All posts by Vance

12Jul/24

April McCloud

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July 12, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 28 Interview – April McCloud

April McCloud joins us to share her debut novel, The Switch. We discuss disability, bionics, humanism, and spiderbots with hats!

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April McCloud is a 1% bionic human who worships her cat and hopes to be reincarnated as a red panda. A librarian, educator, and opinionated black belt, she hails from Rochester, NY and enjoys plotting, be it a book, vacation, or a heist at a GF bakery. She identifies as disabled, LGBTQIA+, neurospicy, and as a struggling practitioner of Zen Buddhism.

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05Jul/24

Nathan Andres

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July 5, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 27 Interview – Nathan Andres

Nathan Andres joins us to share the book that came from his exploration of the idea of resiliency, Your REAL Life: Get Authentic, Be Resilient, & Make It Count. We discuss how the REAL model is based on neuroscience and can be used to help anyone face the difficult situations in life!

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Nathan Andres, M.A., is a coach, well-being and LGBTQ activist, and business leader. The drive to authentically serve others developed into a love of helping people, ultimately leading to a career in Human Resources where he’s spent over two decades so far.

Nate first earned a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Marquette University in 1995. He is a 2004 graduate of New York University’s Human Resource Management Graduate Diploma program. In 2015, Nate became a Certified Professional and Executive Coach through ICF and earned a Masters of Arts, in Coaching, Learning & Development from Middlesex University, London in 2017. He is a member in good standing of the ICF – International Coaching Federation.

A Columbus, Ohio (USA) native, Nate is truly a global citizen. He has traveled extensively around the world for business and pleasure. He is a popular public and online speaker having engaged audiences across four continents. Currently residing between Washington D.C. and Singapore, Nathan has been based in Asia-Pacific nearly 20 years; he lived twice in Tokyo, Japan and holds a permanent residency card in Hong Kong. Nathan is a four-time marathon finisher and enjoys tennis, yoga, strength training, meditation and movies. He is an avid Wellbeing & LGBTQ activist contributing to causes around the world. When off duty, Nathan and his husband spend endless hours playing with their dogs, Vivi & Coco.

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28Jun/24

Terry Wolverton

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June 28, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 25 Interview – Terry Wolverton

Terry Wolverton joins us to share her novel Season of Eclipse. We discuss how her hero goes from living a life of privilege to being in witness protection and having to confront the issues of her own identity. We also go into how Detroit shapes that journey and introduces people into her life that she didn’t know she needed.

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Terry Wolverton was born in Cocoa Beach, Florida. When she was just a year old, she left Florida with her mother and moved to Detroit, where she grew up and started college before transferring to the University of Toronto where she majored in Theater and Women’s Studies. Ever since then, she’s been both a student of and strong voice for feminism and the arts.

After moving to Los Angeles, Terry was instrumental in several endeavors including the Lesbian Art Project, the Incest Awareness Project, the Great American Lesbian Art Show, and a white-women’s anti-racism consciousness-raising group.

In 1982, Terry established a consulting business, Consult’Her, working with nonprofits, small businesses, and individual artists on issues related to vision, planning, resource development, marketing, and human resources. In 1997, she founded Writers At Work, a creative writing center where she continues to teach several weekly workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and to provide creative consultations to writers. She is also Affiliate Faculty in the MFA Writing Program at Antioch University Los Angeles.

She’s authored eleven books and is a certified instructor of Kundalini Yoga.

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21Jun/24

Mark Olmsted

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June 21, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 24 Interview – Mark Olmsted

Mark Olmsted joins us to share his memoir Ink From the Pen. We discuss how caring for and losing his brother to HIV/AIDS while he himself was HIV+ took him down a dark path that included drug use and dealing. Being incarcerated gave him a second chance to get clean, and while doing so he turned to creativity as a form of healing that helped him survive the absurdity of prison.

