: All Out Non-alcoholic Extra Dark, Athletic Brewing Company (paired to Reading Circles of Sober Alcoholics) – 9:16 Pilsner Urquell, Plzeňský Prazdroj (paired to The Wood Flooring of the Zen Temple) – 25:31 Heavenly Body Golden Wheat, Wellbeing Brewing Company (paired to Like a Basset Hound) – 41:30   Interview Highlights: Sonnets and the sonnet form – 13:32 Meeting Shakespeare in Amsterdam – 15:40 The influence of a well-read father – 16:42 Writing routine and meditation – 20:25 What brought you to Japan? – 31:18 The impact of travel on an artist's work – 33:49 Zen and dharma, Barry's dharma name – 35:09 Does image lead to idea or does an idea seek an image? – 45:11 The Everyday Mind series – 47:36   COMING NEXT MONTH: Novelist, short story writer and interactive fiction creator Anya Johanna DeNiro  Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Kathryn Kysar is the author of two books of poetry, Dark Lake and Pretend the World, and she edited Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers. She has received fellowships from Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. Kysar recently served on the board of directors for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs and teaches at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and the Loft Literary Center and lives with her family in St. Paul   LINKS http://www.kathrynkysar.com/ https://twitter.com/darklake https://sonoglyphcollective.com/   Upcoming Events: Kathryn is reading at the St. Paul Irish Fair of Minnesota on August 10th. Time: 12:00 pm. Address: Eóin McKiernan Speaker's Tent, Harriet Island. Kathryn is performing as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival at 5:30 pm on August 10th at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She will be joined by Marie Cooney and musician Kevin Kern among others. Laura is appearing at the Startled by JOY 2019 poetry reading and open mic on August 11th. The event goes from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Eggroll Queen Café, 1579 Hamline Avenue North, Falcon Heights, Minnesota Laura is appearing at the Startled by JOY 2019 poetry reading and open mic on October 6th. The event goes from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Troubadour Wine Bar, 2827 Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota   Kathryn's Readings: Escape from Paradise, Iowa – 10:09 Things I Learned from my Grandmother – 20:05 German – 22:16 Returning to Lake Superior – 42:11   Michael's Beer Pairings Hamm's, Hamm's Brewing Company (paired to Escape from Paradise, Iowa) – 8:48 Fort Road Helles, August Schell Brewing Company (paired to Things I Learned from my Grandmother and German) – 18:13 Ring of Fire, Bad Weather Brewing (paired to Returning to Lake Superior) – 39:00   Interview Highlights: Kathryn's Background – 13:11 Kathryn's Craft; Finding Inspiration and Writing Process – 14:42 Why Poetry? – 16:21 Title and Cover of book, Pretend the World – 25:09 Organizing a Book of Poetry; Finding the Themes – 30:29 Kathryn speaks on her grandmother and the advice of yesterday and today – 33:20 Mixing music and poetry – 45:31 The future of poetry in the era of self-publishing – 51:02   COMING NEXT MONTH: Tekkan, local poet of the Everyday Mind series   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.  

