Books and Brews Podcast
by Michael Agnew
The Books and Brews Podcast is the place where literature and beer meet. Each month we welcome a new guest author to read and discuss their work. Author Laura Vosika leads in-depth interviews to delve into the motivations, inspirations and preoccupations of each guest. Certified Cicerone® Michael Agnew pours beers specifically selected to pair with the writer’s work. It’s an hour of entertaining erudition that hits your mind and your mouth.
Episodes
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Fantasy, Allegory, Healing: Ep #90 with Cindy Preston and Alan Wade
Alan Wade and Cindy Preston Wade are international bestselling and award winning authors, speakers, transformational and mindset coaches, and the creators of the Secrets of the Universe trilogy—a magical fantasy series that weaves spiritual and universal concepts, self-discovery, and the…
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War and Crime, History and Technology with DV Chernov, Ep #89
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Don't miss the contest to win a free copy of your choice of DV Chernov's books. This month Chris created one of the cocktails. It needs a name. Whoever gives us the winning name will get their choice of D.V.'s books. D.V. Chernov is an...
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Episode #87: A Flight from Books and Brews Light
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! This month we bring you a compilation of three authors who have been on Books and Brews Light, which is in addition to our regular podcast. You'll find many more Books and Brew Light authors at our youtube page @booksandbrews Today we...
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Something Fishy This Way Comes: Fantasy Worlds with Benjamin Schwarting, Ep 86
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Benjamin Schwarting is a fantasy author, high school English teacher, and co-owner of Williams & Rose Publishing. Author of The Sum of Ages series & the Daughters of the Storm prequel series, Ben's work emphasizes writing complex fantasy...
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Survive! on an Alien World with Charles P. Graham, Episode #85
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Dr. Charles P. Graham: sci-fi author author, semi-retired chiropractor, Navy nuclear submarine veteran, survivalist, squadron leader, search and rescue pilot and more! After serving aboard the USS Plunger during the Cold War, Charles…
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The Deep Well: Exploring Horror with Laura Creedle, Episode #84
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...
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Journey to Africa with Juliet Cutler, Episode #83
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Juliet Cutler is a writer, educator, and a designer of award-winning exhibits for museums, parks, and cultural centers around the world. In 1999 and 2000, she lived in Tanzania where she taught English at the first school for Maasai girls...
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Hey Y'all, Come on in to Chat with Ms. Rat! Southern Humor in Episode #82
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Marlene and her family have experienced a number of tragedies and frightening experiences. Any one of which could have been their undoing. If she could find one little spark of humor in that tangle of fears she could make life better. She...
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Life After a Terrorist Attack: Episode #81 with Christiane Scarpino
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! In 1977 at the age of 21, Christiane Scarpino miraculously survived a terrorist bombing when she left her desk, just 10 feet from the bomb, to go get her morning donut and coffee from a co-worker. Missing Pieces tells the story of the...
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Romance and Military Thriller with Kristie Wolf, Episode #80
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Kristie Wolf weaves tales about fearless heroes and badass heroines who fight for justice and love while burning up the pages. Kristie's passion for writing romance ignited during her teenage years when she told her mom she was going to...
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Episode #79: Jake Needham on Crime & Character
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Jake Needham is an American lawyer who became a screen and television writer through a series of coincidences too ridiculous for anyone to believe. When he realized how little he actually liked movies and television, he started writing...
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Episode #78: Technology & Truth & a Paranormal Thriller with Ashley Fontainne & Andrea Emmes
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Ashley Fontainne is an author and co-author of more than 30 novels, known for her intricate plots and writing in genres from dark comedy to mystery/thrillers to suspenseful paranormal. Andrea Emmes, a singer, performer and one-time...
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Episode #77: One Family's Story of Jack the Ripper, with Robert Gereb
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Róbert Geréb is a boundary-pushing author and accomplished AI developer. As co-author of Jack the Ripper’s Assassins—the cornerstone of The Dighton Chronicles, built on multigenerational oral history from a Romani-Viking lineage—he melds...
