Inside Scoop Live!

"TALES OF ASTERRA" by Michael Frank Rizzo

Michael Rizzo is a fantasy fiction writer who works in finance during the day and often spends evenings writing and creating his fantasy world. He published his first book, Tales of Asterra, in early 2023, and he continues to build upon the established lore of this magical world in his spare time. He is currently working on his second book, To Sow a Fallow, which will be the second adventure set in Asterra, with many more soon to follow. When Michael is not writing, he enjoys playing guitar in his band and relaxing with his family, friends, and dogs. His inspirations for writing come from a variety of different sources: classic literature, mythology, old-world language studies, video games, fantasy literature, music, and other sources. 
Learn more about Michael Rizzo and his book at  https://www.talesofasterra.com/
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About "Tales of Asterra" and the inspiration behind the book
Writing a short story anthology
Using a narrator to connect the stories
Building realms and languages, exploring magic
Working with an illustrator to bring the stories to life
Advice for new authors
What's next in the world of Asterra?
TALES OF ASTERRA - SYNOPSIS
Welcome, adventurer, to the wondrously magical world of Asterra-where no two roads are the same and life blooms and beckons around every bend. Join Penniforth 'Penny' Rodgers as he regales you with tales of the events, people, currencies, and beliefs that have shaped this mystical land.
From the pirate infested shoals of Del' San Cove, to the dark depths of the Ochre Halls and the fairy forests of Faeril, there is a story for everyone. All that is missing is for you to create your own adventure within Asterra. So, what are you waiting for? Penny has already marked the first destination on the map.
CONNECT WITH MICHAEL RIZZO!
WEBSITE: https://www.talesofasterra.com/ FACEBOOK: TALES OF ASTERRAINSTAGRAM: TALES OF ASTERRA
 

"The Blue Iris" by Rachel Stone

RACHEL STONE writes stories of hope and redemption, often set against vibrant Canadian backdrops. Her debut novel, THE BLUE IRIS, was named a BookLife Editor's Pick and placed second in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards. Her award-winning lyric essays have appeared in international literary magazines, journals, and blogs.
Rachel holds degrees in psychology and industrial relations, and once worked seven summers at a flower market. She's an active member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association and the proud co-founder of a local volunteer initiative supporting new moms and newly-immigrated families in need. She lives near Toronto with her family and on weekends you'll find her along the shore of Georgian Bay, belting nineties pop rock off-key from her paddleboard.
Learn more about Rachel Stone and her work at: www.rachelstoneauthor.com
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "The Blue Iris" and the inspiration behind the story
The chosen family
Love, loss and healing
Writing from multiple perspectives
The delightful characters
Feedback from readers
What's next for Rachel Stone?
THE BLUE IRIS
Sometimes, uprooting the thorn-filled past is the only way we bloom...
Tessa Lewis is set to embark on a Big-Time Career and marry Toronto's fastest-rising lawyer, who loves her to pieces. But when a visit to a flower market from her childhood sparks memories of the mother she lost too soon, Tessa puts her bright future on hold to work there, determined to come to terms with her past.
At the Blue Iris Flower Market, everything is blossoming except the rag-tag crew, each hiding deep scars of their own. When Sam, the beloved but troubled man in charge, takes off and leaves the market reeling, Tessa and her unlikely new friends come face-to-face with their most uncomfortable truths, uprooting lives carefully cultivated-and just maybe, unearthing everything they've ever wanted.
Told from multiple perspectives, The Blue Iris is an intricately woven exploration of love tested beyond its limits, chosen family, and the beauty that grows in letting go. 
CONNECT WITH RACHEL STONE!
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rachelstoneauthor
Website: www.rachelstoneauthor.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/racheystone
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030081772132
X: https://twitter.com/rachestone
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelstoneauthor/
 

"Welcome to Bellechester" by Margaret Blenkush

Margaret A. Blenkush writes from her childhood home in South Saint Paul, Minnesota where she enjoys the changing seasons. Always a writer at heart, it was the COVID pandemic that challenged her to seek publication of her first novel, The Doctor of Bellechester. Enthusiastic response as in "When's the next book coming out?" and receiving an honorable mention for Best Catholic Novel in the 2023 Catholic Media Awards encouraged Margaret to continue writing about the adventures of Dr. M.E. Senty.
A proud graduate of the College of St. Benedict (B.A.) and St. John's University, Collegeville (M.A. in Theology - Systematics), she became an Oblate of Saint Benedict's Monastery in 2010. A life-long learner who loves books and libraries, Margaret earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 1991. In 2004, she contracted a rare auto-immune disease that forced an early retirement from her dream job as Director of the Instructional Services Center for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1992-2004.
When not writing, Margaret enjoys spending time with family, playing card and board games, gardening, volunteering and solving word and sudoku puzzles. She and her identical twin sister, Mary are enrolled in the University of Minnesota Twin Study where they participate in many and varied research projects. Currently, they are participating in a study on twins and aging.
You can learn more about Margaret Blenkush and her work at https://www.margaretablenkush.com/.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Welcome to Bellechester and the inspiration behind the story
The importance of setting to the story
Research around medicine and sleuthing in 1959
Learning more about the characters
The writing process and drawing inspiration from personal experience
What's next in the Dr. M.E. (Mary Elizabeth) Senty series?
 