Bob Miller has been a professional magician for twenty years, performing on stage and table-side magic. He has also created several of his own tricks which he sells on his website. ​ In addition to magic, Bob works as a programmer. He has created software for magicians to track customers and shows, and software for writers based on K.M. Weiland's workbook, Outlining Your Novel.​ As if that's not enough, Bob is now writing a five book thriller series, Chrysalis Chronology. The series is about genetically-altered humans with special powers. The first two books – The Smart Kid and The Time Leaper – are currently available, with others to follow.​  LINKS ​ http://bobmillermagic.com/blog/​ http://bobmillerauthor.com http://chrysalischronology.com https://www.facebook.com/BobMillerAuthor/​  Upcoming Events:​ Bob performs table side magic and balloon animals every Friday night at EL TORO, 10901 Douglas Drive, Champlin, MN, 6 to 8 pm. ​Free to all customers!​ Launch of Startled by JOY 2019, new poetry in classical forms, edited by Laura Vosika.​ Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 South Snelling Drive, 2 to 3:30 pm​. Music, free wine and hors d'oeuvres. ​Bob's Readings: ​ The Trap at Lincoln from The Smart Kid, Book One​ – 13:08 The Falls from The Time Leaper, Book Two​ – 33:00 Date Night from The Proxy Agent, Book Three​- 45:55  Michael's Beer Pairings: ​ Black Ops, Brooklyn Brewing​ (paired to The Trap at Lincoln) – 11:02 Sea Quench, Dogfish Head​ (paired to The Falls) – 30:33 Siracusa Nera, Dogfish Head​ (paired to Date Night) – 43:35  Interview Highlights: ​ Bob's life as a magician​ – 20:25 The Pre-Date Calendar trick​ – 22:40 The Chrysalis Chronology novel series – 26:38 Why does it matter for characters to change throughout a story?​ – 40:33 The plots in magic, the plots in writing​ – 52:25  COMING NEXT MONTH: Kathryn Kysar, Twin Cities poet  Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

This month Michael and Laura welcome Toussaint Morrison – writer, poet, musician, lyricist, actor...and more – about his multiple artistic endeavors. Toussaint writes and produces scripts for YouTube, has toured with multiple bands, has written lyrics and music for nearly 200 songs, and participates in slam poetry—among other things. Stop by and hear Toussaint reading and performing some of his work!   Toussaint Morrison is an avid mentor for youth, working as a paraprofessional in special ed. classrooms and leading spoken word workshops primarily in middle schools. He is also an Emmy award winning host of PBS's civic engagement web series, America From Scratch. Graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Theater, Morrison now spends his time writing & producing film for majority casts of color.   http://www.toussaintmorrison.blogspot.comwww.urbanhomecompanion.com Youtube.com/toussaintmorrison Youtube.com/urbanhomecinema Patreon.com/toussaintmorrison   Toussaint is performing a live spoken word show at the Phoenix Theater in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 22nd.   Toussaint's Readings: The Fight that Never Was – 12:35 Escaping Nina's – 28:15 Baby Gots Venom – 44:40   Michael's Beer Pairings: Miller High Life, Miller Brewing Company – 9:50 Ninja vs. Unicorn, Pipeworks Brewing Co. – 26:40 The Abyss, Deschutes Brewery – 41:38   Interview Highlights: The impact of New Orleans on Toussaint's writing. – 19:25 Managing time—how does one person do so much? – 22:25 Urban Home Companion and Toussaint's beef with Garrison Keillor! – 32:10 Influence of Charles Bukowski and elevating the mundane moments – 36:35 How different styles of writing lend themselves to different stories or messages – 50:45   COMING NEXT MONTH: Kathryn Kysar, Twin Cities poet   Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

This month Michael and Laura spoke with Loren Niemi. Loren is a storyteller with 40 years of creating, performing and teaching stories that matter. His work has been called "post-modern," pushing the boundaries of narrative form "with a dark beauty of language that is not ashamed of poetry." Loren is also an author. His books include the award winning The New Book of Plots, an examination of oral and written narratives, and the critically acclaimed Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories, which he co-authored with Elizabeth Ellis. In 2016 he received the National Storytelling Network's Lifetime Achievement Award. His collection of original and collected ghost stories What Haunts Us came out in February 2019. www.lorenniemistories.com  Loren's stories: Remodeling the Kitchen – 10:59 Barbecue Bus – 26:53 The Hungry Carpet– 47:23  Michael's beer pairings: Oh Fudge!, Prairie Artisan Ales – 9:02 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, Brauerei Heller-Trum – 24:14 Kriek Boon, Brouwerij Boon – 44:45  Interview highlights: The impact of growing up moving on storytellers – 15:54 Becoming a storyteller – 17:33 ..on the Great Wall of China – 21:05 Why we tell stories – 22:55 Why we're drawn to ghost stories and other dark tales – 36:53 Telling stories vs. writing stories – 51:00  Our theme music is from www.bensound.com. Don't forget to subscribe!