SAM Magazine

E114 - Zachary Hagen, Fantasy Author

E114 - Zachary Hagen is a Mississippi based fantasy author and editor. When he isn't busy writing his next book or working with an editing client, you can often find him walking around his neighborhood or hiking.
From a young age he was enthralled with the world of story. From the stories his parents read to him from his blue bedtime story books to the first two series that he read, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Zachary's tastes continued to develop throughout his years of reading. The influences for his first series, The Eternal Chronicles, include Christopher Paolini, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis to name a few. 
Thank you Zachary for an interesting conversation about faith and using the bible for inspiration for novels.
https://zacharyhagenwrites.com/

E113 - J.P. Mclean, Award-winning Author

E113 - Award-winning author JP (Jo-Anne) McLean writes urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers that readers call addictive, smart, and fun. She is a 2021 finalist for the Chanticleer Paranormal Award for Supernatural Fiction, and the Wishing Shelf Book award for Adult Fiction. Her work has won a Readers’ Favorite Award, a Gold Literary Titan medal, and honourable mentions from the Whistler Independent Book Awards and the Victoria Writers’ Society. JP is a graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. She makes her home on the coast of British Columbia.  We talked about her paranormal thriller, setting the scene and the Big Island Book Festival in Courtenay! Thank you, JP. 
https://jpmcleanauthor.com/

E112- Natasha Deen, YA Author

E112 - Natasha Deen writes for kids, teens, and adults. She believes the world is changed one story at a time, and as a Guyanese-Canadian whose family immigrated to Canada, she’s seen first-hand how stories have the power to shape the world. When she’s not writing, Natasha enjoys visiting schools, libraries and other organizations to help people to find and tell the stories that live inside them. She also spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she’s the boss of the house. Natasha is the author of the Lark & Connor Ba series (CCBC Best Pick for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection) and the Guardian series (Moonbeam Award, Sunburst Award nominee, Alberta Readers’ Choice nominee). Her latest novel, In the Key of Nira Ghani, is a Junior Library Guild selection and a Barnes and Noble Top 25 Most Anticipated Own Voices novel.
Natasha enjoyed "growing up in a country of snow and flannel," but sometimes being the only mixed-race child in the classroom meant being bullied and feeling invisible. There were no reflections of kids like her on TV or in the movies. Natasha and I talked right away about inclusion in the publishing world. Thank you Natasha for a great conversation.
 ⁠www.natashadeen.com

E111 - Shoshona Freedman, Author of Blood Atonement

E111 - International Amazon Bestselling author, Shoshona Freedman’s debut novel, The Faithful, was an International Amazon Bestseller, it reached the Quarter Finals in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, and was selected by Suspense Magazine as a "Best Debut of 2015.” Shoshona was on my podcast on April 10, 2021, when we discussed her novel, The Day She Died. Her latest novel, Blood Atonement, is out now. Shoshona lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children. She’s a proud member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America.
Shoshona and I talked about cults, being in the sometimes heavy world of our fiction, and how we come up for air, especially with regards to Blood Atonement. As well as being sensitive and respectful to the portrayal of victims. It may be fiction, but our words have impact. Thank you Shoshona. It was a pleasure.
https://www.smfreedman.com/

E110 - D.C. Gomez, USA Today Bestselling Author

E110 - D.C. Gomez is a four-year army vet who has a morbid and quirky sense of humor. Her heart thumps for those who serve their country and those who support them. Her love-journey of humanity is ongoing. She is an award winning, USA Today Bestselling author, public speaker, mentor and podcaster. Her podcast is Inside the Minds of Authors. She writes multiple genres from Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Literature, YA, Children’s Books and Devotionals. I believe the current count for her novels and novellas is 18. She has an undergraduate degree in Film and Television from NYU. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New England, she now calls Texas her new adoptive home.
https://dcgomez-author.com/

E109 - Edward Willett, Award-winning Science Fiction and Fantasy Author

E109 - Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author, Edward Willett, joined me on the podcast. Edward (Ed) has written over 60 science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction books for readers of all ages. His science fiction and fantasy novels are published through DAW Books in New York. Under the pseudonym Lee Arthur Chane, he is the author of the steampunk fantasy novel Magebane, and as E.C. Blake, he wrote the Masks of Aygrima fantasy trilogy, Masks, Shadows, and Faces. His novel Marseguro won the 2009 Aurora Award which honours Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy. His novel Terra Insegura was a 2010 Aurora finalist and his YA novel, Star Song, was a 2022 finalist. He has also won a Saskatchewan Book Award for his YA fantasy Spirit Singer, and been shortlisted multiple times. We had a good conversation exploring sci-fi, and I learned about the lunar brewpub. 
https://edwardwillett.com/
https://shadowpawpress.com/about/

E108 - K.L. Abrahamson, Author of Phoebe Clay mystery series

K.L. Abrahamson writes suspenseful stories of crime, adventure and romance for readers who like to be transported to unusual locations around the world. From murder mysteries set in the heart of a re-imagined Russia, or on the rugged coast of British Columbia, to magical romances set in the heart of a summer beach town, K. L. Abrahamson creates immersive worlds of fully realized characters that readers can root for. Her work has been described as having a “connection to culture” with “powerful characters (who) make an incredible story.” Karen’s short stories can be found in issues of Ellery Queen Magazine and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. In today’s episode we’ll be in the modern world with retired schoolteacher, Phoebe Clay, as she travels to Cambodia and returns home to Canada. K.L. (Karen) Abrahamson and I also talk about writing culturally rich novels as well as character arcs. We discuss the Sisters-in-Crime--CW (Canada West) anthology, Crime Wave, Women of a Certain Age. Thank you Karen for joining me in an excellent discussion.
http://www.karenlabrahamson.com/
https://sinc-cw.ca/anthology/

E107 - Jane Baird Warren, How To Be a Goldfish

E107 - Jane Baird Warren writes for kids and adults, who, like her, still read Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction—Harry Potter was a game-changer for Jane. Jane has an MFA in creative writing from UBC. Her writing has been featured on CBC radio and in more than a dozen literary magazines in North America and the UK. In her fiction and real life, Jane is fascinated with people, but what she enjoys in both worlds is kindness and courage. She has a ridiculous memory for trivia, which she’d always believed was the most useless superpower a girl could have, until she started writing.
We talked about the issues she expertly wove into the classroom setting, the importance of acceptance, and I learned a little Scottish. Thank you Jane for a great discussion.
https://www.janebairdwarren.com/