WELCOME TO BELLECHESTER
Meet the lovable and quirky residents of this idyllic 1959 Shropshire County village as Dr. Mary Elizabeth Senty arrives to join Dr. Harold Merton's medical practice. Detective Inspector William Donnelly has recently transferred to Bellechester from London's Metropolitan Police Service to deal with the rash of jewel thefts in the area. When local socialite Lady Beatrice Brantwell is enlisted to throw a gala as a ruse to flush out the thieves, she pairs the newcomers in hopes of kindling a romance. Despite the police's best efforts, jewels, including Mary Elizabeth's precious agate pendant, are stolen in an intricately planned heist.
Can William and his officers solve the case and return the jewels to their rightful owners? Does love stand a chance between the career- minded doctor and duty-bound chief inspector? Find out in this gentle, cozy sequel to The Doctor of Bellechester which is sure to keep readers turning the pages.
 
CONNECT WITH MARGARET BLENKUSH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marge.blenkush/about/ 
Website: https://www.margaretablenkush.com/
 

Tribal Honor by TG Brown

When T.G. Brown is not writing books, he is a martial arts practitioner and a competitive CrossFit athlete. He practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Boxing and Muay Thai.
He competed in the sport of CrossFit, before blowing out his knee in the 2021. Like most Crossfitters, he would do the "CrossFit Open." A nationwide test of fitness that introduces some of the hardest workouts in the world. In 2019, T.G. placed in the top 1 percent of the world, which was not enough to make the famous CrossFit Games, but he was proud of it nonetheless. In 2021, before injuring his knee, T.G. competed in a CrossFit competition involving the fittest Law Enforcement Officers in the world. He was the 29th fittest Law Enforcement Officer in the world that year.
T.G. Brown is also a certified Defensive Tactics Instructor for police officers in the state of Oregon. When he is not doing his own training, T.G. works with police officers or civilians who want to learn how to stay alive in verbal, physical, or deadly use-of-force conflicts.
Learn more about TG Brown and his work at : www.tgbrownbooks.com
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Literary Awards Accolades
About "Tribal Honor" and the Inspiration Behind the Story
Developing upstanding (and villainous) characters with authenticity
The influence of actual life and work experience on the plot and characters
Bringing tribal issues to the forefront
Representation in literature
What's next for TG Brown?
 
TRIBAL HONOR
Warren Lawson is an elite Tribal Police Officer on the Jericho Nation Reservation in Oregon. A relatively peaceful place, but that’s all about to change.Marvin Bingham is a man with morals that vastly differ from Warren Lawson's. One man loves to kill; the other does everything he can to avoid killing.As Marvin claims another victim, he attracts the attention of two twin Native American brothers who want revenge outside the law, two brothers who happen to be very good at killing.Caught in the middle of three killers, Warren races to keep the peace in his town, a task that grows increasingly difficult as his moral compass is tested unlike ever before. With each twist and turn in the case, Warren contemplates whether the law is worth upholding, or if he is just like the very people he puts behind bars.Buckle in, as a seemingly cut-and-dry case turns into something horrific and complex, leaving the Jericho reservation in the wake of a bloody battle.
 
CONNECT WITH TG BROWN!
Website: www.tgbrownbooks.com
Facebook: TG Brown
Instagram: tgbrownbooks

Havana Hangover by Randy Richardson

An accomplished attorney and award-winning journalist, Randy Richardson is the founding member and president of the Chicago Writers Association. His latest novel, "Havana Hangover," earned recognition as a 2023 Finalist for the Kindle Book Awards and the BestThrillers.com Book Awards and received 5-Star Reviews from Reader Views and Readers' Favorites. With two more novels, "Cheeseland" and "Lost in the Ivy," plus a coauthored nonfiction work titled "Cubsessions," Randy's influence spans genres. His essays grace anthologies like "Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul," "Storytellers' True Stories About Love," and "Cubbie Blues," and literary journals such as Hypertext and Memory House. As The first male recipient of the National Federation of Press Women’s Communicator of Achievement Award, Randy is featured on NewCity’s "Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago" list for 2019 and 2022.
Learn more about Randy Richardson and his work at randyrichardson.co
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "Havana Hangover" and the inspiration behind the story.
Traveling, researching and writing about Cuba
Drawing from personal experiences
The influence of Ernest Hemingway
The importance of the writing community for authors
What's next for Randy Richardson?
 