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Episode #76: Family Secrets Come to Light with Hiram Johnson
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Hiram Johnson is retired law enforcement officer, currently teaching criminal justice as an adjunct, a father, author and creator. His book Reason to Fight: a search or truth is a surprising tale of a family mystery. We talked about the...
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Books and Brews #75: UFOs with Dona Masi
Dona Masi is a writer and editor whose short fiction and articles are used in reading and writing assessments throughout the United States. Her articles on several subjects have appeared in several newspapers. She is also a playwright, and two of her plays were performed at the Provincetown…
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Books and Brews #74: Sci-fi and More with Bill McSciFi McCormick
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Bill McCormick is an award-winning and critically acclaimed author of several novels, graphic novels, and comic book series, and has appeared in numerous anthologies. He began writing professionally in 1986 for the Chicago Rocker Magazine...
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Books and Brews #73: Monsters & Appalachian Lore Come to Life with Clay Gilbert
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Clay Gilbert has always believed in the power of the imagination to dissolve differences and forge connections between people. Since 2013, he has published thirteen novels, from science-fiction and horror to YA dystopia and urban fantasy....
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Episode # 72: Wild Alaska with Mr. November
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Michael Modzelewski (Mojo-less-key) grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a famous NFL football player with the Cleveland Browns, Ed “Big Mo” Modzelewski. Michael graduated from Indiana University with a degree in English Literature. He…
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Books and Brews #71: Time Travel, Sci-fi and Woodstock with Beth Duke
Bestselling author Beth Duke's Anywhen is the ultimate outsider story—a young woman yearning to belong across time itself. With universal themes of love, jealousy, sacrifice, friendship, joy, loss, and forgiveness, this genre-defying novel is a story like no other...one that will stay with you…
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Books and Brews #70: Sherlock Holmes Alive Again! with Richard T. Ryan
A lifelong Sherlockian, Richard T. Ryan is the author of nine Sherlock Holmes novels and currently working on his tenth. He’s also written a well-received murder mystery “Deadly Relations which has been produced twice off-Broadway. He pursued graduate studies at Notre Dame where he majored in...
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Books and Brews #69: AI and Aliens with Michael Colon
Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Michael Colon is a novelist and freelance writer, born and raised in New York City. His author's story is about hard work, perseverance, and believing in the power of imagination. His inspiration comes from various societal abnormalities,...
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Books and Brews #68: High Adventure with John Graham
John Graham shipped out on a freighter when he was 16, hitchhiked through the Algerian Revolution at 19 and was on the team that made the first ascent of Denali’s North Wall at 20, a climb so dangerous it’s never been repeated. He hitchhiked around the world at 22, working as a correspondent in...
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Books and Brews #67: Back to Merry Olde England with JP Reedman
J.P. Reedman lives in Wiltshire near to Stonehenge. Born in Canada, she has had a lifelong interest in ancient and medieval history, and is often found lurking around prehistoric sites, ruined castles and abbeys, and interesting churches with camera in hand. She became a full-time writer in 2018....
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Episode #66 From Nomad to Ph.D. with Michael C. Keith
Michael C. Keith is the author of an acclaimed memoir––The Next Better Place–a young adult novel––Life is Falling Sideways––and 20 story collections, including, Of Night and Light, Everything is Epic, Sad Boy, And Through the Trembling Air, Hoag’s Object, The Collector of Tears, If Things Were…
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Books and Brews Episode #66: Michael C. Keith
Michael C. Keith is the author of an acclaimed memoir––The Next Better Place–a young adult novel––Life is Falling Sideways––and 20 story collections, including, Of Night and Light, Everything is Epic, Sad Boy, And Through the Trembling Air, Hoag’s Object, The Collector of Tears, If Things Were…
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Books and Brews Episode #65: Stephen Downes
Steve Downes is a contemporary Irish poet and novelist, currently living and working in Ireland. Educated in N.U.I. Maynooth, he holds a Degree in Classical History and a Masters in Cultural Anthropology. Steve has published poetry; science fiction, including Cosmogonic Marbles, Temporal Tome,...
