In Other Words

In this episode of In Other Words, we dig into one of the biggest conversations happening in the writing world right now: AI‑generated manuscripts—and why Crimson Crow Press does not accept them.According to our official submission guidelines, “AI‑generated work (manuscripts must be entirely human‑authored)” and in this episode, we explain exactly why. Human writing is messy, emotional, imperfect, and alive. We want to see your messy—your voice, your fingerprints, your humanity.We also share several exciting updates from behind the scenes at Crimson Crow Press:Our website is currently undergoing a full overhaulWe are actively accepting manuscripts We’ve already had a wave of interested authors reaching out We’re planning future workshops to support struggling writers We are finishing up submissions for our upcoming Crimson Crow Press Anthology, which will be going to press in September And yes… a lot is happening very quickly, and we’re keeping up If you’re an author ready to submit your work, please read our full guidelines and send your manuscript through our official submission portal:Submit your manuscript: https://crimsoncrowpress.com/author-submission-guidelines/Visit our website: https://crimsoncrowpress.comBe sure to catch up on past episodes of In Other Words Podcast today!A Production of Crimson Crow Press

On this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Pam, Jan, Val, and Karen sit down with Dawn Parks—an elementary teacher, marathon‑training runner, avid baker, and middle‑grade author who came out publicly as transgender in 2025, becoming one of the only openly trans elementary teachers in Iowa.With nearly 30 years in the classroom, Dawn has witnessed firsthand the challenges today’s kids face. That experience shapes her writing: honest, compassionate middle‑grade fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. She has published three novels so far, including her newest release—her first featuring a queer protagonist.In this conversation, Dawn shares what it was like to come out publicly as a teacher, how running and biking help her navigate life, why she loves baking pies, and how writing stories for young readers has become a powerful way to support kids who are searching for belonging, identity, and hope.It’s a warm, thoughtful, deeply human episode about authenticity, resilience, and the importance of writing about real life situations in children’s literature.Watch, listen, and join the conversation.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Jan, Val, Karen, and Pam sit down with two extraordinary leaders from the Des Moines Pride Center: longtime LGBTQIA+ advocate Rick Miller and Pride Center President Sarah High.Rick has spent nearly 50 years shaping and preserving Iowa’s queer history. From his first Pride Week in 1976 to his leadership in organizations like the Gay Coalition of Des Moines and the Gay & Lesbian Resource Center, Rick’s work has helped define LGBTQIA+ community life in the Midwest. This year, he was honored with the opening of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library, a 4,000‑book collection dedicated to queer literature, archives, and community storytelling.Joining him is Sarah High, a Licensed Master Social Worker, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and President of the Des Moines Pride Center. Sarah brings deep experience in mental health, addiction recovery, and crisis response through her work with the Central Iowa VA and UnityPoint Eyerly Ball. Her leadership reflects a commitment to building safe, affirming, and resilient spaces for LGBTQ+ Iowans.Together, Rick and Sarah share powerful insights into:• The creation and impact of the Rick Miller LGBTQ Library• The importance of preserving queer history in Iowa• Mental health and crisis needs within LGBTQ+ communities• The mission and future of the Des Moines Pride Center• What gives them hope as advocates and community leadersThis is a heartfelt, inspiring conversation about identity, resilience, and the people doing the work to keep community alive.Subscribe to In Other Words Podcast for more conversations with creatives, community leaders, and storytellers.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Psychic medium Kristi Campbell of Tulsa, Oklahoma joins In Other Words for a powerful, grounded conversation about intuition, mediumship, and what it really means to live with psychic abilities in everyday life. Kristi shares how she first recognized her gifts, how she learned to trust them, and why her work centers compassion, clarity, and emotional healing.We explore the realities of connecting with loved ones who’ve passed, the responsibility that comes with mediumship, and the ways intuition shows up for all of us — even when we don’t recognize it. This episode is honest, human, and full of the kind of insight that lingers long after the conversation ends.If you’re curious about psychic development, spiritual connection, or the unseen threads that shape our lives, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Catch more of Kristi on her website at www.kindredinsights.comListen, subscribe, and share if this conversation resonates.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