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Mark Olmsted has been a writer since graduating from the NYU School of the Arts in 1980. After over a decade in Manhattan, he moved to California to pursue screenwriting and take care of his brother, who died of AIDS in 1991. Gay and HIV+ himself, Mark self-medicated through the worst of the plague years with crystal meth, which led to a conviction for drug-dealing in 2004 and nine months in prison, and his book, “Ink from the Pen.” This story was detailed in an in-depth article that appeared on GQ.com

He emerged into a life of recovery and activism, writing hundreds of essays for the Huffington Post and his personal blog. In 2011, he entered the Graduate Humanities programs in Mount St. Mary’s University, obtaining a Master’s Degree with a specialization in Creative Writing in 2013.

At present, he edits subtitles for a post-production house. He also does translation for French and script doctoring. Mark’s latest venture is writing children’s books with Marianne Hegg!

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14Jun/24

Chris Holcombe

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June 14, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 23 Interview – Chris Holcombe

Chris Holcombe returns to share his Hidden Gotham series. He then teases the upcoming book 4, and shares his Pride Month Short Story!

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Chris Holcombe is the author of LGBTQ+ historical crime fiction called The Hidden Gotham Series, which showcases New York’s lively but criminally under-represented queer world of the 1920s. His first novel The Double Vice was released in 2021 to great acclaim, with Queer Writers of Crime calling it “one of the best I’ve read all year! I can’t recommend it highly enough!” His second novel The Blind Tiger was released in 2022, and it continues the story of gay speakeasy owner Dash Parker and his Queer friends in Greenwich Village and in Harlem. Readers heralded it as “honest-to-goodness pulp fiction at its gayest and most glamorous!” The third novel in the series The Devil Card was released in 2023, with readers saying it was Holcombe’s best one yet. He is currently hard at work plotting and planning the next Hidden Gotham novel. He asks that you send gin and chocolate for encouragement.

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June 16, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 25: Chris Holcombe + Our Review of ABC’s “Soul of a Nation: The Freedom to Exist!”

Chris Holcombe brings his fun energy as we talk about The Devil Card, the third in his Hidden Gotham series. We discuss his diverse cast and the real-world WTF facts from queer and prohibition history that shaped his setting. Then Baz and Vance rate and review ABC’s important “Soul of a Nation: The Freedom to Exist” and close by sharing who won their weeks!

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Chris Holcombe is the author of LGBTQ+ historical crime fiction called The Hidden Gotham Series, which showcases New York’s lively but criminally under-represented queer world of the 1920s.

He asks that you send gin and chocolate for encouragement.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi2viVRKYVE[/embedyt]

 

31May/24

Gayleen Froese

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May 31, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 21 Interview – Gayleen Froese

Gayleen Froese returns to share her latest novel, The Dominion, a travel guide to a magical city-state that isn’t as safe as you might imagine. We then preview her upcoming release, The Man Who Hated Clouds, the latest in the Ben Ames mystery series.

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Gayleen Froese is an LGBTQ writer of detective fiction living in Edmonton, Canada. Her novels include the Ben Ames detective series, the superhero novel Lightning Strike Blues and urban fantasy The Dominion from DSP Publications, and Touch and Grayling Cross from NeWest Press.

Gayleen has appeared on Canadian Learning Television’s A Total Write-Off, won the second season of the Three Day Novel Contest on BookTelevision and, as a singer-songwriter, showcased at festivals across Canada. She has worked as a radio writer and talk show host, an advertising creative director, and a communications officer.

A past resident of Saskatoon, Toronto, and northern Saskatchewan, Gayleen now lives in Edmonton with novelist Laird Ryan States in a home that includes dogs, geckos, snakes, monitor lizards and Marlowe the tegu. When not writing, she can be found kayaking, photographing unsuspecting wildlife, and playing cooperative board games, viciously competitive card games, and tabletop RPGs.

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April 14, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 16: Gayleen Froese + Our Review of Only Murders in the Building!