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Books and Brews Episode #64: Kathy Murray
Kathy Murray is a certified personal trainer with over thirty years’ experience in the fitness industry. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she was a member of the 1983 National Cheerleading Championship Team. After college she competed in and won the United States Aerobic...
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Books and Brews Episode #63: Frank Warner
Like any good soldier’s son, Frank Warner moved with his family from fort to fort, accepted each change, and was ready to move again. Then, in 1960, Frank’s father was ordered to Fort Huachuca (WahCHOOka), Arizona. This was the fifth Army post of Frank’s childhood, the first place he never wanted...
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Books and Brews Episode #62: Sharon Bennett Connolly
Sharon Bennett Connolly is the best-selling British author of several non-fiction history books. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Sharon has studied history academically and just for fun – and has even worked as a tour guide at a castle. She also writes the popular history blog,...
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Books and Brews Episode #61: Robert R. Heath
Robert Heath grew up in different places around the world, beginning in Japan in the late ‘40s. Robert and his eight siblings followed the assignments of their father, a sergeant in the U.S. Army. He ultimately became an educator for 37 years, serving all grade levels from Pre-K through doctoral...
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Books and Brews Episode #60: JS Absher
J.S. Absher is a poet, memoirist, and independent scholar. As a teetotaler—he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—he can’t add much insight into brews, but he can hold his own when it comes to books. Stan’s first full-length book of poetry, Mouth Work (St. Andrews...
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Books and Brews Episode #59: Theresa Halvorsen
Theresa Halvorsen has a “don’t tell me I can’t do that,” attitude about life and is an author, publisher, editor, and YouTuber. She’s overly-caffeinated and at times, wine-soaked. The author of multiple cross-genre works, including Warehouse Dreams, Lost Aboard and River City Widows, Theresa...
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Books and Brews Episode # 58: Peter Andrew Sacco
Peter is the Author of 30 books, fiction and non-fiction and published on 4 continents. He is a resident expert and regular of Top 50 USA radio and TV markets including Fox, CBS, ABC, ESPN, Coast to Coast, iHeart and over 100 major radio and TV networks. Peter is a multi-award-winning, director,...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #57: Stephanie Sanders-Jacob
Stephanie Sanders-Jacob is an author and artist from Sandusky, Ohio. Her alien abduction novel, Singing All the Way Up, debuted with No Bad Books Press in July 2023. Her short fiction has been featured by Books of Horror, Hearth & Coffin, Mixer, Mosaic, and Ether Arts. You can find her online at...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #56: M.B. Zucker
M. B. (Michael) Zucker has been interested in storytelling for as long as he can remember. He devoted himself to historical fiction at fifteen and earned his B.A. at Occidental College and his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He lives in Virginia with his family. He is the...
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Books and Brew Episode #55: MJ Williams
MJ Williams is the pen-name for the writing duo, Peggy Joque Williams and Mary Joy Johnson. Peggy is a freelance writer and book editor. A retired elementary school teacher, Peggy has taught creative writing classes and workshops for Madison College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s...
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Books and Brews Episode # 54: Ralph E. Jarrells
RALPH JARRELLS became an author after retirement from more than four decades in marketing, advertising, and publishing, much of it in senior executive positions. He writes mostly historical fiction with religious themes. His first book was published August 4, 2017 when he was 75—a great example...
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Books and Brews Episode # 53: Dan Coonan
DAN COONAN has worn many hats through the years – Conference Commissioner, Athletic Director, CEO, Attorney, Novelist, Senior Congressional Campaign Advisor, Fundraiser, Nonprofit Chairman of the Board, College Adjunct Professor, Political Essayist, Youth Sports Coach, Bartender, Batting Practice...