They call him the Rock n’ Roll Ghost Hunter — and for good reason. With nearly 50 years of paranormal investigation behind him, Keith Age has built a reputation as one of the field’s most grounded, evidence‑driven researchers. Known for cutting through myth and speculation, he approaches hauntings through history, environment, and verifiable evidence, earning respect from skeptics and believers alike. Keith is the host of the Booth Brothers’ acclaimed Spooked documentary series (Christopher Saint Booth & Philip Adrian Booth), and his work has appeared in 40+ television shows across major networks. In 1996, he founded the Louisville Ghost Hunters, one of the region’s longest‑running investigative teams and a cornerstone of Midwestern paranormal research. Now, Keith is entering a new era with Bourbon Spirits, a series blending Kentucky heritage, historic locations, and the lingering mysteries woven into the Bluegrass State’s past. Five decades in, his mission remains unchanged: Strip away the myths. Follow the facts. Let the evidence speak. In this episode, we talk about: His nearly 50‑year journey in paranormal investigation Why he rejects metaphysical explanations in favor of grounded research Behind‑the‑scenes stories from his documentaries The founding and evolution of the Louisville Ghost Hunters His upcoming series Bourbon Spirits What still keeps him chasing the unexplained after all these years If you love paranormal history, documentary filmmaking, or no‑nonsense investigation, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

With the whole Crimson Crow Press team gathered around the table, we dive into what’s new at the press, what’s coming next, and how we’re shaping the future of our creative ecosystem.We talk through the latest updates to our website, share what we’re building for authors and clients, and walk step‑by‑step through how we chose the cover for our upcoming anthology. It’s a candid, laughter‑filled conversation that opens the curtain on our process, from early story development, to editorial collaboration, to cover design, to marketing support.If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a small press that’s hands‑on, heart‑forward, and deeply invested in its creators, this episode gives you the full picture.Relaxed, honest, and full of personality. This Crimson Crow Press at its most authentic.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Christine Frisina writes from a place where memory, legacy, and courage intersect. Her “Lost” series began as a gift to her granddaughters as a way to show them that the impossible is often just the beginning. But the deeper she wrote, the more she realized these stories weren’t only for them. They were for anyone standing at the edge of their own unknown.Encouraged by industry legends and guided by trusted friends, Christine stepped fully into authorship with Lost in Japan, a story born from lived experience and the quiet determination that shapes a family across generations. That book opened the door to Lost in Silicon Valley, and now to her most personal work yet: Lost in Hollywood, the story of David Frisina—concertmaster, recording studio musician, and son of an Italian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island in 1900 with nothing but a violin and a future.At the heart of Christine’s writing is a single question that continues to call her forward: “What does your inheritance require of you?”Through her books and conversations, Christine explores how the people who came before us—whether tender, distant, or difficult—shape the stories we are meant to tell. Her work is an invitation to look backward with honesty, and forward with purpose.This podcast follows Christine as she uncovers the threads of family, history, artistry, and identity that weave through her life and her writing. It’s about the courage to keep going, the responsibility of legacy, and the unexpected places we find ourselves when we follow the stories that refuse to let us go.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words, we decided to use the moment to check in with ourselves — as writers, editors, creators, and co-founders of Crimson Crow Press.Join us as we talk about:• What we’re building behind the scenes with Crimson Crow Press• How we’re navigating our individual writing journeys• The realities of creative careers in transition• What’s inspiring us, challenging us, and pulling us forwardIf you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to run a small press, balance multiple creative roles, or keep writing while life keeps lifing — this episode is for you.About In Other Words:  A podcast for writers, editors, and storytellers who want to explore the craft, the industry, and the creative life with honesty and heart. Hosted by the team behind Crimson Crow Press.About Crimson Crow Press A small press dedicated to collaborative publishing, atmospheric storytelling, and amplifying unique voices across genres.🔔Subscribe for more conversations about writing, publishing, creativity, and the strange magic of making stories real.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words Podcast, we sit down with Jacaranda Summerfield, a woman whose life reads like an epic--born in South Africa, trained as a barrister, transformed into a bush pilot, farmer, explorer, and the first woman to pass the Zimbabwe Professional Hunter Guides License exam.Jacaranda shares her remarkable journey across continents and identities:• growing up under the lavender canopy of Africa’s jacaranda trees• rejecting the path chosen for her to chase the sky instead• building an African art business in the U.S.• returning home to Zimbabwe to raise her children in wild, multicultural freedom• flying into remote, untouched places in search of artifacts and adventure• navigating political upheaval, personal reinvention, and the courage to start againToday, she lives in Santa Barbara surrounded by nature, family and her creature companions—still driven by her lifelong passion for unspoiled places and the stories they hold.This conversation is a tapestry of resilience, wanderlust, motherhood, and the fierce determination to live life on one’s own terms. Jacaranda’s voice is warm, witty, and unfiltered, offering a rare window into a world few ever experience.If you love stories of transformation, wild landscapes, and women who refuse to be contained, this episode is for you. Listen, share, and join us as we explore the extraordinary life of Jacaranda Summerfield—in her own words.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Artist / author Sean Fitzgibbon explores unusual, real places and events through his work. He has an MFA in art and a passion for making art and visual storytelling. He is a 2021 Artists 360 recipient and a 2022 recipient of the Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Award for his Kirkus starred, graphic nonfiction book What Follows Is True: Crescent Hotel. He has exhibited work throughout the US. He also illustrates books and recently completed writing and illustrating a documentary-style graphic nonfiction book that explores the Crescent Hotel’s strange two years as the Baker Hospital, one of the darkest and most controversial legends in the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He is now developing and producing art for a new graphic nonfiction book about the history, folklore, and science surrounding Plum Bayou Mounds – an archeological site located in Arkansas. Be sure to also follow his work on Instagram at instagram.com/seanpfitzgibbon and facebook at facebook.com/seanfitzgibbonartA Production of Crimson Crow Press