Gayleen Froese returns to share her upcoming novel, The Man Who Lost His Pen. We talk about using setting to shape the story and geek out about languages a bit. We then review seasons 1 & 2 of Only Murders in the Building and share what won our weeks!

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Gayleen Froese is an LGBTQ writer of detective fiction living in Edmonton, Canada. She has appeared on Canadian Learning Television’s A Total Write-Off, won the second season of the Three Day Novel Contest on BookTelevision, and as a singer-songwriter, showcased at festivals across Canada. She has worked as a radio writer and talk-show host, an advertising creative director, and a communications officer.

A past resident of Saskatoon, Toronto, and northern Saskatchewan, Gayleen now lives in Edmonton with novelist Laird Ryan States in a home that includes dogs, geckos, snakes, monitor lizards, and Marlowe the tegu. When not writing, she can be found kayaking, photographing unsuspecting wildlife, and playing cooperative board games, viciously competitive card games, and tabletop RPGs.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQmSny_juo[/embedyt]

December 9, 2022

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 7, Episode 49: Gayleen Froese + Our Review of Christmas at the Ranch!

Gayleen Froese shares her novel, The Girl Whose Luck Ran Out, which leads to talk about the disparity between the way M/M vs M/F romances are viewed in detective novels, and the importance of authentic locations. Then M.D. Neu joins us to review Christmas at the Ranch!

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Bio:
Gayleen Froese is an LGBTQ writer of detective fiction living in Edmonton, Canada. She has appeared on Canadian Learning Television’s A Total Write-Off, won the second season of the Three Day Novel Contest on BookTelevision, and as a singer-songwriter, showcased at festivals across Canada. She has worked as a radio writer and talk-show host, an advertising creative director, and a communications officer.

A past resident of Saskatoon, Toronto, and northern Saskatchewan, Gayleen now lives in Edmonton with novelist Laird Ryan States in a home that includes dogs, geckos, snakes, monitor lizards, and Marlowe the tegu. When not writing, she can be found kayaking, photographing unsuspecting wildlife, and playing cooperative board games, viciously competitive card games, and tabletop RPGs.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
Apple PodcastsGoogle PlayiHeartRadioSpotifyStitcherTuneIn

Or Listen Right Here:

OR Watch on YouTube:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHkDdm4Qvwk[/embedyt]

24May/24

Alan Lessik

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May 24, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 20 Interview – Alan Lessik

Alan Lessik shares his novel, Make The Dark Night Shine, a story of family heritage and discovery. We discuss the inspiration for the story, as well as Alan’s love of figure skating, how novels preserve queer culture, and a look into Zen Buddhism for queer folks.

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Alan Lessik is a member of the Berlin Queer Writers Circle, Zen practitioner, amateur figure skater and queer activist. His debut novel The Troubleseeker was short-listed for the Publishing Triangle’s 2017 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBTQ Fiction. His non-fiction works and essays have been published by Lambda Literary, the Bay Area Reporter, Advocate and San Francisco Bay Guardian. For three years, he moderated panels on queer fiction at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conferences and served on the Board of the LGBTQ Writers Caucus.

His second novel, Make the Dark Night Shine, was awarded by Literary Titan and is a Kirkus Review recommended book.

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17May/24

Terry Connell

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May 17, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 19 Interview – Terry Connell

Terry Connell returns to share his latest work, Lost Soles, a collection of images and essays inspired by the discarded shoes he saw while on long walks during the pandemic. We discuss the odd turns life takes, as well as the importance of being open to everything that comes your way.

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Terry has a degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University, and after a year of teaching he earned his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. He worked as a therapist for a few years, until his partner Stephan died from AIDS complications. With his life at this turning point, he heard about an acupuncture clinic in Boston called AIDS Care Project (ACP). He moved to Boston in the middle of a blizzard, enrolled in the New England School of Acupuncture, and new he’d found his path. A month after graduation, he started working at ACP. After ten years, he opened a private office where he treats a variety of conditions. He published first published in 2011, his memoir titled Slaves to the Rhythm, and has continued with an award-winning collection of short stories, three screenplays, and the collection of essays in his latest work, Lost Soles.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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April 17, 2020


It gives us great pleasure to welcome Terry Connell as the guest on Episode 264 – There Are No Shoulds!