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Books and Brews Episode # 52: Karen Essex
KAREN ESSEX is an award winning, bestselling author of six books including Leonardo’s Swans & Stealing Athena. She has recently co-written a pilot based on her two-volume novel, Kleopatra, for Netflix, which Lauren Hissrich, creator of The Witcher franchise, will executive produce. She adapted…
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Books and Brews Episode # 51: PTL Perrin
Military brat, voracious reader, and now writing books in her favorite genre, Patty Perrin who writes as PTL Perrin grew up in Europe and speaks several languages. A misfit by any account, Patty shares her love for people, Native cultures, our amazing world, alien encounters, astounding…
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Books and Brews Episode # 50: Bjorn Erickson, Brewer
This month at Books & Brews, with Michael on sabbatical, Laura and Dr. Chris Powell visit Hoops Brewery in Duluth, MN. We talked with Bjorn Erickson, one of the brewers about brewing...and books. Bjorn had a great story about how he got from earning a degree in German to brewing beer. We talked...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #49: Margaret J. Anderson
I grew up in Scotland, graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in genetics. Back then, genetics was all about statistics and probability. So, I became a statistician until I took up the more chancy career of writing children’s books. Exploring the Insect World was published nearly 50...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #48: Sharlene MacLaren
Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree, she taught second grade for two years then accepted an invitation to travel internationally for a year with a singing ensemble. In1975, she returned to teaching and...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #47: Elizabeth Tucker
Elizabeth Tucker is a Distinguished Service Professor of English at Binghamton University who specializes in children’s and adolescents’ folklore, folklore of the supernatural, and legends. Her books include Campus Legends: A Handbook, Haunted Halls: Ghostlore of American College Campuses,...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #46: Jane Cable
Eva Glyn writes emotional women’s fiction inspired by beautiful places and the stories they hide. She loves to travel and her last trip before the covid lockdowns was to Croatia, where she met a man with an incredible story of growing up during the country’s Homeland War in in 1990s. It inspired...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #45: Jen Gilroy
Jen Gilroy writes women’s fiction for Orion Dash and sweet western romance for Harlequin Heartwarming—uplifting stories about women finding home, family and new beginnings–and finding themselves too. She’s a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and was shortlisted for the Romantic...
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #44: Christina Courtenay
Christina Courtenay writes historical romance, time slip and time travel stories, and lives in Herefordshire (near the Welsh border) in the UK. Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden – hence her abiding interest in the Vikings. Christina is a former…
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Books and Brews Podcast Episode #43: Connie Kinsey
Connie Kinsey is a former military brat who has put down deep roots in a converted barn on a dirt road at the top of a hill in West Virginia. She lives with two dogs and a cat, and is pursuing happiness, one cup of coffee at a time. Primarily a memoirist, the events of her life permeate her work....
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Books and Brews Podcasts Episode #42: Robert Bindinotto
Robert Bidinotto is author of the bestselling Dylan Hunter vigilante thriller series. Robert’s debut novel, HUNTER, soared to the top of the Kindle bestseller list and was a Wall Street Journal “Top 10 Fiction Ebook.” Its sequel, BAD DEEDS, became a #1 Audible thriller. The third installment in…
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Books and Brews Podcasts Episode #41: Nancie Laird Young
Nancie Laird Young grew up as an Army BRAT and traveled with her family across the United States, Europe and the Far East. Eventually she grew up, married (twice), had three great daughters, and various careers in human services, academic administration, advocacy for people with disabilities.…
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About this show
The Books and Brews Podcast is the place where literature and beer meet. Each month we welcome a new guest author to read and discuss their work. Author Laura Vosika leads in-depth interviews to delve into the motivations, inspirations and preoccupations of each guest. Certified Cicerone® Michael Agnew pours beers specifically selected to pair with the writer’s work. It’s an hour of entertaining erudition that hits your mind and your mouth.
Hosted by
Michael Agnew