HAVANA HANGOVER
Thirty-year-old Chicago corporate lawyer Tanner Ford leaves behind a painful past and lucrative job for a bucket-list trip to Cuba with Jackson Swift, his estranged best friend from law school. But when they arrive, the oddities start adding up. Jackson evades questions about his wife and kids. Their itinerary keeps changing, and their tour guide might work for a fake company. When Tanner awakes after a rum-soaked night beside Dannel, a local musician with something to hide, and a text from Jackson that reads “HELP ME,” his dream vacation turns into a fight for survival. He is held hostage in an abandoned cigar factory, interrogated by the police, and hunted down by a mysterious “ghost” in the Cuban government. Beset by anxiety and panic attacks, Tanner is hurled unwittingly into an international conspiracy leading right back to Jackson and a friendship that began in betrayal.
 
CONNECT WITH RANDY RICHARDSON!
https://www.randyrichardson.co/https://www.facebook.com/RandyRichardsonWriterhttp://twitter.com/lostintheivyhttps://www.instagram.com/randman61/https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyrichardson/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2629753.Randy_Richardson
 

Livy Little Honey Bee/Red Pandas Journey to Sikkim by Celia Straus

Celia Straus is an accomplished writer whose talents span television, film, and literature, earning her an Emmy nomination for the YouTube series "Kids Speak Out" in collaboration with the United Nations She also created and wrote the Emmy Award Winning Memorial Day Concert that was broadcast nationally on PBS. Her versatility in storytelling has been recognized with numerous additional awards, highlighting her ability to engage audiences across various platforms.
Straus’s literary contributions include a poetry trilogy for middle school girls, insightful works on military themes and children’s picture books where she hopes to ignite a love for animal conservation and encourage them to learn about, appreciate and protect our natural world.
Celia resides in Washington, D.C. but travels frequently to see her two daughters and gorgeous grandchildren, who are the apple of her eye.
You can learn more about Celia Straus and her work at https://celiastraus.com.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "Livy Little Honey Bee" and "Red Pandas Journey to Sikkim" and the inspiration behind the stories
Balancing storytelling between providing educational content and entertainment
Encouraging a sense of self and care for the planet
Understanding environmental issues as young readers
What's next for Celia Straus?
 
LEARN MORE:
A portion of proceeds from the sales of her children’s books are donated to organizations dedicated to conservation, education and research.
 
LIVY LITTLE HONEY BEE
Livy is a honey bee who spends her days gathering nectar and pollen from flowers with other worker bees. But Livy runs into trouble when her determination to express who she really is and what she values in life runs counter to the rest of the hive. Ultimately she is called before the Queen Bee to plead her case.
 
 
 
RED PANDAS JOURNEY TO SIKKIM
High in the Himalayan Mountains two young Red Pandas, Connor and Mishti, befriend a shy Pangolin.
Oblivious of their precarious existence, they dance and play together until a wise Sarus Crane disrupts their fun. They must flee, he warns them, before civilization destroys their forest home. He promises to lead them to Sikkim, a nature sanctuary across the mountains. The three friends follow his feathers on their long journey to safety.
 

"Secrets in the Islands" by Lauren de Leeuw

Lauren de Leeuw graduated with a degree in journalism; however, she was always far more interested in the adventure novel that was in her book bag as well as her next travel destination than she ever was with her current local news assignments. She has published many articles across a variety of platforms. Secrets in the Islands is her first book. Lauren lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and two wonderfully energetic children.
Learn more about Lauren de Leeuw and her work at https://samiseriesadventures.com/ 
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About" Secrets in the Islands" and the inspiration behind the story.
Cultural Heritage and Environmental issues in a children's adventure
Digital relationships
Writing a successful children's adventure balancing entertainment with learning
What's next in the Sami Series?
 