Hailing from White Plains, New York, Addison's roots ground her storytelling in authenticity and empathy. Now calling Clinton, Maryland home, she continues to weave narratives that inspire and provoke thought. Her first novel, Balloon Acres, is just the beginning of Addison's literary journey, promising readers an unforgettable ride through the landscapes of the human heart.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In this episode of In Other Words Podcast, we sit down with Kansas author Michelle Lynn Ross, the creative mind behind the humorous, heartfelt small‑town romances set in the fictional community of Fawn Creek.Whether you’re a writer, a romance reader, or someone who loves a good laugh wrapped in a good story, this conversation is full of warmth, insight, and creative inspiration.Explore Michelle’s books on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michelle-Lynn-Ross/author/B09FKQ4TSC?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1769373828&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueA Production of Crimson Crow Press

Join Jan, Val, Karen and Pam as they get together to revisit some favorites from Season One.In spite of broken bones, loss of loved ones, and pilgrimages through Spain, we made it! Our first season of the podcast is complete, and we're here to talk about it. We're already planning a fantastic second season!A Production of Crimson Crow Press

The heart of Cat Loaf Studio lies in capturing the charm and comfort our feline companions bring. Their mission is to bring a touch of cat magic into everyday lives. Founded by Melanie Jacobs, Cat Loaf Studio transforms everyday kitty antics into delightful artwork and products. Every piece is hand-sketched and brought to life on her iPad with the Procreate app, blending artistry and puns to capture our purring friends. At Cat Loaf Studio, they believe the simplest moments, like a twitch of a whisker or a perfectly formed loaf, hold the magic of pure joy.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Nia Chiaramonte, co-author of 'Embracing Queer Family: Learning to Live Authentically in our Families and Communities,' brings a powerful blend of professional expertise and her lived experience as a transgender woman to her writing. Nia and her wife Katie encourage us to embrace the Queerness of our family, take ownership of our journey, and use our voice to bring light to our communities. If you are a Queer person on the journey of self-awareness, an ally looking for resources, or a family member seeking advice for how to navigate a loved one's coming-out process, this book is for you, As co-founders of Love in the Face, Nia and Katie extend their book's mission through mentorship, ceremonial services, and faith and workplace consulting, creating safe spaces for transgender and LGBTQIA+ individuals to thrive. Drawing from her 20-year career in Human Resources and her own journey of self-discovery, Nia brings unique insights into building cultures of acceptance and understanding. Through her writing and speaking, Nia continues to champion inclusive spaces where everyone can feel safe, valued, and free to be themselves. Her work reminds us that authentic living isn't just about personal freedom—it's about creating ripples of change that benefit entire communities.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Manya Perkins is a lesbian artist, writer, and licensed mental health counselor based in Western Washington. Her work—whether on the page, the canvas, or in the therapy room—is deeply rooted in advocacy, authenticity, and care for marginalized voices. As an artist, Manya’s primary mediums are ink and charcoal, often centering the lived experiences of the queer and trans community. Her writing spans a wide range of genres, with a particular love for crafting steamy, emotionally resonant romances between lesbians and non-binary characters. In her counseling practice, Manya brings over a decade of experience working with diverse populations, including military and law enforcement personnel, while maintaining a strong clinical focus on the Queer and trans community. Her specialties include stress, anxiety, mood disorders, harm reduction, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed care. She created a queer and trans community support group that runs in Bremerton on Thursday nights, allowing space for the LGBTQIA2S+ community to support each other and find help with the challenges that come with living in this tumultuous time and country. She is also a proud single mother of two, balancing the demands of art, healing work, and parenting with grace, grit, and humor. Whether she's holding space in therapy, building queer love stories, or sketching the beauty of resistance, Manya is always focused on one thing: creating room for truth to breathe.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Tara is a self diagnosed Romantasy addict and loves diving into lush worlds with complex characters and messy interpersonal relationships that teach us about our own lives. Prior to joining D4EO, she had a decade-long career as a $60M+ real estate agent, investor and coach. Interest in querying her debut novel introduced her to the world of publishing as soon as she found out about Literary Agents she realized she had spent the past ten years as an agent in the wrong industry. An ever proponent of messy action, she quickly course corrected - setting her sights on breaking into the publishing world. She views the agent - author relationship as a deeply personal and mutually beneficial one. She wants to work with authors that dare to dream of massive success, a fulfilling career, and the willingness to put in the necessary work to get there. With a strong emphasis on social media marketing herself, she is looking for authors who are eager to work together to grow their own marketing efforts. You can learn more about Tara on TikTok @tarakimberlybooks or visit her website at stan.store/tarakimberlybooks Join her Skool group at https://www.skool.com/happily-ever-authors-writers-8500A Production of Crimson Crow Press