Terry Connell discusses his new collection of short stories entitled, A Little Chatter, and then shares some wellness ideas for the safe-at-home era.

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Bio:

Terry has a degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University, and after a year of teaching he earned his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. He worked as a therapist for a few years, until his partner Stephan died from AIDS complications. With his life at this turning point, he heard about an acupuncture clinic in Boston called AIDS Care Project (ACP). He moved to Boston in the middle of a blizzard, enrolled in the New England School of Acupuncture, and knew he’d found his path. A month after graduation, he started working at ACP. After ten years, he opened a private office where he treats a variety of conditions. He first published in 2011, his memoir titled Slaves to the Rhythm.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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12Apr/24

Wendy Whitman

Featured Guest, Pride Short, , ,

April 12, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 15 Interview – Wendy Whitman

Wendy Whitman returns to share her crime series that started in Premonition following the heroine, then followed the killer in Retribution. Then she drops that she’s working on the third book!

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Wendy Whitman has a unique background through her decades-long work as an executive and producer for Court TV and HLN, covering almost every major high-profile murder case in America. Through her knowledge of the most detailed aspects of the crimes, Ms. Whitman has become an expert on the subject of murder in America. Before attending Boston University School of Law, Whitman worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. After graduating from law school, the author embarked on what turned out to be a twenty-year career in television covering crime.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPkj1xqd2DQ[/embedyt]

July 25, 2023

It gives us great pleasure to present Season 8, Episode 32 Pride Short: Wendy Whitman

We catch Wendy Whitman on release day for her followup serial killer thriller, Retribution! This time, she’s applied her background expertise toward inviting you into the mind of the murderer!

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Wendy Whitman has a unique background. Before attending Boston University School of Law, she worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. After graduating from law school, Wendy embarked on what turned out to be a twenty-year career in television covering crime. Because of her decades-long work as an executive and producer for Court TV and HLN, where she covered in detail almost every major high-profile murder case in the U.S., she has become an expert on the subject of murder in America. Wendy received three Telly Awards and 2 GLAAD nominations during her tenure at Court TV.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):
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[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rapf76kz-Ug[/embedyt]

January 28, 2022

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Wendy Whitman as the guest on Season 7, Episode 04 – Revenge!

Wendy Whitman shares how her 20-year career producing crime on television led to her first novel, Premonition!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Bio:

Wendy Whitman has a unique background. Before attending Boston University School of Law, she worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. After graduating from law school, Wendy embarked on what turned out to be a twenty-year career in television covering crime. Because of her decades-long work as an executive and producer for Court TV and HLN, where she covered in detail almost every major high-profile murder case in the U.S., she has become an expert on the subject of murder in America. Wendy received three Telly Awards and a GLAAD nomination during her tenure at Court TV.

This Podcast episode is available on these channels (in order alphabetical):

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OR Watch on YouTube: 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLSOauYQaw[/embedyt]

 

29Mar/24

Mark S. King

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March 29, 2024

It gives us great pleasure to present a Season 9, Episode 13 Interview – Mark S. King

Mark S. King joins us to share his memoir, My Fabulous Disease, sparking conversation about collecting decades of essays about his life into a memoir narrative and he shares a great lens through which he sees events!

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Mark S. King has been writing about gay life, sex, and survival since testing HIV positive in 1985. His blog, My Fabulous Disease, has been nominated seven times for a GLAAD Media Award, winning in 2020. King has also been named LGBTQ Journalist of the Year by NLGJA, the association of LGBTQ journalists. King lives in Atlanta with his husband, Michael.

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