SECRETS IN THE ISLANDS
Having world famous archaeologists for parents isn't easy. Sure, the stories about their discoveries used to be exciting, but recently twelve-year-old Sami Johnson just feels like she's missing out.That is, until now.After being left behind one too many times, she finally gets to tag along with her parents to their next dig site. Keeping it local and seemingly simple for Sami's first glimpse into the family business, the Johnson's head to Haida Gwaii - a group of islands off the west coast of Canada where an old fishing weir and some ancient spearheads were recently discovered. But things start going downhill as soon as they arrive.After meeting a new friend, Sami realizes that the whole island is awash in secrets. Missing artifacts, late night stakeouts and stalkers in the forest were not what Sami was expecting on this trip and she begins to wonder if this was why her parents had left her at home for so many years. Can Sami find the grit, determination, and most importantly the confidence, to make it through and solve this mystery before it's too late?
 
CONNECT WITH LAUREN DE LEEUW!
Website: https://samiseriesadventures.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.lauren.deleeuwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_sami_adventure/ 
 

Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager by Diana Tuorto

Diana Tuorto is a Buffalo, NY-based children’s author. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Diana is also an active animal rescue volunteer and serves as Vice President of a small non-profit horse rescue. She shares a small farm with her husband, horses, and cats. 
Diana started writing her first children’s novel at the age of 12. Most of her books are written from a horse’s point of view. Diana has a total of six books: three middle grade novels, two picture books and one easy reader, all featuring a horse or cat as a main character.
 
Learn more about Diana Tuorto and her work at https://horsebooksforkids.com/.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About "Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager" and the inspiration behind the story.
Focus on themes of trust, overcoming obstacles and fear through the eyes of a feral cat.
Writing to engage children while incorporating life lessons 
Working with illustrator Ava Bucci to bring Ms. Alberta to life
Understanding human-animal relationships
What's next for Diana Tuorto
and much more!
 
MS. ALBERTA: FELINE BARN MANAGER
MS. ALBERTA: FELINE BARN MANAGER is based on the true story of a feral barn cat who is torn between the outdoor world she knows and desire to live with her special human “Mama.” When Ms. Alberta finds the courage to take a step towards house cat life, something gets in her way: Mama’s dog. Can a barn cat and a barking dog set aside their differences and become friends?
Diana Tuorto has been writing fiction and poetry since the age of ten. Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager is her sixth children’s book and second picture book. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Ms. Tuorto is a Western New York-based Marketing/Communications director and active horse rescue volunteer.
 
CONNECT WITH DIANA TUORTO!
My website is https://horsebooksforkids.com/.You can find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dtuorto/ and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lunar_aradia
 

"Bones in the Alley" by Viterose Van Huis

Viterose Elaine Van Huis is a recent widow, who lives between Barbados, her birth country, and the United States. She lives with a little dog named Charlie. She spends her time reading, writing, and gardening. This is her third book. Most recently she published Living Intentionally, in 2021 She published Incredible Mr. Charlie.  Bones in the Alley: A journey to self-awareness that began on the island of Barbados was first published in
Learn more about Viterose Van Huis and her work at: Viterosevanhuis.wixsite,com/elaine
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "Bones in the Alley" and the inspiration behind the book
How past experiences shaped the person she is today
Learning about herself and using her story to help others
Self discovery as the key to happiness
Other writing projects by Viterose Van Huis
What's next for Viterose Van Huis?
BONES IN THE ALLEY
In this book, Viterose Van Huis shares her journey to self-awareness. She makes it clear that self-discovery is essential in the pursuit of happiness and meaning. The story portrays her strong, self-determined, unrelenting personality. The difficulties of her childhood in Barbados, the heroic years in America, her limited education and her uncertain circumstances, rather than hinder her, propelled her to a greater understanding. This is an inspiring account of one woman's spiritual growth. The book assures you that all the answers to life's challenges are within you.

"My Journal" by Robert O'Toole

Robert L. O'Toole is an international figure skating coach with over 47 years of experience coaching athletes from the grassroots to the Olympic level. His positive and motivational approach to coaching is his trademark, along with his passion and love of sport. He has inspired thousands of athletes to achieve excellence in sport and beyond. My Journal is his debut entry into the literary world.
Learn more about Robert O'Toole and his work at:
www.robertotooleauthor.comwww.facebook.com/robertotooleauthorwww.instagram.com/robertotooleauthor
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION:
About "My Journal" and the inspiration behind writing the book
The transformative power of journaling
Individual pacing and self-acceptance
Journaling as a daily routine
Measuring your progress
What's next for Robert O'Toole?
 
My Journal: Motivation, Inspiration, Love, Kindness
Robert O’TooleTellwell Talent (2023)ISBN: 978-1779411716
A daily journal with prompts for setting goals, self-reflection, and personal growth, emphasizing individual pacing and diverse expression methods.