M. E. Corey is a guitar player, high school teacher, and adolescence-trauma survivor. Writing has always been his outlet to cope with feeling like an outsider. OUT OF BLUE COMES GREEN draws on his own teenage experiences of suffering bullies, falling in love, and playing in a rock band while navigating being trans. When he isn’t teaching or writing, he travels, walks his rescue dogs, and hangs out with the love of his life with whom he’s raising a super cool kid. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

2025 Kansas Notable Authors Award Recipient, A. D. Childers lives in Kansas where she enjoys a life full of teaching and writing. It helps pass the time while she waits for the next Tana French novel to come out. When not at work, she can be found hiking the local trails or hanging out at the library. She lives with her wonderful and bearded husband, a grumpy cat, and her sweet Kodi-beast-dog, who is her constant snuggle companion while writing.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Robert Prevo is an Anamologist, a podcaster, author, artist and all around great guy. You can connect with Robert at the following: Facebook: Monstrous Podcast YouTube: Monstrous The Podcast TikTok: @monstrousthepodcast www.monstrouspodcast.com You can purchase his book, Monstrous Arkansas on Amazon.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

S.Z. Estavillo is a biracial feminist thriller author known for her compelling stories that delve into ethnic and social commentary with strong female leads. Her professional background in literary agencies and TV studios has sharpened her editorial acumen and market trend insights, contributing to her success in securing book deals and greenlighting screenplays that became Lifetime movies. She has also collaborated with industry experts like Brian Klems at the Writing Day Workshop and completed UCLA’s Editorial Acquisitions course, further honing her manuscript development skills. With a master’s degree in television, radio, and film, S.Z. brings a cinematic touch to her writing, complemented by her extensive hands-on experience in digital marketing, social media, and PR. Her robust social media presence, boasting over 85,000 followers, underscores her ability to effectively promote her work. Her dedication to the literary community is evident in her recent role teaching ‘Leveraging Social Media to Build Your Author Brand’ at the L.A. Writer’s Conference and the North Texas Romance Writers (NTRW). S.Z. is the recipient of the David Twohy Scholarship for Screenwriting, the Carl Foreman Filmmaking Award, and Best Short Film at the Latina Film Festival. Her publishing achievements include three highly successful blogs with over 3 million reader views and numerous articles as a news producer, where she interviewed notable figures such as Martin Luther King III, Holocaust survivor Esther Bauer, and Reality TV star Matt Roloff of Little People, Big World. Her debut novel, The Serpent’s Bridge, is the first in the Serpent Series, followed by The Serpent Woman and Twilight of the Serpent. S.Z. Estavillo continues to leverage her editorial expertise and marketing prowess to carve a distinct path in the literary world.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Val Gale was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He served in The US Army from 1991 to 1996, stationed in New York and Seoul, Korea. He completed a B.A. in 1999 from Grandview University in Des Moines after his honorable discharge. He identifies as a trans. man. Val focuses full time on his writing since an industrial accident amputated his hand and ended his work in a tire facility, creating an opportunity to pursue his lifelong passion for creative fiction. His first novel, Different, a semi-autobiographical YA novel about a trans teen, was published in 2017. He recently completed Hunter, an LGBTQ novel telling the story of post-transition trans relationships. He has just completed his next novel, “Wild Dandelion”, a LGBTQ adult fiction romance thriller. Karen and Jan are beta readers. Val is currently working on an LGBTQ suspense novel and is experimenting with short fiction.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Katelyn A. Brown is a genre-hopping fiction author with an overactive imagination and far too many ideas. She writes Christian holiday romance with a sprinkling of fantasy in her Christmastime Trilogy series. Her alter ego, Kate Annie Brown, writes culinary cozy mysteries in the Emerald Bay Mysteries series. The first book is Harvest Fest Homicide, while a second book is in the works. When Kate is not reading or writing, she's most likely to be found cooking up a new dish for her family or having a hot cup of tea and avoiding housework. She lives in the country with her husband, four wild kids, and assorted barnyard creatures. For bookish, foodie, and farm-related content, visit her Instagram page @cozykatewrites.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Marsh writes under two pen names—Reck Well for Fantasy and LitRPG, and MJ Douglas for Sci-Fi and Dystopian fiction. They’ve been writing their whole life, but after finishing their first full-length novel in 2017, they’ve published three books in the last two years: Augmented and Echo as MJ Douglas, and Potions and Perils as Reck Well. Marsh excels at crafting characters who feel real in lived-in, multilayered worlds. Their stories center on flawed, deeply human (and sometimes inhuman) characters trying to carve out meaning in a world that works against them. Their worldbuilding is immersive—full of small details that make each setting feel like it existed long before the story began. Marsh isn’t just telling stories—they’re inviting you into them—with a mix of humor, heart, and deeply personal stakes. Right now, they have two active projects, both under Reck Well: Sand and Sorcery, the sequel to Potions and Perils, and Stumbling Up: A Loser’s Guide to Progression, a LitRPG comedy.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Pamela Ernest has been an artist in one form or another her whole life, learning early on from both of her parents. In 2003 she began sculpting figures in polymer clay and two-part epoxy and spent many years working in those mediums. In addition to art, Pam is a paranormal researcher and investigator and cohosts on 3 paranormal podcasts. She joined the In Other Words Podcast, initially as producer, but has since joined full member. Encouraged by her cohosts, she has started writing and is working on her first short story. Her artwork can be seen on Facebook at Silverthorne Studio.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Jan C. Thorpe, PhD, a storyteller from childhood, has been a psychotherapist in private practice for 30 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from Pennsylvania she grew up in Southern California where she swam in the ocean, rode horses and shocked her friends, brother and parents with scary stories as much as she could. Her first book, Ancestors, has received four- and five-star reviews.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Carol Burbank is an award-winning writer, coach, and transformative educator. After 20 years of teaching, journalism, and scholarly research in leadership, business communication, cultural studies and education, she founded Storyweaving, LLC to nurture creative and sustainable change through consulting and coaching. In 2019, she launched the Storyweaving Retreat Center, a space for her clients and other seekers to gather, teach, write, and recharge.A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Meet artist Jessica Holeman, and her Curious Relics Studio. Jess is an assemblage artist and painter who works in a wide variety of mediums. Learn her story and her creative process that she goes through in order to bring to life her work. In addition to art, Jess is also cofounder and cohost of Bordertown Strange Podcast and cohost of On the Fringe Podcast. Her work can be found on her Facebook page, Curious Relics Studio. A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Cork Marcheschi is an American sculptor and musician, most notably recognized for his pioneering use of light in sculpture. And his large body of public work and founding influence avant garde psychedelic rock band, Fifty Foot Hose.  To learn more about his art, visit his website www.corkmarcheschi.com A Production of Crimson Crow Press

Join us and guest, Mary Schuytema of Chicken Scratch Pottery. We will be discussing her process and her art. What an amazing first guest to have!A Production of Crimson Crow Press

In the inaugural episode of “In Other Words” Podcast, meet hosts Jan, Karen, Val and Pam and learn about their individual paths to creativity.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/i-feel...License code: IAX4KLZAT8ODQVR2A Production of Crimson Crow Press